by Jennifer Lester

I have been “talking” about this idea of peace with the mentees and mentors.  It became more clear that I was living in the idea of “do as I say, not as I do” the Wednesday following our first night together.  My boyfriend took off for Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon.  He travels with his job for the majority of the month.  For whatever reason it seems as though (every time) right before he leaves, we have some sort of conflict.  I’m not sure if it’s because our subconscious are protecting us and preparing for separation, so we disconnect mentally right before we do physically………who knows.  The point is I caught it.  I noticed my body tensing up and getting frustrated with pretty much everything.  When I realized this, the awareness made me think.  I decided to launch this journey with all of you & this group of kids.  The topic of this particular group of kids is the idea of peace.  I’ve been talking about this idea of peace when I wasn’t even practicing myself.  By being aware of the situation that was unfolding, I realized I had a choice to make a decision & choose differently.  At that moment of insight, I chose to stand for peace.  The outcome was a happy goodbye, unlike the path we were headed down.  I encourage you to try this experiment in your own life.  Stand for peace and stay awake to that as best you can.  When we, as mentors, are aware and choose to stand differently in our lives; the bigger impact we will have on the lives of our mentees.  The art is a tool.  Yes, we want to encourage learning new techniques and having a professional career in the arts (assuming that is their dream).  We also want to use the art to contemplate ideas, judgments or conclusions.  I’m sure you all have experiences relating to this.  It’s why we create art in the first place.

Location: Johnny’s Hideaway 3771 Roswell Road Northeast Atlanta, GA 30342
Parking: Free Valet  Contact (Event + Media): Jennifer Lester 954-850-9541

Featuring:
Angeline Santivasci & Jessica McCauley (Double Date): Dinner for four and margaritas at Tin Lizzy’s
Ashley Lane McKelvey: Brett Gorney Pro Golf Lesson at Jim Hearn Golf Range
Bonnie Lee: Round of Golf at Golf Club of Georgia & Dinner at Dantanna’s
Bonnie Stepp: Braves Game + $40 at Park Tavern
Derek Little: Private Cooking Class w/ Chef Renn
Erica Anderson: $35 at The Shed at Glenwood
Erin Perez: $40 at Park Tavern + 2 Tix to Braves vs. Mets Game 5/18
Jackie Kennedy & Jasmine Bishop (Double Date): $100 at Hal’s + Four tickets to Dad’s Garage
Jenna Nicole Lacy: Pera Dance Class + $35 at 5 Seasons
John John Delladonna: 2 Tix to Backstreet Boys at Chastain Park + $55 at 10 Degrees South
Josh Harrison: Dinner at Ecco and 1 Roundtrip Ticket on AirTran
Lane Parker: A day at Six Flags + $25 at Eclipse di Luna
Lauren O’Brien: Private Cooking Class w/ Chef Renn
Margaret Moseley: Cooking Class w/ Chef Renn
Matt Stephen: Dinner & Drinks at Republic + 2 Tickets to Broken Bells at Center Stage
Meredith Pruden: Dinner at Wisteria + 2 tix to the Broken Bells Concert at Center Stage
Mike Malkasian: $50 at The Nook
Nikky Williams: 2 Tickets to Avenue Q at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Rhiannon Garrett: $50 at Sun Dial Restaurant
Ryan Bailey: 2 Tickets to Avenue Q at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
SaraBeth Custin: 2 VIP “Thrist Row” Braves Tickets courtesey of Budweiser
Sarah Blackman: Dinner at The Vortex and a show at Whole World Theater
Scott Addaman: Afternoon Peachtree St. Wine Crawl – $20 at Silk, $20 at Baraonda, $20 at Georgian Terrace Hotel, and $20 at Publik
Sheldon Baker: Breakfast at Flying Biscuit, Private Tennis Lessons, Frozen Margaritas at the Pool, Car Wash, Manicure/Pedicure & Couples Massage at Blue Med Spa, Show at Fox Theatre, Dinner at 10 Degrees South…$775 Value. Husband Material?? YES.

$10 donation at the door to benefit the kiddos of One Love Generation.

Free Valet Parking!

A few of you have expressed an interest in volunteering with One Love Generation, some of you have already helped so much in the beginning stages, others are already signed up to become mentors. Tonight I am inviting you to PowWow. The project is growing at a rapid pace. I would love to update you on our strengths/weaknesses & get your feedback/ see how we can work together to create change. Please feel free to bring friends or pass this invite along to anyone who might be interested. All are welcome.

Shoot me a quick email if you know you can make it………but feel free to show up even if you don’t! We’ll be at Dantanna’s in Buckhead. Here is the address: 3400 Around Lenox Dr. Suite 304 Atlanta, GA. We’ll be there at 7:30.

Thank you all so much for your support. I am extremely grateful that you are all in my life.

One Love.
Jennifer

jennifer@onelovegeneration.org

Seeking marketing intern responsible for supporting the Executive Director with all aspects of marketing efforts.  Applicant must have a basic understanding of marketing with a strong interest in advertising, public relations and event planning.  Interest in the local and international arts, culture & children is a bonus.  We offer a creative, casual environment and are looking for candidates that are motivated and like to have fun.  Candidate should be assertive, creative, energetic & organized.  They should be a strong communicator by nature (written and verbal), and able to multi-task/thrive in a fast-paced environment. 

Projects may include portions of the following:

• Assist in developing an effective media kit
• Assist in organizing special events/fundraisers
• Schedule interviews with local publications and media coverage for events
• Assist in writing artist announcements – events & general website material
• Attend meetings with large companies regarding event/program sponsorship opportunities
• Competitive research on similar programs and their sponsorship associations
• Social web networking (Facebook/Twitter)

Proficiency in Microsoft Office a must, Photoshop/Illustrator a bonus. 

Please email resume if interested: jennifer@onelovegeneration.org

I want to tell you a story that’s hard to believe, but you will. We have a wonderful volunteer, Jimbo, who comes to SafeHouse faithfully at least twice a week and works with the homeless. Retired, he wanted to get involved more, so he came to SHO and volunteered in Problem Solvers.

Jimbo is a silent angel. He will take someone for a free eye exam, get them measured for new glasses, and then take him to lunch. And when the glasses are ready, he drives them to pick them up. He has brought in blankets, and interview type suits. Because of Jimbo, a huge box of reading glasses showed up in Problem Solvers one day.

There’s so much more I could say about Jimbo. We call him the silent angel because all these things happen with little to no fan fare. He just does it.

One day a man, Michael, walks into Problem Solvers. He is homeless and has a broken shoulder. A bandage covers his nose where he had cancer removed. The hospital releases him shortly after surgery and chemo. I can’t imagine getting a round of chemo and then having no bed or no support to go home to.

As if that wasn’t tragic enough, Michael is almost completely blind. He had gone to an eye doctor several years back who told him he had macular degeneration, a condition that would eventually take his sight completely. (And it was doing a good job.)

Michael isn’t the type of homeless person you would expect. Back in the day, he was an accomplished salesman at a Rolls Royce/Cadillac dealership. In fact, GM had him announce the new cars in Detroit every year, tuxedo and all.

Once his eye sight began to fail, he couldn’t work. He went through a difficult divorce. That’s when life really began to unravel. Michael then began treatment for the cancer.

He wouldn’t go to a shelter. “Those people get into a rut. And it changes how you think. I didn’t want to get to that place so I went as far out as I could possibly go and I live in the woods,” he said. Actually, he’s in area that is considered an affluent suburb of Atlanta.

Jimbo was the person who greeted him at the door. He began helping him securing his ID, applying for Medicare and helping with basics like shoes and blankets. He helped him when he had chemo treatment and get to his doctor appointments.

But that just wasn’t enough for Jimbo. He felt that Michael’s eyes needed to be checked again. While it seemed that Michael was accepting what was happening, Jimbo wouldn’t.

So one day, he just put him in the car and drove him to an ophthalmologist across from Piedmont Hospital. They explained to the doctor what diagnosis Michael had, but the doctor didn’t agree. “Michael has cataracts. These can be taken off and he will see again.”

That simple.

A wrong diagnosis changed the course of this man’s life. The light of a laser changed it again.

Michael said that it was hard getting used to seeing again. “It’s so bright. It even gave me a headache. I had gotten used to no light.”

In the most dramatic way, this is a picture of what we do and who we help at SafeHouse. Michael went from the light of life to the darkness of life, alone in the woods; all because someone else made a mistake. And a willing person to give compassion and friendship, and goes just one step extra and a life is changed in an almost unimaginable way.

It’s that hand-up so many need. Michael needed more than food or shoes. Michael needed a hand-up; an opportunity to make a change that he might not have ever had otherwise. And to think he was comfortable with the dark.

You can’t say that now! He finished his chemo treatment and is considered cancer free. He called Cadillac and talked with a former boss. He was told “Pick a dealership, and you’ll be hired.”

In Michael’s wisdom he said, “First I need to get a simple job. I haven’t worked in a while and I need to get back into it. I want to have my shoulder repaired and I need to get an apartment. Then I’ll call GM.”

Jimbo continues to help Michael and others as well.

SafeHouse is a hand-up, not just a hand-out. And you can be that hand to someone who needs it too. Through your time, prayers, and gifts, help someone to get comfortable with the light again.

From the city,

Philip Bray

P.S. Michael has adjusted to the light again.

Blog courtesy of Philip Bray: SafeHouse Outreach

~ Mahatma Gandhi

As most things that are created it started out as a dream;  it was such a huge dream  that at times it was difficult to illuminate all the corners.  There were a few clear pieces of the puzzle in our hands; the dream was comprised of all the things we are most passionate about: kids, art, travel and service to others. There was always the belief that by truly inspiring a passion for these same things and an awareness of their potential, we could give our kids an opportunity to create lasting change in their lives.  

Oh, the creative process! Wheels always churning, constant collaborating, late night brain storming, pencil eraser chewing, finger crossing…and in general a lot of love and hard work. And here we are, so excited to announce that our dream has come to fruition!

In the past month few months, things have been growing quickly. OLG compiled a strong board of members who each bring a unique and exiting piece ­­­and we also thrilled to have joined forces with a few amazingly cool and talented artist mentors. 

The destination for this generation of students has been finalized; One Love Generation is going to BRAZIL. Lindo maravilhoso!

But today I think we really reached one of the highest peeks in this process so far, we got the news that we have been awarded the SafeHouse Outreach Learning Community Capacity Building Grant!! The value of this program is immeasurable!  SafeHouse Outreach Learning Community’s goal is to empower and increase the capacity of organizations such as OLG. They will provide us with education, training and consulting in areas such as Leadership and Organizational Development, Program Development, Community Engagement and Revenue Development Strategies. Essentially, they are giving us the tools to impact our kids and the community in a large and lasting way.

With each day the momentum is multiplying. Around every corner there seem to be more amazing people who believe in OLG’s dream. We are inspired. We are excited. We are thankful. Join us in creating something lasting!

One Love.

Blog courtesy of Candice Harris: One Love Generation