March 31, 2004
Las Vegas, The mecca of ME Culture, USA8:30pm I'm researching names I noted while watching a documentary at the Sedona film festival, Juvies, about how 200,000 youth are going to jail each year and often being tried as adults, getting stiffer sentences. The film said suicide in youth prison is 8 times higher than adult prison, 75% of people released from prison return in 5 years, and a person in prison will cost tax payers a million dollars over a life time. "Money will be spent to send kids to prison instead of educating them."
Lewis Yablonsky, attorney and author, was one of the names. I found his site and sent him an email. Now the others...
Searching Michael Meade, I found this by Jesse Wright--
When I left college, back in the dark ages, I realized a few things:
I really did not like being lectured to
I did not like being hurried to meet artificial unimportant deadlines
I did not like splitting my attention between subjects at the same time
I did not like being watched over while I work
I really do like discussing things with people who are thoughtful about a subject
I really do like to have some relaxed time to think about a subject or problem
I discovered Michael Meade created Mosaic, and that I had seen his work before-- having to do with roles, such as, "The word ‘mentor’ refers to ‘lived knowledge’ and comes from the old myth in which Mentor is a guide and teacher who works through inspired language and knowledge of survival."
10:29pm. I just found the film's site, and read this, by Leslie Neale, the Director:
"When I started volunteer teaching at Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles, I was naïve to juvenile justice, thinking children were handled fairly and with care, not only for their safety, but also for the safety of the public at large. What I found is that scores of children are getting thrown away in adult prisons instead of staying in the rehabilitative environment of the juvenile system, a structure originally designed to protect them from ending up in the adult system. The making of “Juvies” has made my life make an irrevocable turn towards correcting the juvenile justice system, making it one that is run with intelligence, responsibility and mercy."
11:34pm I've spent the last few days here at Gene and Sharon's hooking up workshops and figuring out where to go in the long run. This summer I'd like to be in Oregon or Idaho so I can attend the Rainbow Gathering and Burning Man. The best option looked like SUWS, a wilderness therapy program in southern Idaho. This morning I was ready to drive up there for a staff training weekend, but was told last minute that getting a US work permit could be tricky and they rather not take the risk.
I also talked to Mona at Dragonfly Adventures in Oregon, but they don't have a need for more staff yet. I'm also interested in Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions, but I have yet to contact them.
Tomorrow I meet with Britney of Positive Impact. They run a school for at-risk youth in Kino Bay, Mexico. I'd like to do a Dragonfly Workshop for them in a month or so. Over the next few weeks I'll be doing shows and workshops between southern Utah and Tucson, AZ.
I've also started looking at getting a degree from Prescott College in Tucson. They have an Adult Degree Program that is "self-designed, student-centered, flexible and offers credit for life experience through a portfolio process."
This past weekend was a brilliant Burning scene-- partying with beautiful people so open and free. The main event was on Saturday night-- a dozen of us walking The Strip like a circus troupe blissed out-- shining like the stars we are and reaching out-- breathing out the joy of life to awaken the walking dead.
I wore olive/black dress pants, black shoes, a tan soft leather jacket with fur cuffs and callor open to tan bare chest and six pack. It was hot and got a lot of looks. Men snarled and said commented to buddies saying I was gay, but most people smiled. It wasn't about, "arn't we cool..." ...but just shining to inspire others. I spoke with a hundred people over the four or five hours, giving them an intro to the Burning Man community. Most people had never heard of it and it's not for everyone, but for everyone who goes, I know it will change them in someway for the better.
Unfortunately my digital video camera disappeared that night in New York New York's Nine Fine Irishmen, which made me experience yet another lesson in detatchment. It was the first day of having it back since it was fixed.
I just got two replies from the emails I sent out last night asking how could get into the prison system to do workshops and shows:
"You can start out as I did. Get a job in a juvenile facility or probation, and go from there. Good luck. Lewis Yablonsky
Lewis... thank you for responding.
I tour around to many schools and prisons... so that I can be more free. I don't want to spend my life in a jail as well.
Do you know of anyone or a program that brings a person like myself into the prison system to teach and inspire?
Thanks again!
-C
Dear Cory,
Thanks so much for your note. We're glad you got a chance to see "Juvies" in Sedona.It sounds like you're doing some powerful work as well. We do not have any contacts outside of California for prisons. The only suggestion I can make is to work through the system, as you'll have to deal with them at some point. Find out what their procedures are for media coming into youth facilities. And, just a note of advice, it's all about relationships. You build those relationships over time and by showing that you're the kind of organization that is not there to exploit for financial or other purposes. When you're working with the prison industrial complex, nothing ever happens quickly. Be prepared for that.
As for grants, there are so many organizations out there. Do a search on Yahoo! for grants and you'd be amazed how much information you'll find. I don't have any specific leads because we have not had a lot of time to do that kind of follow through ourselves.
Good luck on your project.
Take care,
Traci Odom
Associate Producer, "Juvies"
www.juvies.net
I just got this one too, but I'm not sure from who, unfortunately, but likely a Burning Brother. I will email back to find out. We certainly share the heart's path.
Greetings my Brother myself,
I have met up with my partner and it is a long beautiful story of which you are a part of. I dont have time to explain everything now but I will share a little. I am back in San Jose, Costa Rica after a very powerful World Rainbow Gathering where Profecy, Dreams ans Synchronicity has brought me together with a Brother on a mission very similar to mine, each of us sharing the necessary talents to successfully complete this mission. We will be travelling vis horseback from Costa Rica through Panama, Columbia, Equador and Peru starting in the Choco-Darien Western Equador Region. He will be guiding and I will be photographing endangered species and a few species yet to be discovered. He owns 600 Hectares of the most Biodiverse Cloud Forest in Equador and is gifting me some land to build a 500 sq meter art gallery where I will display my work and the work of the indiginous people of the area as well as having educational presentations in the theatre. I have introduced Bio-Dynamics to him and he is very interested. He and I will be travelling to Villa Vanilla which is only about one hour from San Vito which is where we are training our horses and will be for the next month or two before moving on to Panama and setting up our next base of operations.
I think Laura said the owners name is Hank, and we want to go there for 15 days to one month so that my Brother can learn, first hand, more about Bio-Dynamics. I do have some preps with me, of course, but will need to send for more eventually. If you know of anyone who can assist on our mission, financially or with preps or contacts or whatever it would be greatly appreciated. I will be in touch with you and perhaps we can meet somewhere along the journey. I will be at least 1 to 2 years before going back to Equador to start construction of the Gallery. Please send my Love to Laura and Hugh and of course I Love You My Brother.
In Peace, Love and Light
William
Lately I've been thinking often of my lovely sister Leanne, especially watching Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, cuz she's got that same pure sweet look in the eyes as the leading lady, and she is one groovy baby. This little elove from her now is too hot to hit the trash:
Hey there dear Cory! How go the days? I hear you're in love. This is a picture of the beautifully vibrant children that I worked with in Cuba. I miss their faces. Saint Johners just don't have that same glow... but you do...and a few others...
I love you. When will the day come when our playful spirits will get to play again?
My belly is rumbling. I've been editing a bunch of fabulous photos and thinking of all of the beautiful paintings which they will inspire! I could stay here all day, but my belly wouldn't like that...
I'm listenning to the Be Goods, thinking about those wandering shoes and those wandering blues and the pretty songs that we sang in your van, in the trees, and that danced on the breeze. So, I thought I'd say hello.
Curtis just invited us to a BBQ, but carnage just doesn't appeal like granola...mmmm...granola.
I have another picture I want to send. It's quite lovely too.
Do take care of yourself my love and know there is a community of people at home who love you, miss you, and who've got your back!
Peace,
Leanne (La Pirata)
Leanne.... I love you sooooo much! I have been thinking of you and miss you. I watched a far out video called Beyond the Valley of the Dolls... and made a copy for you. You have the same eyes as the leading lady.
I just lost my video camera in a bar. I put it down and it was gone soon after. Your little red book of sweet quotes was in the bag too, so if the person has a change of heart... after reading those quotes maybe.... it could be coming your way.... since your address was in it.
I'm about to jump in the spaceship and fly around the Grand Canyon shooting dragonflys from my fingers and projecting light into schools for kids with dark hearts... so I can't write much, but check the last page of my journal if you wanna see into my crazy world: http://www.solomax.com/mar.31.4.html
Thank you for the sweet pics. I've added them to my journal cuz I could not trash such beauty and I am so proud of you my baby sister.
OXOX
Your Monkey,
Cory
