3525 Lomita Blvd., Suite 200 Torrance, CA 90505 SHAREFEST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT VOL. 2, NO. 1 • SUMMER 2008 Creating communities that care Photo by Jeremiah Dobruck Jeremiah by Photo

A volunteer works on a mural at the

Harbor Gateway community center.

Work day ~ changes Send a kid to camp Dobruck Jeremiah by Photo ShareFest needs your help to give kids in under- Volunteers from the U.S. Forest Services greet L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at a work site in Wilmington. lives served communities a chance to escape the gangs, Three thousand people mobilized on April Three months ago on drugs and violence they’re likely to encounter Sponsor 20 kids for $10,000 26 as part of ShareFest’s fifth annual work day March 5, a 5-five-year-old through the summer. ShareFest started and became a force to rebuild and heal com- boy was shot in the head as showing up to community munities. a result of gang violence in By sponsoring one child or children you can impact Sponsor 10 kids for $5,000 taskforce meetings that we had. Church members, residents, government the Harbor Gateway neigh- each life and foster growth into a community leader. officials, pastors, LAPD officers, families and borhood. They would be saying, ’here’s how kids—to name just a few groups—participated Two years earlier, 14- It costs only $500 to give one child a safe, encourag- we can organize the community; in the work day. They planted trees, painted year-old Cheryl Green lost ing, fun environment for five weeks. Sponsor 5 kids for $2,500 here’s how we can give back.’ I saw murals, beautified schools, cleaned up neigh- her life because of gang- borhoods and tangibly changed the demeanor related activity in the same You can personally equip these kids with the tools that for the first time as a tool of of people and communities around them. community. and education they need to be a positive force in Sponsor 3 kids for $1,500 healing, and I never really thought In one day ShareFest completed 179 proj- But on April 26, resi- changing their neighborhoods. about that before. When you orga- ects in 51 locations. dents, parents, children and “They’re making a marked difference here families took control of their nize a community, To sponsor a child or children use the attached enve- in this effort,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said community that has suffered lope or contact ShareFest at (310) 626-8106. Sponsor 1 kid for $500 it actually heals. at a worksite in Wilmington where hundreds from crime, violence and of volunteers spread out along Pacific Coast gangs for years. —JANICE HAHN L.A. CITY COUNCILWOMAN Highway to do their part. “We’re going to plant Three weeks earlier on For more information about the Youth Development 15TH DISTRICT CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Academy see page 3. Thank you for your generous support! ~ Creating communities that care This newsletter is published by ShareFest Community Development, Inc. a non-profit organization. 1 Creating communities that care

Work day from page 1 Easy ways to Meet our new Del Amo Boulevard and Denker Avenue, residents began cleaning up a lot in preparation, and on that Saturday they board members and ShareFest volunteers painted murals for the lot that will Janie Thompson joins the ShareFest house their community center. support ShareFest Board of Directors and brings her knowl- “This is our lot of dreams,” 44-year resident Mary Ann edge of marketing and her care for the Cyphers said. ShareFest needs your help to to find something Online and get community. The atmosphere was a stark contrast to the demeanor of continue serving families and a percentage every time you shop She is the president and founder of the neighborhood that had suffered tragedy fewer than two children. Please consider one of the on the Web. To use GoodSearch and Carnegie Marketing Associates where, months ago. following options to support us. help out ShareFest just go to www. Thompson and her staff of professionals Cyphers explained that after the most recent shooting goodsearch.com, type in “ShareFest” offer direct marketers a full menu of list people were afraid to even leave their homes, but now that’s in the “who do you goodsearch for?” Donate services, with an emphasis on customer beginning to change. field, click “verify” and every time ShareFest is currently accepting service. “This community has come together to say ‘no more.’” you use GoodSearch ShareFest will online donations through paypal. She has devoted herself to building Cyphers said before she had to run over to the mural to receive a small donation. Visit www.sharefestinc.org/donate long-lasting relationships with her clients make sure the groups of small kids playing with cans of to make an online donation. You and associates which mirrors ShareFest’s paint didn’t make a few creative touch-ups to their work can also write a check payable to Ralphs Community Program dedication to relationships with the com- that day. ShareFest Community Development You can also support ShareFest by munities they it helps. During the summer, the community will bring in por- and return it in the enclosed using your Ralph’s Club Card. If you Photo by Jeremiah Dobruck Jeremiah by Photo Most of Thompson’s current clients have table modules, set up programs and begin providing a safe envelope. ShareFest Community navigate to www.ralphs.com and been with her since Carnegie Marketing environment for the families and children in the neighbor- Development, Inc is a charitable click on “Community Contributions” began over 25 years ago. In several cases, hood. The Harbor Gateway Community Center work site is a dream come true. organization 501c(3) Federal Tax ID # on the left you will be prompted she is working with the sons of the fathers By providing materials for the project and 72 volunteers 20-5651596. to sign up. Fill out the application she began with almost 3 decades ago and to work on it that Saturday, ShareFest became a part of “Sharefest started showing up to community taskforce using your Ralph’s Club Card and is recognized as one of the top experts in rebuilding and repairing a community that suffered undue meetings that we had,” said L.A. City Councilwoman Janice eScrip! ShareFest’s NPO No. 84949, and her field today. violence and pain. Hahn who oversees the district Harbor Gateway is a part of. To support ShareFest through the when you use your Ralph’s Card a “Working with them has been phenomenal,” Cypers “ShareFest would be saying. ’here’s how we can organize eScrips! program visit www.escrips. percentage of your purchase will be Joe McMahon brings more than 20 said. the community; here’s how we can give back,’” She said. “I com and follow their instructions. donated to ShareFest. years of experience in communications, ShareFest became involved months earlier though, try- saw that for the first time as a tool of healing, and I never You register any or all of your gro- sales and management to the ShareFest ing to understand the community and find the best way to really thought about that before. When you organize a com- cery loyalty, debit or credit cards eBay Auction board. serve. munity, it actually heals.” with them using ShareFests’ ID No. Starting Aug. 1, you can support us After graduation from Loyola Mary- 500016442. Participating merchants by participating in our online mount University, McMahon held various will make a donation for every pur- auction. Just go to http://www.ebay. sales and management positions before CSUDH students make a difference chase you make using those cards. com/sharefest to see the items up becoming an independent marketing con- You can also check online and see for auction and place a bid. The eBay sultant in 2005. More than 100 students, faculty and Mayfield, and director of fiscal affairs the Torrance Unified School District, how much has been contributed on auction will be split into five He now shares that experience and administrators from California State Andy McDaniel. In addition, ten vol- hopes that the Carnegie project and your behalf. waves with 30 to 50 auctions in each knowledge with the ShareFest board after University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) unteers from City on a Hill Church in its introduction through ShareFest wave. Each period will last 10 he first became involved through Oceans- rolled up their sleeves in April to help Torrance partnered with the university to CSUDH will open a pipeline to the GoodSearch days with the first starting on Aug. 1 ide Christian Fellowship where he, his wife spruce up Andrew Carnegie Middle in the planning and production of the middle school and the university’s Through GoodSearch ShareFest can and the last ending on Sep. 8. and their two sons have attended for 10 School in Carson. The two-day over- Sharefest event. students to mentor the youth. earn a penny every time you need years. haul of the school, which included Dr. Mike Ernst, chair and professor “ShareFest helped us with this proj- McMahon has taken an active role in his painting the school’s mascot on build- of kinesiology and recreation, says that ect which in turn introduces us to the community with youth sports and fund- ings and other signage, landscape work the value of CSUDH’s involvement in school,” he says.“It’s one step at a time, raising for local organizations including and clearing classrooms of discarded ShareFest goes beyond giving Carnegie and we want to see where we get. Our the PTA and volunteering for organiza- equipment, was organized through Middle School a facelift. hope is to get our students continually SAVE THE DATE tions like Pico Union and continues that ShareFest. “The idea of the university connect- involved in the programs and reach out dedication with ShareFest. Volunteers from the Latino Student ing with a middle school like this and to the middle schools.” Business Association, Pan African developing a relationship to be able to “When we were at Carnegie, the kids Union, Associated Students, Inc., have our students do mentoring is not were thanking us for the work we did. and the Department of Occupational a one-shot deal,” he says. “Secondary Beyond anything else, they know that This newsletter is a publication of ShareFest Commu- Therapy were joined by CSUDH Presi- students aren’t thinking about college... the students from CSUDH did this nity Development, Inc., 3525 Lomita Blvd., Suite 200, dent Mildred García, and faculty and We want to break that pattern, par- project and, through that, are begin- Torrance, CA 90505 administrators from the College of ticularly for middle school kids. That’s ning to understand the value of com- 5th Annual Evening of Community Editor Jeremiah Dobruck Health and Human Services (CHHS), why we need to develop relationships munity service,” said Ernst. Co-editors Bryan Doleshel including Dean Mitch Maki, Associate which we start by doing this type of a Friday, November 7, 2008 Chad Mayer Dean Angela Albright, assistant pro- project that you see here.” — by Joanie Harmon. Reprinted with More details to be released soon at www.sharefestinc.org Layout and Design Kevin Dobruck Graphic Design fessor of occupational therapy Diane Ernst, who serves on the board for permission from Dateline Dominguez Hills. www.dobruck.com 2 7 Creating communities that care Thank you to our generous sponsors Giving youth better and more opportunities is one of ShareFest’s most important goals Youth Development Academy

In July of 2008, ShareFest will begin hosting a Youth Development Academy on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), where youth between the ages of 14 and 15 will find a safe, struc- tured, educational and recreational environment as well as dynamic youth development programming. This will include the opportunity for them to participate in an innovative 4-week program designed to incorporate physical activity, sport, health, nutri- tion and character building education. The Youth Development Academy is designed to develop knowledge and physical skills that will help youth to make positive choices that lead to par- ticipation in lifelong physical activi- ties, community service, quality eating habits, more informed decision mak- opposite and foster a healthy lifestyle Youth today need to know that ing and self-awareness. In addition built around an active community. people in their community care. This to providing these young people with Youth in lower income areas need Youth Development Academy will access to high quality youth develop- summer alternatives to TV, video provide a safe environment and allow ment services, ShareFest provides games, and cell phones. They need at-risk youth to uncover talents, skills, leadership and direction that develops options outside the home that don’t and abilities they may not know they youth to become positive assets to the involve gangs, drugs or other dis- possess. It will provide them with the community. tractions. This Youth Development knowledge that education and positive With more than 700 gangs in L.A. Academy will provide them with behaviors can lead to better opportu- County alone, there is more than these options during the peak sum- nities and success for their futures and enough opportunity for youth to be mer months in which crime and gang the futures of their families and com- pulled into a destructive lifestyle. activity typically increases in their munities. ShareFest intends to do the exact communities.

ShareFest receives Golden Apple award

To recognize it’s service to Torrance schools, School in TUSD wrote the nomination highlighting ShareFest was awarded this year’s Golden Apple ShareFest’s ability to bring together stakeholders and award from the Association of Torrance School serve as a catalyst in the development of strong and Administrators (ATSA). lasting community/school ties,” Jane Tasker, princi- Every year ATSA gives out the award to a commu- pal of Arnold Elementary School wrote. “ATSA echoed nity member or group that has been of value to the Mr. Voight’s nomination, recognizing that ShareFest Torrance Unified School District, has served in out- has contributed greatly to almost every Torrance standing programs and been involved with ATSA. School. We are greatly appreciative of their efforts.” “Michael Voight, Principal of Magruder Middle

6 3 All community ~ work day 2008 3,000 Volunteers 179 projects Thousands of lives changed Our workday partners It’s been very gratifying beyond our expections. I think residents know we’re doing things different, that we’re Bread of Life Church getting them involved. We’re taking residents and Calvary Baptist Church Chinese Community Church of South Bay putting them in leadership positions. City of Redondo Beach —Rubin Harsoyo, NEIGHBORHOOD CITY PROSECUTOR, LA CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE City On A Hill Coast Christian Fellowship Community’s Child ~ Crenshaw Baptist Church El Segundo Foursquare Church First Lutheran Church of Inglewood First Presbyterian Church of Gardena PTA Gardena Valley Baptist Church Councilwoman Janice Hahn Harbor Gateway South Neighborhood Council Hilltop Community Church Of Christ Hope Chapel Gateway Hope Chapel Hawthorne Iglesia Nuevo Nacimiento Joseph Arnold Elementary School PTA Journey Covenant Church King’s Harbor Church King’s Way Community Church Lawndale Christian Church

Life Covenant Church Dobruck Jeremiah by Photo Lighthouse Community Church Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office Volunteers work at Watson Park in Wilmington’s Cruces neighborhood. Los Angeles Conservation Corps Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Work day from page 1 Los Angeles Mayor’s Office 100 trees today.” trust between the city and residents Los Angeles Unified School District

Throughout the South Bay, eager and enable the city to focus on improv- Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Lynwood Worship Center participants transformed schools and ing the neighborhood.

New Hope South Bay neighborhoods and in Wilmington, vol- At Watson Park in the Cruces area New Life Community Church unteers came to the Cruces neighbor- of Wilmington, volunteers of all ages, Oceanside Christian Fellowship hood—that has earned the nickname most of them residents, designed and Praise Chapel Redondo Beach Ghost Town—where ShareFest has painted a mural. ~ Praise Chapel Torrance served in the past after LAPD swept “Not only are the kids painting the Redondo Beach Historical Society through and arrested 60 gang members. mural but most of the kids have been Redondo Beach Unified School District That day, ShareFest was able to part of the actual layout of the mural, Resurrection Lutheran Church give residents even more control and and they’re furthering their ownership Rolling Hills Covenant Church responsibility while beautifying their by actually painting it,” said Barbara Rolling Hills United Methodist Church neighborhood. Robinson, who has attended a church There is a no shortage of work to be done. But when we set our sights on specific goals of what we SeaCoast Church can accomplish, God is very supportive in helping us get there, and getting a great deal of it done. South Bay Free Methodist Church “It’s been very gratifying beyond in the area since she was a child. —JOE McMAHON, OCEANSIDE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church our expectations,” Rubin Harsoyo, ShareFest was able to coordinate The Harbor Church the neighborhood prosecutor for the residents, volunteers, community lead- After we finished up at our project a few of us went to grab a bite to eat. A gentleman approached our table The River Church of the South Bay Harbor Area, said. “I think residents ers and city government into a day that and asked where we had worked that day. We told him and asked where he had worked. “Nowhere,” he said. His The Rock Covenant Church know we’re doing things different, that changed the daily life of thousands of children go to school in Wilmington and that is how he recognized our shirts. He just wanted to stop by and Torrance Community Church we’re getting them involved. We’re tak- people. of the Nazarene ing residents and putting them in lead- “We’re coming together because we say thank you for what ShareFest is doing and the impact it is having on his community. Torrance Unified School District ership positions.” have one goal, and that’s to make it bet- —JASON GALLAGHER, KINGS HARBOR CHURCH Tree of Life Harsoyo is part of an L.A. City pro- ter over here,” Robinson said. ...the volunteers did a great job for TUSD. We appreciate each of them for their hard work. Wilmington Community Organization gram designed to connect city prosecu- —Dr. George Mannon, Superintendent, TUSD Wilmington Empowerment Project tors to certain neighborhoods to build 4 ~5