More Art

Nick has done it again - made his way into the Argentine press. Read the article and then check out his stuff. I'm a big fan.

Not only because this dude is super talented and amazing, but also because the doll-making project in Providence he talks about was when we worked for English for Action's arts and literacy based child care program, NuestraEscuela! I took the photo above from that day working with kids painting the dolls that Nick had carved. The dolls were later part of a larger exhibition of works. Nick's skinny arms can be seen in the photo.

Word up.

Updated: Providence Music

I miss it, and I want to share some of it with you...



CAROLINE COTTER
My best friend since childhood who is a world traveler and folk musician. Her music is raw, unadultered, and honest (trust me). Her voice is gorgeous. And she's super nice. Her CD makes a great holiday gift, if you're into supporting indie arts.



MAHI MAHI
Two foxy dudes who get everyone dancing. I love these men (for many reasons, including Julian's and Ziggy the cat) and I love these heavy electro tunes. Just enough creepy and dark to keep it standing apart from a lot of other electronic music.



VVLTVRE
These two former coworkers of mine lay it on with layers of filth / creep / dark. They would be paid to work on the soundtrack for my film (if I were ever to make one). Listen to it, and if you like it, come do scratch tickets with me and Anna Purna during my visit home.



HOWL
Three dudes and a badass chick who are blowing up step by step... They tour often (CA soon?) and party with the best of us. Catch them around PVD working in your local Grocery or Corporate Chain Eatery, or boozin' at the favorite spots.



SAINT JUDE
Self-described as "metalheads playing hardcore with a punk drummer." They throw a mean show (Vincent has a nice scar to prove it). Brendan just got a The Big Lebowski tattoo. Vegans and Athiests and Cyclists and Babe Magnets. I love these boys so much it hurts! Get in there and throw some loving punches.




WHAT CHEER MARCHING BRIGADE
Do you ever get the feeling that you just wanna jump into the street and start dancing? Thanks to the WCMB, summertime in Providence now means spontaneous parades, tree climbing musical merriment, gorilla costumed percussionists, and huge motherfuckin' dance parties in the city streets past midnight. Support their touring! Support the marching bands! (R.I.P. Decatur Lounge)




POORLY DRAWN PEOPLE
Independent hip hop collective. Tight as that rope on which the industry is walking. They don't perform as much as they used to, but don't miss the tunes which are well-produced and intelligently written. Delivered correctly. Fresh. My BFF Lara and I (and some spiced whiskey) did some of the back up on "Storm Davis Fucks Like a Puma," which has turned into a cult classic (of mine and Lara's). Catch them hanging at Providence's local taprooms and strippys.

Miss you / kiss you.

xoxo
la la la

Olneyville Needs You!

Every August I send an ask letter for donations to a specific cause. This year I am asking you to donate to English for Action, a 501(c)3 in the neighborhood of Olneyville in Providence, RI. My birthday is coming up, and I'm moving to California in November. If you were thinking of getting me a gift, please donate to EFA instead.

I have worked at EFA for two full years. I was hired as the coordinator of the arts-based child-care mentoring program (Nuestra Escuela / Our School) for the children of adult English learners. My weeknights for the past two years have been spent sharing wisdom, knowledge, and art with amazing youth in my community. I have never worked in a more peace-filled and imagination-inspired child-care program in my 12 years of experience. It's more than work - EFA is family to me now.

It was recently discovered that the organization was in a serious financial crisis. Federal and State budget cuts to education programs have dramatically affected our income, and the income of our major funders.

With the jarring news that EFA might have to lay off the entire staff and possibly close most or all services, the Staff, Board, and Learner community took immediate action. We did some rearranging of positions and roles. We cut our budget by 1/3. We created clearly defined financial goals for the next year. We rallied the support of our grassroots sister organizations in Providence. We have all been volunteering our free time to ensure that the few paid staff members remaining don't burn out. My new position at EFA is the Interim President of the Board of Directors, and my major duty is acting as a pro-bono Development Director to seek grant money.

While we are all busy working nights and weekends for the financial stability of EFA, we are simultaneously planning for another year of high-quality programming, including Participatory-based adult ESOL classes, arts-based child-care, native language literacy, health services, a food bank, free library, the action committee, and other blossoming partnerships with community organizations. The Action Committee (formally recognized by peer organizations as an outstanding group) recently had a very successful grassroots event to raise money, food, and basic supplies for the families of ICE detainees here in Rhode Island.

Our classes operate evenings at a nearby elementary school which has a beautiful saying painted along the entire exterior wall: "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child." We all know that nobody can truly succeed without love and support from a community of friends and family. The same is true for EFA. We cannot continue our necessary and passionate work without your financial support.

I have a personal goal of raising $1,000 through friends and family by September 9th. This money will go directly to the ESOL program expenses, including supplies, books, trainings, and ensuring that it is staffed. Staff members are dedicated lovers of education who come from all walks of life, and strive to apply the holistic mission of EFA to the ESOL program while constantly improving the measurable outcomes of the program.

Our methods are proven to be effective, and our mission is unique. We are a valued and valuable organization and we need your help!

Please donate via this link, or by mailing a check to the address below.

English for Action
PO Box 29405
Providence, RI
02909

Linking NAFTA and Immigration (Part 1)

After some immigration debate with my father (the former RISD student and rock musician has matured like most Boomers) over apple pie and ice cream at my regular Doughty Family Dinner last Sunday, I've decided to compile some immigration / migrant worker / remittance / etc information.

As you probably know, I coordinate a child-care program for a non-profit in Olneyville, Providence that (to put it simply) provides English classes for Spanish-speaking immigrants. While my personal politics may differ from many of my coworkers, there are some undeniable truths about our responsibilities to human rights and our responsibilities to recognize our own power and influence as causal factors in this wave of immigration from south to north.

Here's some food for thought.

"During the NAFTA debate in 1993, advocates assured the U.S. and Mexican people that it would greatly alleviate unauthorized immigration by increasing employment opportunities in Mexico and closing the gap between U.S. and Mexican wages. But the promise of prosperity has been a mirage for millions of Mexicans: the value of the Mexican minimum wage dropped 23 percent in NAFTA's first decade; 19 million more Mexicans are living in poverty than 20 years ago, and today, one quarter of Mexico's population cannot afford basic foods."
-Linking NAFTA and Immigration by Ted Lewis for The San Diego Union-Tribune

Today is a conference in DC entitled:
Linking Agriculture, Development, and Migration: A Critical Look at NAFTA, Past, Present, and Future

Global Exchange has done a great job putting this information together, and they have a petition to Congress that you can sign online if you'd like.

Please realize that building a fence is not going to solve our problems.

xoxo
Carlita