Catching up with April events!

There is so much going on!  Make sure to keep stopping by to see what's up :)

As mentioned in our last post, we finished up our workshops with UB last week.  If you haven't seen the video yet, check it out and leave a comment!  We had a great attendance for our final week where we were able to share what each group put together.  We also did a brainstorm activity where we really looked at how peace and violence can cancel each other out.  This was what Girl Talk came up with:

Last week, we also made a banner for The Service Collaborative's project "What Will You Bring to the Table?", which focused on the issue of child hunger both in our community and around the world.  Bethany and Keith brought it to their AmeriCorps training last Friday and got a hundred signatures on the pledge!  AmeriCorps members came up with different ways we can end food insecurity ... see what the wrote below:

Lastly, we held an UNO tournament last Thursday.  Arag took him the top prize, a $10 gift card to McDonald's.  Here are some photos of the final round between Arag, Issa, Boncko, and Musa:

We have a lot more coming up, so stop by or keep reading here!

"Breaking Down Violence" with UB and PUSH

We are nearing the end of our four-week workshop series with University of Buffalo.  We spent the last few weeks with a graduate class in the Graduate School of Education to really focus on different issues associated with violence.  Usually, our three groups don't focus on the same topic so these workshops had us all talking about the same thing: What is violence and how does affect our lives?

Our "Word Swag" Writing Club focused on the issue of bullying and will be presenting what they've learned in the last two weeks and how they feel about bullying.

Guy Talk put together a video on different ways we can deal with conflict resolution.  See the video here!



Lastly, Girl Talk focused on the violence that happens in relationships and between men and women.  They did a small art project focusing on awareness of the issue with empowering messages for women in tough situations.

It's been awhile, so I will try and keep this blog updated to keep everyone in the loop about what we've been doing!

- Janice

Peace, Love, and Grant Street

We had an awesome time last week at Peace, Love, and Grant Street!  A lot of people came to enjoy all the different things we had to offer.  West Side Youth Development Coalition and David Rivera's office provided candy and refreshments, the county sheriff's office stationed their horses outside the center along with two of Buffalo's finest food trucks (The Whole Hog and The Roaming Buffalo), WEDI's ENERGY afterschool program came to sing lovely carols, and we had plenty of activities going on inside!

Check out some photos that Emily took!

December Fun!

Hi all!  We have a lot of programming happening this December.  Due to holidays, we will also have a few extra closings and early closings as well.  Here is what's happening this month:


Thursday, December 6th:

• "TechArts for Girls" from 4pm to 5pm: We are working with Squeaky Wheel to host a digital media program for girls, where you learn how to use Photoshop and how to make your own images using the computer.
• "Peace, Love, and Grant Street" from 5pm to 8pm: Grant Street business owners are promoting local shops for the holiday season!  Our Center will be open as a rest stop, with information and refreshments.  We will have children-friendly activities and movies going on.

Thursday, December 13th:

• "TechArts for Girls" from 6pm to 7pm

Thursday December 20th:

• "TechArts for Girls" from 6pm to 7pm

Friday December 21st:

• PUSH Holiday Party from 5pm to 8pm: We have outgrown our location at the Center and will be holding our annual holiday party at the Loretto Center on 172 15th Street.  There will be food, music, prizes, and tons of fun!

Closings:

• Friday 11/30: Closing early at 5pm
• Tuesday 12/11: Closing early at 6pm
• Friday 12/14: Closed
• Thursday 12/20: Closed
• Friday 12/21: Closed at 271 Grant Street, party at Loretto Center!

Welcome back with Halloween photos!

Hi!  We haven't posted here in a long while but there's been a lot going on since the end of the summer.  We reopened about halfway through September and it's been busy and filled with a lot going on, from starting Girl Talk again, working on our upcoming art project, playing video games, and of course, our Halloween Party a couple weeks ago!

So here are some photos from the party and comments from our members on what they liked.

Fardosa and Jamila posing for a photo

Jamila: "I like the game, I like the dance, I like the monster.  I like when me and Emily was taking pictures."

Saadiya and Boncko posing for a photo

Issa and Bethany looking creepy

Janice: What did you like about the party?

Issa: "We broke the pinata and everyone was jumping and dancing.  Then we all tackled Eric and punched the pinata and then we all left."

Shy looking colorful with Igow

Sam looking fierce as a hockey player

Boncko with her little nephew

Boncko, Anais, and Saadiya running the sign-in table

People lining up for spooky punch and cupcakes

It's Ibrahim!

We were visited by a creepy monster (who made many young children cry!).

Levi gets taken in by the monster!

Jesska and Mimi smiling for the camera

The mummy wrap!

Twin Maka and Muna are a two-person mummy

Oh no!  The monster's got Steven!

Daudi is very scared while Abass is unfazed.

Arturo y Moises con el monstruo.

Some other comments from attendees ...

Emily: "Did any of your friends come to the party?"
Jamila: "YOSS."


Janice: "Did you like dancing?"
Esha: "No."

Ibrahim: "Everything, it was fun.  I met new people."

West Side Open Mic II on August 16th!

After the huge success of our first West Side Open Mic back in February, we have been working on figuring out when to have our next one ... and that's gonna be next Thursday, August 16th at 6pm!

(thanks to Emily Sahm for the awesome poster)

If you're interested in performing, check in with us sometime this week so we can help you out with your performance.  You can also sign-up during the event.  Any kind of performance is welcome, whether you want to play an original jam, sing, dance, read a poem or story, play a song -- anything!

We also will have a special appearance from Buffalo's own Push-Up King, Jeff Warrick.  Don't know who he is?  Come find out next Thursday!

Make sure to join the event on facebook too!

Music Trivia: Who said it?

Building up towards our Open Mic, which will be next Thursday, August 16th starting at 6pm, our theme this week is all around music.  For this week's challenge, we have a lyrics quiz.  Whoever gets the top score wins a prize.  The challenge will end this Friday.

... So you think you know your hip-hop?

Take the quiz!

Challenge: Memorize and Perform a Monologue!

This Friday at 5:00 you can show off your talent by performing a short Monologue from your favorite movie or book.

Check out these examples:

This first one is a monologue from the movie "Never Been Kissed"

This one is from the book "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"

Ready to do one yourself? Talk to Megan, Janice or Keith and we'll help you pick out a monologue. Then you'll have to memorize and practice it for Friday.

-Megan

Storybird Challenge

Looking for something to do?   
Try this week's challenge!  Everyone who completes the challenge will get a prize at the end of the week (Thursday).


What you have to do:
1. First, read these 3 short stories about friendship:

What does friendship mean? by KindleSpark on Storybird

Imaginary by FogCat on Storybird

But the Cheetah Would not Dance by rmc523 on Storybird
2. Ask Megan for your own unique storybird login. Then go here to enter your username and password: http://storybird.com/accounts/login/

3. Once you log in, click on 'make a storybird' and pick out some cool art. Then select 'start a storybird with this art.'  This will open up the page where you can drag and drop art onto your pages and add words. You can add pages at the bottom.


4. Your challenge is to create a storybird about friendship that is at least 10 pages long.

Have fun and be creative! Once you finish, you can publish your storybird and we can all read it and comment. If you don't finish in one day, that's ok! Just save it and log in tomorrow to finish it.   If you liked this, you can keep making more storybirds.

-Megan

Job Guide: Part 1

We've been working to create a simple, step-by-step guide to get our members thinking about what kind of job they want and how to get that job.  The guide is now finished and there is a survey to fill out that will help you 1) complete an application, 2) write your own resume, and 3) get ready for an interview.

This post is to help you out, but I really, really, really recommend that you read the guide first and have your completed survey next to you before you go clicking on these links and applying to jobs.  I will also have another post up in the next few days with a list of local places (different offices and businesses on Grant Street) that are looking to hire and some tips on how to approach them.

Keep in mind only larger chain stores will have online applications.  Smaller local stores and restaurants will require you to call or apply in-person.

Online applications are available for:

• Wegmans (grocery store at Amherst near Elmwood)
• Tops (grocery store on Grant at Amherst)
• Family Dollar (discount store on Grant at Forest)
• Tim Horton's (coffee/donut shop on Elmwood at Lexington)

Print-out applications are available for:

• Dollar General (discount store on W. Ferry near Grant)

Only In-store applications are available for:

• Rite Aid (convenience store on Grant at W. Ferry)

Wegmans: CLICK HERE TO BEGIN
1) Click "Apply Now"
2) In the "Job Number" box, enter "1103413"
3) Scroll down and click "Search for jobs" button
4) At the bottom, select "Cashier Part-Time Customer Service"
5) In the new page, read the description and select "Apply Online" when you are ready.  You will now have to create a login/password (write it down and remember it!) and complete the online application.

Tops: CLICK HERE TO BEGIN
1) Click "Click here for the JobsExpress system"
2) Click "Apply Now?"
3) In the new page, follow the directions and click "NEXT" to continue
4) When you need to enter information:

• Choose your state: "New York"
• Choose your city: "Buffalo"
• Choose your location: "Grant & Amherst, 345 Amherst St."
• Continue the rest of the application until you're done!

Family Dollar: CLICK HERE TO BEGIN
1) Click "Search Store Opportunities (Store-Level)"
2) In the "Keywords" box, enter "03113/W NY BUFFALO"
3) Scroll down and click "Search for jobs" button
4) At the bottom, select "NY Customer Service Representative"
5) In the new page, read the description and select "Apply Online" when you are ready.  You will now have to create a login/password (write it down and remember it!) and complete the online application.

Tim Horton's: CLICK HERE TO BEGIN
1) Click "Apply Now"
2) In the new page, start and continue the application until you're done!