Well, I at least bought the whiteboard ($12/sheet at Lowe's) and the dry erase markers. Now to get into the full exploration and documentation of the ideas in my head. This download will be so helpful as it will free up more creative energy and also help me to see my next steps...
The more I talk about this to people, the more everyone else seems to "see" my vision, the more excited I get. Problem is, I love the dreaming and envisioning; get energized by the connections and networking; enjoy the putting together of the details...When will I get to the point of actually asking for and receiving the funds to purchase the building and truly build my dream?
If I think about the first time I saw Jana Napoli on Discovery Channel years ago and heard about her Young Adults, Young Artists program, it's been over 7 years ago! Painted Chairs (my name for the youth development through arts program--more on that later) was put on the back burner then until we left to go on sabbatical in Australia in 2004. Then I returned and got right on helping someone else build their dream which became Field of Plenty.
Is it my turn now?
Anyone out there willing to share how they've actually manifested the physical reality of a long-term dream?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
getting started...
OK, there's so much to do, just getting the idea clear in my head for beginners!
The Cafe is a relatively new part of the space.
Originally --the building seemed perfectly suited to be the home of the Pathways afterschool arts program for middle school youth, then the idea was to grow the program to be multi-generational and allow for collaboration between the elders and the 12-15 year olds to co-create artforms of their choosing: poetry, drama, sculpture, painting, dance. Then there is the idea to add studio space for artists to come, actively create and sell their work to help generate an income stream. The idea of having something like Menlo Park's Artist Guild Studios/tearoom/gardens http://www.alliedartsguild.org/ would be perfect!
Then there is reality. The 80+ year old building needs to be gutted, the land surrounding it needs to be cultivated after having the soil tested. Consultants hired to look at the best usage of space, how to make it GREEN and then totally cool for teens to want to hang out it.
The organic garden can be a youth development program in itself. There is the actual labor, but also the cooking of the harvest, sharing it, selling it, learning how to best use the land to generate the most veggies. The learning process from planting to meal prep is so analogous to these teens seeing how they have the power to create such beauty and healthy lives!
So, looking to put together an advisory council, to collaborate with the City, the School District, local universities, architecture students, social work practicums, youth development gurus, and artists of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds...I'm ready to look at financial plans of setting up a nonprofit with sustainable income streams, or a for profit with a social entrepreneurial mission.
thoughts????
The Cafe is a relatively new part of the space.
Originally --the building seemed perfectly suited to be the home of the Pathways afterschool arts program for middle school youth, then the idea was to grow the program to be multi-generational and allow for collaboration between the elders and the 12-15 year olds to co-create artforms of their choosing: poetry, drama, sculpture, painting, dance. Then there is the idea to add studio space for artists to come, actively create and sell their work to help generate an income stream. The idea of having something like Menlo Park's Artist Guild Studios/tearoom/gardens http://www.alliedartsguild.org/ would be perfect!
Then there is reality. The 80+ year old building needs to be gutted, the land surrounding it needs to be cultivated after having the soil tested. Consultants hired to look at the best usage of space, how to make it GREEN and then totally cool for teens to want to hang out it.
The organic garden can be a youth development program in itself. There is the actual labor, but also the cooking of the harvest, sharing it, selling it, learning how to best use the land to generate the most veggies. The learning process from planting to meal prep is so analogous to these teens seeing how they have the power to create such beauty and healthy lives!
So, looking to put together an advisory council, to collaborate with the City, the School District, local universities, architecture students, social work practicums, youth development gurus, and artists of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds...I'm ready to look at financial plans of setting up a nonprofit with sustainable income streams, or a for profit with a social entrepreneurial mission.
thoughts????
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
