Number One Supporter

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Tony's Blog: We have it in our power to begin the world over again

Dear Friends,

When I woke up this morning my heart was full. There is something in the air. It smells like optimism, sounds like enthusiasm and feels like love. It comes in the form of an outpouring of support for our dream of an Urban Oasis for teens in the heart of the city.

That feeling has since given way to deep reflection as I realize that this is the day that we celebrate the life of another man who had a dream: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., visionary leader and advocate for human rights for all. Unfortunately we must also reflect upon his death in 1968 at the hands of those who felt that such a vision could be silenced. It cannot. His life was ended, but his voice lives on.

I call upon the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for guidance in our quest for cultural renewal. I call on his legacy to fuel our courage to check the ignorance of racism, born from hatred which in turn is born from fear. We need the memory of MLK to incite the promise of Obama that is threatened by incivility and the disingenuousness of political discourse. A political solution without a cultural shift will be short-lived. The very work that we do at Youth Mentoring Connection is aimed directly at such a shift. Our best hope is in understanding our interconnectedness, revisiting old wisdom, understanding new ways of connecting (social networking, media outreach, etc.) and practicing compassion toward our youth and their communities. We’ll have to use all these tools and our greatest levels of creativity.

Yet, as our name implies, it comes down to developing a culture of mentoring. It comes down to our ability to proliferate the number of adults who will approach our youth in the spirit of “Sawubona” (Zulu for “I see you”), to recognize the “gifts” they were each born into this world to share. Indeed to recognize that the most wounded of them carry deep medicine that we all need, and by helping them heal we learn to heal the entire culture.

Mentoring as practiced at YMC is a community endeavor rooted in the imagination of old wisdom. The word comes from Homer’s Odyssey and involves the healing of a culture wracked by war. “Mentor” becomes guide for the young prince Telemachus and inspires him to find his voice and go on the necessary journey into adulthood. The ultimate conclusion is that the gifts of the youth mingle with that of the elder, thus driving out the forces of fear. I believe that is our battle today. If we defeat fear, we can face ourselves, face our individual and collective wounds, and build the compassionate society that has always been the promise of America.

Thomas Paine wrote, “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”

What an amazing thing, this human capacity to reinvent ourselves; to start anew. Let’s use the symbolism of a new year and the inspiration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to inspire us to move our society to where all peoples can finally say:

"Free at last, free at last.
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

yours in peace,

Tony

INNER CITY YOUTH SCORE BIG WITH “RAW” NEW FILM

On Saturday May 23rd close to 100 audience members were awed and inspired by the Premiere of the Urban Oasis Film Academy's latest production "Moment of Decision". Made by a collective of young people under the guiding hand of Mark Schwartz (Alchemy Media) and Charles Campbell this was a story about the kind of decisions young people in Los Angeles face on a daily basis.

Drugs, violence and gangs all were a part of the gritty tableau. The young people strove to show a graphic dramatization of what life in and around the streets of South Central Los Angeles is like. Being unable to walk down your street for fear of getting "jumped", facing constant temptation and peer pressure to take part in anti social activities. Being from the community the young people were able to tell the side of the story not often portrayed in the mainstream media. As we found out more about the characters in the midst of tragedy we saw resilience and strength. This all resonated with the audience who offered a standing ovation as the young film makers took the stage for a spirited question and answer session. An auspicious beginning for these aspiring film-makers.

Moment Of Decision

You are invited to the premiere screening of...

M.O.D. - Moment of Decision

A band of urban Los Angeles teenagers have caught the filmmaking fever. Under the guidance of the HBO supported Urban Oasis Film Academy, 10 teens have devoted their weekends over the last 5 months into making "M.O.D."-- a 20 minute film dramatizing the dreams and challenges of growing up in South Central LA. "M.O.D." will be sliced up and delivery as a webisode over the internet, but first we are hosting a premiere to celebrate what these underrepresented youth have accomplished.

Where & When:

May 23rd from4:00pm - 6:00pm at

The Norris Cinema Theater on the USC Campus

Screening will be followed by Q & A and popcorn reception.

Street Parking along Jefferson near Hoover or Campus Parking ($8) enter Gate 5.

"M.O.D." has the honor of being selected for the 2009 LA Film Festival's Future Filmmaker's Section.

For more information contact:

Mark Schwartz

p 310-614-4016

www.urbanfilmacademy.org

Appeal for help - Urban Oasis

Hello Friends,

For the past year, many volunteers have been working hard to make Urban Oasis a reality. Urban Oasis is a community where our youth from South Central Los Angeles can feel safe, supported and valued. This project is currently our top priority, but it takes time and resources. Our volunteers are working as quickly as they can to make it happen.

In the meantime, there is an URGENT need for an interim facility to house “Urban Oasis”. Our teens have no place to go and they are turning to the street. What used to be safe havens for our teens are no longer options. Many of these places have chosen to support a much younger population. They are struggling to survive; their dreams feel no longer in reach and many have lost hope for college. The need for space is IMMEDIATE as Youth Mentoring Connection no longer has access to a previously used drop in center as well as their transportation capabilities. Teens need a place where they can come and feel safe, supported and ultimately just be. Where they can meet their mentor, do their homework, get counseling, watch movies with friends, laugh and be a part of a supportive community, something that all teens need in order to thrive.

Ideally we are looking for a facility with open space as well as some offices (to replace the current YMC Office). The space should be a minimum of 4,000-6,000 square feet. The preferred location would be close to the current mentees—north of Washington, south of Vernon, east of Figueroa, and west of Central.

We are asking for your help in suggesting contacts who may own or have access to property in this area. This may include other teen service organizations, elected politicians and their staff, local churches, development or other applicable government organizations, community leaders like Magic Johnson or anyone who might be able to refer us to others. If there is space that is not being utilized now that we can turn into a vital center to get young people off the streets that would be ideal. If we can get that space for little or no cost, that would be even better. (We all know the state of the economy.)

We are happy to do the “legwork” but any personal referrals/initial contacts would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your continued support. If you think you or someone you know can help, please reply to this e-mail or contact Juliana Wells at YMC – 323-731-8080.

Thank you,

Tony LoRe

President and Founder

Youth Mentoring Connection

PS We also need a temporary place to park a small shuttle bus in the same area, until we have a secure location.