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All Walks of Life, Inc. |
December
2010 |
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Greetings!
Happy Holidays everyone! We hope this final newsletter of the 2010
year finds you all in good spirits. It's been a tough
year, with budget cuts, political sparring and unemployment at an
all time high. But what I think we must all remember to do is cut
off the "stupid box" off (television) sometimes, and instead of
worry about what the reporters have to say about our world, we
should step right outside our own front door and "make some good".
As we watch and listen to all this talk about the great "reset",
you never think to wonder how kids are holding up in this mess. In
2010, we have had more kids experience financial hardships such as
foreclosures, evictions, and lack of basic utilities in the home
than ever before.
Now more than ever it's important for us to band together to "make
some good" for kids like Paul. Paul is a middle school drop out,
who has no more than an 7th grade education, and upon arrival to
AWOL, not a glimmer of hope in his eyes, not to mention zero
motivation to do much more than stay at home most days of the week.
Paul is enrolled in the sound design and music education program
and since enrolling just over a month ago, we have already started
to notice changes in his attitude, like a desire to be around
positive peer groups, a willingness to listen to adult role models
and most important of them all, a unrelenting desire to come to the
AWOL office everyday. We are proud to be "making some good" in
Paul's life. How are we doing that you say? Easy..AWOL is there for
young people consistently and without judgment everyday and on
weekends. There is no magic bullet to saving our youth during a
time when circumstances can make it even easier for them to turn to
a life of crime. But it starts with good folks like YOU, stepping
out the door to come volunteer or clicking the DONATE link to help with
resources.
So as we head into the holiday season with cheer, we hope that you
will all go out and "make some good" for your family and your
community and may you all have a wonderful Christmas!
Sincerely,
Tony, DaVena, Caleb and Daniel Jordan
AWOL All Walks of Life, Inc.
PS: A huge word of THANKS goes out to the Savannah Morning News
staff writer, Jenel Few for writing such a wonderful Thanksgiving
front page story on AWOL! We are humbled and thankful to live in a
community with such wonderful and supportive citizens! Check out
the story here: AWOL All Walks of
Life showing Savannah Children a Bright Future
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Christmas
Computer Giveaway
Volunteers Needed to
help put Computers into the homes of low-income
families
 It's that time of year again, a time to give and be
merry. AWOL is set to give away 100 computers to low income
families helping our community bridge the digital divide! With over
400 computers given out since 2008 and nearly 25,000 pounds of
e-waste saved from landfills and a whopping 10,000 training hours
with youth and community members, this program is doing much more
than just giving out computers. We are keeping our youth and our
community members out of the "social landfill"!
If you want to help out with the BIG CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY, send an
email to djordan@awolinc.org
Volunteer Shifts Available
Date: Thursday 12/16
Session 1:12pm-3pm
Session 2: 4pm-7pm
Location: Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm St.
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Winter
Youth Trip 2010
Sponsor a Child for
just $100 and Give the Gift
of High Quality Arts Education
 This winter AWOL youth will be treated to
a very unique experience with a visit to Kenny Leon's True Colors
Theater and Patchwerks recording studios. The trip is scheduled for
Sunday, December 19th. We will be taking a day trip to Atlanta, GA.
The cost of the trip is $100 per youth and/or adult. We are
planning to take 40 youth and 16 adults chaperons. The kids are in
for a real treat this year, with learning and enrichment
opportunities throughout. Kenny
Leon is an African-American
director notable for his work on Broadway and in regional theater.
His success on Broadway has made him one of its foremost
African-American directors. He gained prominence in 1988 when he
became one of the few African-Americans to head a notable nonprofit
theater company as the artistic director of Atlanta's Alliance
Theatre Company. During Leon's tenure, the company staged premieres
of Pearl Cleage's Blues for an Alabama Sky, Alfred Uhry's The Last
Night of Ballyhoo, and Elton John and Tim Rice's musical Aida,
which went on to Broadway. The Alliance's endowment also rose from
$1 to $5 million during his time there. Mr. Leon's most
recent accomplishments include nominations for two Tony awards for
Best Director and was responsible for the direction of August
Wilsons famous piece, Fences. Mr. Leon directed a star studded cast
which included Felicia Rashad and Denzel Washington. As founder of
the Atlanta based True Colors Theater, Mr. Leon has again developed
one of Atlanta's most esteemed theater companies. AWOL youth will
be attending a play by Langston Hughs, Black Nativity and will also
participate in a professional acting workshop
The
AWOL Sound Design & Music Education kids (Projects 5) will be
visiting the a professional level music recording studio, the
infamous Patchwerks. Patchwerks is a full service music recording
studio with a healthy client list
that includes several Grammy award winning artist. The AWOL kids
will have the opportunity to roam the same halls as Beyonce, 2Pac,
Bobby Womack, Brittany Spears, Cher, Fantasia, OutKast and
Pink...just to name a few. Professional learning opportunities help
young people envision a better future. After the tour the kids will
get some hands on training with industry professionals using the
latest in equipment and software. Check out this video link of last
years class getting a tour of Patchwerks. 2009 class visits Patchwerks on
Youtube
Cost of the trip
is $100 per youth which includes attendance at the show,
professional workshops and meals. Many of our youth and families
are need a little help to cover the cost of the trip. Please help
out by sponsoring a child for the full $100 or DONATING whatever
you can to help out.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW SECURELY
ONLINE!
When
donating specifically for the youth trip, simply write "youth trip
2010" in the dedication box!
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Situations:
Shakespeare's Sonnets
The Trials and
Tribulations of Youth
 This year's annual hip-hop play production is going to
really BLOW YOUR HAIR BACK! With a cast of just over 50 youth,
these young people are working hard to bring you some of the most
professional stage work that you'll see in this town!
Written and directed by AWOL theater arts director, Lakesha Green,
the production takes a unique look into 18 of the over 150 sonnets
written by William Shakespeare. After working with AWOL youth for
just over 2 years, Ms. Green wants Savannah to get a birds eye view
of the various situations encountered by our young people and
marvel at their resilience and ability to overcome many of life
challenges.
Thanks to Comcast Savannah for being a huge supporter of
AWOL and for airing the hot commercial spot produced by Drew over
at Paragon Design Group!
Tickets on sale now!
Go online and purchase at http://www.scadboxoffice.com
SCHOOL SHOW TICKET ALERT!
Christmas Discount!
All schools reserving seats before the Christmas break will get a
$1.00 discount dropping the prices to $3.00 per youth!! Hurry! Sale
ends 12/19/10
ONLINE SCHOOL SHOW
RESERVATION
Field Trip Reservation Form PDF
Know a School Teacher? Forward the Information
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Therapy
Session
AWOL's monthly Open
Mic at the Sentient Bean(Every 3rd Sunday@
7pm)
 AWOL's Therapy Session is our once a month open mic
(microphone) for youth and adults. The Therapy Session, now in its
8th year is the only youth focused event that allows area youth and
adults to come out and share their thoughts, frustrations, and life
victories through whatever art forms they desire in a
non-judgmental therapeutic environment. The event is one of AWOL's
most successful through a long standing relationship with local
business owner, Kristin Russell of the Sentient Bean. The Beans is a
hot spot of intellectual and creative capital and not mention great
coffee and baked goods like those awesome Snickerdoodle cookies! We
have ended another great year at the Bean and would like to thank
all that patron the event on the regular and welcome all new comers
in 2011 at the January event which will pay homage to Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.
What: Therapy Session Open Mic
When: Every 3rd Sunday
Where: The Sentient Bean Coffee Shop
Location:13 East Park Ave.
Time: 7:00pm
*Therapy
Session is not held in December
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About
AWOL All Walks of Life, Inc.
AWOL's
mission is to promote and provide self-awareness through the use of
Poetry, Hip-Hop and Life. This mission is met by providing youth
with high quality arts and technology programs during the hours
most relevant to them, after school and at night. Founded in 1997
on the campus of Savannah State University by Tony "Polo" Jordan,
the organization is one of Savannah's leading arts based youth
development organizations. Visit our website at http://www.awolinc.org to learn more about our
programs and events.
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AWOL
All Walks of Life, Inc.
P.O. Box 15846
Savannah, Georgia 31416
912-303-4987
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