Charity Profile: STONEWALL Veterans' Association

Planet Connections Theater Festivity is proud to list the renowned STONEWALL Veterans' Association as a Featured Charity!


Stonewall Veterans' Association's Executive Councel is comprised of the legendary Stonewall veterans of the historic 1969 Stonewall Rebellion for Gay civil rights at the landmark Stonewall Club in NYC.  
The seminal event established the modern Gay community and launched the worldwide Gay rights
movement now benefiting millions of people -- Gay and non-Gay -- in civil
rights, marriage, employment, housing, visitation, healthcare, insurance,
legal, right of survivorship and various benefits plus so much more!

Among the STONEWALL Veterans' Association's many regular activities:
* provides "Stonewall" speakers to high schools, colleges, churches,
 clubs, companies, civic groups, symposiums and to other U.S.A. cities
* protects and maintains the Stonewall archives and photo collections
* organizes discussion panels, educational seminars and public forums
* educates the World via approximately 10 million website visits annually
* accommodates SW-vets with physical disabilities or mental health issues
* originators of the "Gay Marriage" movement as of the 1969 SW rebellion
* owns, garages and insures the famous blue 1969 Cadillac "Stonewall Car"
* collaborating on media projects, e.g., the BBC's 1996 movie "Stonewall"
* provides history facts such as Stonewall was a "rebellion" (not 'riots')
* maintaining SVA property and archives at a Manhattan storage facility
* SW-vets being honored at Gay Pride events literally throughout the World
* creating and coordinating advertising and promotion of "Stonewall Era"
* delivering age-related support in many ways to our aging Stonewall vets
* giving opportunities for Gay youth to work for and learn from the S.V.A.
* preparing, planning and executing USA "Stonewall 43" (2012) activities
* leads the annual New York City Gay Pride Parade with the 1969 "SW-Car"

From the legendary Gay (observe the capital "Gay", not 'gay') people who
originated the 'Gay Marriage' movement as of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion
when, after the first night on June 27th, many signs read: "Gay Marriage"
as well as "Gay Rights" and "Gay Power"; no alphabet GLBT soup non-sense!

The S.V.A. is not a political group (it has a far greater support) and as
NYC Mayor Ed Koch has stated publicly "...and much more political clout"!

Learn more at www.STONEWALLvets.org

See photos of the S.V.A. leading a New York City Gay Pride Parade at:
http://www.STONEWALLvets.org/parade/SW-35.htm

by Lauren M

Charity Profile: To Write Love on Her Arms

Planet Connection Theater Festivity is proud to list To Write Love On Her Arms as one of this seasons Featured Charities.

Two out of three people who struggle with depression never seek help.  Rather than reaching out to family, friends, or other loved ones, they use other means of coping. Destructive means. The vision of To Write Love on Her Arms (more commonly referred to as TWLOHA) is to show those people, stretched to the limits of their strength, that there is community of people, full of love, waiting with open arms to give hope and strength to help relieve their silent suffering. This non-profit organization is focused on helping those who are fighting battles against not only depression, but also addiction,  and self-injury. TWLOHA 's vision also provides support for those who have survived the loss of loved ones to suicide.

In the spring of 2006, TWLOHA was born in Orlando Florida. Founder, Jamie Tworkowski  wrote of his experience of waiting five days outside of a drug treatment center with his friend Renee, as she was repeatedly denied access. He entitled the story “To Write Love on Her Arms”.  You can read the story here: http://www.twloha.com/vision/story/. After realizing the reasons Renee was denied, Jamie decided to design and create t-shirts as a way to help pay for her treatment. Soon after they were printed, band members from Switchfoot and Anberlin were wearing the shirts to help promote the fight against depression and addiction.

In America alone, it is estimated that 19 million people live with depression.  It is the third leading cause of death among those 18 – 24 years old. In the past six years, TWLOHA has responded to over 150,000 messages from over 40 different countries from young men and women who have survived their struggle because of the message of hope and help.

Planet Connections is proud to promote the cause of TWLOHA as it continues to reach out and give hope  All monetary donations for the organization help support the Kristin Brooks Hope Center, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, The Self Injury Foundation, Kids Help Line, and many others. TWLOHA is a project for all people regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Hope and love do not discriminate - neither does TWLOHA.

Here is an excerpt from the story by Jaime Tworkowski: “She is alive now, in the patience and safety of rehab, covered in marks of madness but choosing to believe that God makes things new, that He meant hope and healing in the stars. She would ask you to remember.” Planet Connection Theater Festivity hopes to spread  their message of hope to all those who come to experience the many stories shared  in June.

If you, or someone you know, can no longer deal with the struggles of life, know there is hope.  You can find that at http://www.twloha.com.


by Jennifer Dobies
edited by Erika Bracy

The Bridal Garden

I have recently come to the awareness that for everything you need there is a place out there that can provide you with it that is also set up to be eco-friendly, socially conscious, and overall beneficial to people and the environment!  What brought me to this realization, you ask?  Ill tell you.  It began with my search for the perfect wedding dress.

My mother recently came to visit from Arizona, and as I am recently engaged, she and I decided to spend some time in Davids Bridal.  Of course, my mother decided the first dress that I tried on was "the one", but being that this is the first and only time I will ever get married, I decided that wasn't a fair assessment.  If I'm going to do this right, I need to try on as many dresses as possible, and then decide at the end what I want.  I'm very glad that I did, because a couple weeks later, my good friend (who loves wedding shopping) sent me a link to The Bridal Garden  http://www.bridalgarden.org/ .  Just as Planet Connections Theater Festivity is New York's Premier Eco friendly and Socially Conscious Theater Festival, The Bridal Garden is New York's only Not-For-Profit bridal boutique, where you can find designer dresses for more than 75% off!  The Bridal Garden is part of the fundraising department for Sheltering Arms Children's Service, which provides education, child care and more for those in need.

First I made an appointment, and then arrived on the 21st with my maid of honor and another good friend.  We arrived on the 9th floor of 54 West 19th street at noon and were greeted by a very lovely woman who directed us to my size.  

Now, the truth is that a lot of these dresses are directly donated by the designer.  Which means that they are in stock sizes (ie size 6).  Some of them are also donated by brides who have only worn them once, and others are given to the Bridal Garden by other wedding dress stores, which need to make room for the new season's dresses.  In a boutique filled with at least 200 dresses, this fact left me with about 12 to try on.  It was kind of a relief, however, since many other places have every single dress in my size, making the process of elimination a little overwhelming.  

Although I haven't found my dress yet, I have decided that no matter where I get my dress from, The Bridal Garden will benefit from my decision.  It just goes to show you that with a little research you can find pretty much anything you are looking for from a place that will give back to society!  

If you have come across a store that gives back, please share your experiences in the comments section below!  Happy Hunting!

Introducing Joanna!

Hey Everyone!

As the Green/Charities Liaison Director, I have asked my wonderful and talented assistant, Joanna, to write for the Greener Blog!  This year we will be focusing on some cool charity stuff, like The Revlon Walk that will be happening in May, and the Charities that we are streamlining to make it easier on Planet Connection's artists to contact and communicate with them!  However, that is still in the works!  In the meantime, January is a good month to start thinking of ways to make this year the Greenest Year Ever.  In that vein, Joanna has given us some tips to start us in that direction!  Charity blogs to come, so keep your eyes peeled!

Namaste,
Erika B.

THE LIVE EARTH GLOBAL WARMING SURVIVAL HANDBOOK: 10 Easy Steps to Help Fight Global Warming: Adapted from Adventure Ecology’s Top 10 for the Planet

By Joanna B.
Charities/Green Liaison Assistant

A few years ago, I came across a book titled The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook (GWSH)
written by David De Rothschild. This book is the official companion to the Live Earth Concerts founded
by Kevin Wall. It outlines 77 essential skills to stop climate change. Here are 10 easy steps you can start
doing Today! This list can be found on page 12 of GWSH.

1. Adjust Your Climate by Two Degrees (Skill #20) pg.48
I hate the cold more than anything; however, in the winter you can find me bundled in sweats
and blankets. It does save on the energy bill.
2. Change a Light bulb (Skill #3) pg.18
Enough said! Change any incandescent bulbs (you might still have in your house/apartment) to
compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
3. Stop Appliances from Standing By (Skill #10) pg. 32
People that means your phone, computer, ipad/ipod chargers all need to be unplugged after it
is charged. Another easy way to conserve is to plug appliances, such as TV and gaming systems,
into a power strip which you can turn off when you are not using.
4. Say No to Plastic Bags (Skill #38) pg.80
Take the pledge! B.Y.O.B…and no I don’t mean beer. Bring Your Own Bag whenever you go
shopping. You can use or purchase hemp, cotton, or nylon bags, but what I suggest is checking
out www.terracycle.net. This company takes non-recyclable materials and recycles them. You
can buy a large tote made out of chip bags for around $10 (The price of 3-4 large bags of chips)
5. Shop Locally (Skill #29) pg. 62
Check out the following site for a farmer market near you.
http://www.grownyc.org/ourmarkets I want to draw attention to the At-Market Initiatives.
Some of the markets accept EBT/Food Stamps which I think is fantastic! Now fresh local
produce is more assessable for low income families instead of the cheap processed food most
rely on.
6. Bring Your Own Mug (Skills #18) pg. 44
You can save 10 cents at Starbucks if you bring your own tumbler. Plus, Starbucks, as a
company, is committed to being responsible to the environment and community.
7. Go Public (Skill #36) pg. 76
For most living in NYC, taking the train and/or bus is an everyday thing. Keep it up… or to be
even greener you could do #8.
8. Bike or Walk (Skill #35) pg. 74
This is a healthy approach to commuting. What is better than saving the environment while
getting in a good workout at the same time?
9. Say Yes to Short Showers (Skill #45) pg. 92
We all need to take a lesson from my father. First get wet and soap up your wash cloth/luffa
then turn off the water to lather with soap. Once you are sudsy, turn the water back on to rinse.
Turn the water back off while shampooing your hair. Then back on to rinse. Same thing if you
use conditioner. This could be a little strange at first but think how much water you’ll save.

10. Plant Something (Skills #28) pg. 61
Start a home garden or join a community garden. Quick! Check out http://www.grownyc.org/
ourmarkets, because community gardens fill up fast. If you don’t make it into a community
garden, start by growing a few vegetables in your back yard or on your balcony.

What are some other easy steps we can take to stop climate change?

JMB

Mexico City Goes Green!

This article was imported from: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mexico-city-closes-vast-trash-dump-203831513.html

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico City will close one of the world's largest garbage dumps by Dec. 31 and will instead turn the garbage from millions of people into reusable materials and energy, Mayor Marcelo Ebrard announced Monday.

Some 700 trucks that carry garbage to the Bordo Poniente will no longer be admitted as of Monday, and all operations will cease by the end of the year, Ebrard said.

Trucks will still enter the recycling separation plant and a composting plant already on the premises.

The city that once dumped 12,600 tons of garbage daily already has cut the amount in half this year through recycling and composting, said government undersecretary Juan Jose Garcia Ochoa.

The concrete giant Cemex SAB has agree to buy 3,000 tons daily to turn into energy, Garcia said. The city is seeking other landfills to dump the remaining garbage in smaller amounts while it institutes a new recycling program in the new year.

Built on a dry lake bed partly to handle the rubble from the devastating 1985 earthquake, Bordo Poniente has taken in more than 76 million tons of trash.

Closing the dump will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 2 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, according to the city government.

Ebrard said the city is implementing strict measures to stop illegal dumping at the site and to process materials into compost. It will also embark next year on a major project to harness the methane gas produced at the dump into energy, he said.

Ebrard said the city also plans to open a new plant to recycle construction waste into building material.

The Mexican capital itself has about 8.8 million residents, but its metropolitan area holds more than 20 million.

The city has been working for years to turn one of the planet's biggest and messiest waste management systems into the greenest, at least in Latin America.

Three years ago, the city recycled only 6 percent of its garbage. Today, that number is close to 60 percent, having grown substantially in the last year, Garcia said.

The city says it is also negotiating with 1,500 pepenadores, or scavengers, informal workers who traditionally have been a key part of Mexico's waste-management system. They living at dumps and scavenge and resell material.

Pablo Tellez Falcon, who heads the scavengers guild, said 300 of them worked at the Bordo Poniente landfill and that he will negotiate for a written agreement with the city government so they don't lose their livelihoods.

He said the city and the scavengers have only had a spoken agreement until now.

________________________________________________________________________

Now that is pretty inspiring! 

eb

In Honor of December

Oooh!  Baby Its Cold Outside!  Welcome back to the Greener Blog! Its been a while since we have conversed, but don't worry, we will be rectifying that situation from here on out!  

Since it has been since summertime that our last blog was posted, I wanted to share this interesting blog with you about 6 ways to stay warm in the winter as green as possibly, and also a link to The Salvation Army about how you can donate your gently used coats, blankets and clothing, so that others can also stay warm too!

This link is posted by Eco Friendly and offers 6 ways to save the environment and money while keeping your home nice and toasty throughout the winter months:
http://www.ecofriendlymag.com/sustainable-transporation-and-alternative-fuel/six-greener-ways-to-keep-warm/

This is a link to the Salvation Army Website where you can schedule a pickup of your donation items or find out about local drop off spots: http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use.nsf/vw-text-dynamic-arrays/B126E05AEAE85714802572E300062069?openDocument&charset=utf-8

To give you an update about where Planet Connections Theater Festivity is at the moment, we are having our first Leadership meeting this Sunday!  Very excited about starting up for 2012, which looks like its going to be a very big year!  We are already starting to check out new partnerships, and opportunities, and we are taking suggestions!

I have come across a wonderful little secret of a catalog called "Uncommon Goods".  This catalog features great gifts that are made from recycled and sustainable resources!  They have creative gift ideas and you can rest assured that your purchase is Earth-Friendly.  Find them here: http://www.uncommongoods.com/

If you have come across a company that you, your family or your friends is part of, or that you regularly buy products from, please let us know!  We are particularly focused this year on American Charities or Companies that are focused on people of minimal fortune in the USA.  Although we are definitely not X-ing any company that seeks to provide improvement to the conditions to those in need in other countries, I think Home is a good place to start!

I realize that may sound a bit selfish, as there are needy people all over the world, and I may make some people angry by trying to focus our energies on the roots of this society, but I know from an experience I had as a seven year old, caught in a riptide in California, that a drowning person cannot save another drowning person.  Only a person who has complete control of their faculties and senses can reach out their hand to pull you out of the depths and onto dry land.

We will be seeing you soon!  We definitely appreciate the comments!

POETIC THEATER PRODUCTIONS goes GREEN!

Poetic Theater Productions goes green with the production of GOLIATH in the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity! 

What attracted Poetic Theater Productions to produce a show within the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity was the festivity’s focus on eco-friendly/socially conscious not-for-profit theatre.  The festivity’s mission makes sense: theater ought to be more about filling a need, addressing important, relevant issues in today’s world, both on the stage and in its application. Here are some of the ways GOLIATH was eco-friendly and socially conscious:

GREEN Auditions at the eco-friendly Wild Project theater
The wild project is a production company and venue for contemporary theater, film, and visual art. They hope to bring the community together by providing inspiring and entertaining art from emerging artists, exploring green technologies, and finding innovative ways to help our world and each other.  Inspired by our participation within the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, the Wild Project chose to support our production of GOLIATH as our sponsor.  We held our auditions in the Wild Project theater- a space that utilizes skylights for natural lighting, has a garden on the roof to help with insulation, water efficient flushing options in the bathrooms, organic eco-friendly cleaning supplies, and solar panels for all the non-theater lighting.  It was a fantastic place for our auditions and a great way to start off our eco-friendly production of GOLIATH!

Laptops and Smart Phones Rather Than Printed Rehearsal Scripts
We started the process by trying to reduce paper waste as much as possible.  While the script still underwent some changes we utilized handheld smart phones and laptop computers to avoid printing copies of the script that would be used for only one or two readings or rehearsals.

 

Found Design Elements

Goliath’s Director (and Co-Artistic Director of Poetic Theater Productions) Alex Mallory envisioned a minimalist design utilizing items that one could find on the street.  The full scenic design included three milk crates and a few pages from the New York Times.  The minimalist approach that only utilized re-purposed elements was eco-friendly, cost-efficient and was the perfect non-obtrusive complement to the poetic text of the show.

Our awesome Associate Producer, Eden Jeffries, with set (and back-up) in tow!

Using the real uniforms

As NYtheatre.com describes so well, GOLIATH “is the story of a young soldier, David, who heads off to the Iraq war to become the man others expect him to be, and loses the man who he wants to become in the process.”  David’s father is a Vietnam veteran, David’s drill sergeant also plays an integral role in the show.  Instead of designing and creating new costumes we followed our costuming consultant Sydney Gallas’s advice to go to Kaufman’s Army & Navy where we were able to rent a real uniform that was used in Iraq, a jacket used in Vietnam, and a real drill sergeant’s uniform.  Using these items was not only the eco-friendly route, but added a somber reminder that these characters being portrayed in the show represent men and women who serve our country.

Dontonio Demarco (rear) and M. Scott Frank (front) in real ACU uniforms rented from Kaufman's Army & Navy

Support for the men and women serving abroad: VFW’s Operation Uplink

Throughout the run of GOLIATH we encouraged our audience to donate to Operation Uplink, a program of Veterans of Foreign Wars that enables troops stationed overseas to call home free of charge through sponsored “Free Call Days”. This program is funded entirely by donations.  In addition to funds donated by our audience members, all proceeds from the sold-out June 11th performance of GOLIATH (50% of all ticket sales) will be donated to the program. The mission of VFW is to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts, to serve our veterans, the military, and our communities, and to advocate on behalf of all veterans. In addition to raising awareness of this extremely important program run by the VFW, we were able to raise hundreds of dollars to support the program, enabling many of our soldiers to call home and talk to their families.

Warrior Writers

Before each performance of GOLIATH poets and artists from our community including Quinn Warren, Wade Ray, Elliott D. Smith, Akua Doku, Joseph Reese, and Urban Word NYC youth poets Ishmael and Mega presented original poetry as well as poetry by current and former members of the armed service through the Warrior Writers Project: an organization that brings together recent veterans and current service members to be in creative community and utilize art-making processes to express themselves. This was an important element to us as it gave us an opportunity to share the words of veterans on our stage and to prepare our audience for the topics touched upon in GOLIATH.

You can read some of the poetry we presented on the Warrior Writers website.
I Am Who Survived Forgive Me by Aaron Hughes
6 Marines in the Picture by Cloy Richards
You Are Not My Enemy by Drew Cameron
Blood Sweat and Tears by Cloy Richards


Urban Word NYC
On June 7th and 16th we featured poetry performances from Urban Word NYC poets Ishmael and Mega.  Urban Word NYC champions the voices of New York City youth by providing platforms for critical literacy, youth development and leadership through free and uncensored writing, college prep and performance opportunities.  As we continue to expand out community as Poetic Theater Productions, it is important to us to hear the words of talented up and coming youth and to introduce Urban Word NYC’s amazing program to our audiences. We hope to explore more ways to collaborate with Urban Word NYC in the future.

_________________________________________

We are so grateful to Planet Connections for encouraging us to keep finding new ways to be green and support good causes! Thanks to everyone who saw the show and we hope to see you at the next one- keep up with us at www.poetictheater.com!