January 2012
1 post
Happy National Mentoring Month! →
It’ a new year and like many people, I’m so glad to leave 2011 behind and move into 2012. Yet while the challenges we faced were difficult at times, I look back and marvel at our accomplishment!
We…
October 2011
1 post
Arts xChange Links Hutus and Tutsis with Bloods... →
I founded my nonprofit organization Create Now in Los Angeles in 1996 after discovering that my city was not only one of the most glamorous places in the world, but we also have the highest…
February 2011
1 post
Porque? →
Porque putas me gusta alguien que vive tan lejos… amor platonico! mierda!
September 2010
1 post
Another Meeting with Global Arts Leaders →
The International Visitors Council invited me to give another presentation to a group of 20 arts leaders and dignitaries from all over the world, who are guests of our government. They were invited…
June 2010
1 post
Middle-Eastern Meeting →
Yesterday, I was invited by the International Visitor’s Council (which is funded by the State Department) to give a presentation on Create Now to a group of music educators from the Middle East….
May 2010
1 post
This is a piece that’s a work in progress inspired... →
This is a piece that’s a work in progress inspired by GX experience in South Africa. It will be on the Street Poets, 3rd Album coming soon to your ears! get the first two for free! …
April 2010
38 posts
A Poem i wrote between places →
Inspired by the Durban, South Africa phase of GX.
UBUNTU
I skip over clouds
And cross-continents like bridges
In search of connection
To embrace my grandmother land
And its richness
I…
Thoughts About Global Xchange →
I’ll be digesting and processing my time in South Africa and Northern Ireland for some time to come. I’ve met some remarkable people, made some great new friends, and received a lot of…
Last Day and Night in Belfast →
After spending another fascinating night at Toni’s, talking into the wee hours, Saturday morning was a beautiful day. We’d been really fortunate during our three weeks in Belfast to have mostly…
3/25 - The Last Day at Global XChange →
Well this was the final day of our journey together. We all met at the British Council to develop recommendations for the GX Youth Exchange. We engaged in an activitiy that helped Neil understand…
3/24 - Wrapping It Up in Belfast →
Siya giving his work placement evaluation
Thursday was really our last day together as the GX Team. The Sierra Leone team would be leaving early on Friday morning and the Rwandan later in the…
Last Week of Global Xchange →
For those of us who didn’t have to be at our WAP on Monday night, we gathered in Belfast Centre and went to Nando’s for dinner at Victoria Square. Nando’s is a popular fast-food type of chain that…
3/21 thru 23 - Working at the Rainbow Project →
On Friday, John invited me to attend a training that he was facilitating with the Belfast Police Service (PSNI) about LGBT awareness and the law on Monday. The training was co-faciltated by a woman…
Helen's Cove and Bangor →
Kelly picked me up at Toni’s and was very sweet to drop Sbonello off near City Hall. Then we met up with Toni, Chickey, Mary, Jessica, Pumzile, Debbie and her 12 year-old daughter Jessica at Helen’s…
Toni and Chickey's House →
Toni Vaughan is one of our GX teammates from Belfast. I grew closer to her during our Belfast phase. She works for Barnardo’s and has been happily married to Chickey for 13 years. He’s an IT tech…
More of Belfast →
More of Belfast
Watch people dancing traditional Irish jigs →
Watch people dancing traditional Irish jigs
Forthspring - Part III (Detachment Youth Program) →
As youth grow older in this community, they’re less willing to visit the Forthspring center. They prefer to stay on the streets, hanging out at the park or on street corners with friends. The…
After working at Forthspring one night, Becky and... →
After working at Forthspring one night, Becky and Lena (two of the interns there) invited me to join them at Madden’s in Belfast, which is famous for traditional Irish dancing classes, and also…
At Maddens Bar: Becky (American) and Lena (German)... →
At Maddens Bar: Becky (American) and Lena (German) are both interns at Forthspring. Carolla, also from Germany, was an intern there several years ago and was back on holiday to visit her…
Forthspring - Part II (Center-Based) →
Forthspring is housed in a Methodist Church, which has around 40 seats in the chapel. They have a big gymnasium, a room with two pool tables and a Foosball game and two separate entrances (in…
Forthspring - Part I (After-School Kids) →
We started our day at 2:00 PM. Around ten kids, ages 4-9 years old, came to the center after being picked up by Forthspring staff at their schools. The program recently lost their funding and now…
Forthspring →
Rafiki and I were assigned to Forthspring for our five-day Work Attachment Plan (WAP). They’re an organization that’s unique for being based in the only community building that straddles an…
Our beloved Caterpillar lines up for the St.... →
Our beloved Caterpillar lines up for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Belfast
On your mark, get set… →
On your mark, get set…
And we’re off! →
And we’re off!
Unique POV →
Unique POV
The crowd anxiously waits →
The crowd anxiously waits
and waits… →
and waits…
Photo →
Photo →
The GX team with our young friends, getting ready... →
The GX team with our young friends, getting ready to march in the St. Patty’s Day Parade
Warming up →
Warming up
GX Team Marches in Parade on Belfast Telegraph... →
GX Team Marches in Parade on Belfast Telegraph Website: We’re about a minute into it. I quickly gave up shouting “Hail to the Caterpillar” and “Bow to the Caterpillar” and instead danced and…
Our Global Xchange team proudly represents →
Our Global Xchange team proudly represents
Photo →
Photo →
Sbonello incognito →
Sbonello incognito
Yay for Chickey! →
Yay for Chickey!
Photo →
Photo →
Sweet faces in the crowd →
Sweet faces in the crowd
Here I am dancing in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade... →
Here I am dancing in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Belfast with Sylvia Hebron of Sierra Leone.
a few sights from Belfast, Northern Ireland. →
Joker, Batman, and Robin in Belfast City Centre from a different angle Black Taxi Mural Smile your on camera… Toad Toy (real) Instrument Going to Scotland Anyone ?? Look its a circle, inside city hall…
March 2010
89 posts
3/20 - Community Clean-Up Day at Ardoyne Youth... →
Rafiki 3/20 - Community Clean-Up Day at Ardoyne Youth Club
3/21 - Lovely day trip to Annalong, Katrina’s home... →
Best Ice Cream in Northern Ireland On the road to Annalong Moto waiting patiently for a walk Church next door to Katina’s parents hom Sheep grazing at the Church Path…
