The past three semesters with Professor Reisner have been some of the best and most trying times of my college experience. I went from being intimidated and petrified to comfortable and proud. Throughout the internship, I really began to understand why he's so hard on us. He wants us to do our best. And with me, he has been there any time I've panicked to encourage me and push me just a little bit more.
I've become a good reporter with time. There have been, and there still are times when i just want to give up, but somehow I've always managed to pull through. I've learned to be persistent and unrelenting when it comes to getting the information i need. I've lost that fear of speaking to people, and I'm starting to gain more confidence in my writing (although i know it still needs work).
With every pep talk, Reisner has emphasized the fact that he relies on me because he know i can deliver. He's proud of me, and in turn, I'm proud of myself. You have no idea how good that makes me feel.
I know this semester has been tough, with just a handful of us writing stories. It's been challenging and overwhelming at times, but I couldn't be more proud of those of us who have stuck around and done the work.
I was part of that group that started the Liberty City Link; an opportunity that i almost passed up. I'm so glad i didn't. I'm so proud to be a part of something so incredible.
Who would've thought that the Hispanic girl with pale skin and green eyes would've fit in in Liberty City? And the reality is, the people there have embraced me. All the times I've gone out and interviewed and shared with the people there, I've come away with great stories and great experiences.
We really are like the little engine that could. None of us ever dreamed it would become what it is now. I only hope to continue to be a part of this great experience, and i hope that those who come after will realize the importance of what we started and will give their all like we have.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Back To School Giveaway
Back to school event focuses on safety and supplies
Written by ERICA LORET DE MOLA
Florida International University
Children and youth from Liberty City and throughout Miami can stock up on free school supplies, get school vaccinations, play games and win prizes at the “Safe Summer Back to School Giveaway” Saturday, Aug. 21 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Charles Hadley Park, 1350 NW 50th St., in Liberty City.
The event two days before school starts is part of the “Safe Summer 2010” initiative started this year to provide children and youth in the area with supervised summer activities. It's open to students from throughout Miami.
“We want all children to participate, not just the ones in Liberty City,” said Lynda Roberts, a crime prevention specialist with the Miami Police.
The Safe Summer 2010 Coalition is comprised of the police department, the city parks department and the Model City and
Little Haiti Neighborhood Enhancement Teams. Concern about street violence and the budget cuts plaguing summer youth programs led the coalition to run a series of eight “Summer Safe” activities, which kicked off on June 4.
Past events have included a forum where teens could speak about violence and crime in their communities, a movie night, a skate day and a food-and-fireworks festival on the Fourth of July.
The back to school giveaway is the last event on the list. Sponsors for the event include the South Florida Youth Foundation, the Miami Heat and WMBM radio, which will provide the music.
But the giveaway event is not just about school supplies, it’s also about making sure the children are physically prepared for the new school year.
Jackson Memorial Hospital, the University of Miami Hospital and Children’s Hospital have teamed up to administer free vaccinations at the event. Free vision and dental exams will also be available. For further information, call Lynda Roberts 305-603-6095.
ELore006@Fiu.edu
Written by ERICA LORET DE MOLA
Florida International University
Children and youth from Liberty City and throughout Miami can stock up on free school supplies, get school vaccinations, play games and win prizes at the “Safe Summer Back to School Giveaway” Saturday, Aug. 21 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Charles Hadley Park, 1350 NW 50th St., in Liberty City.
The event two days before school starts is part of the “Safe Summer 2010” initiative started this year to provide children and youth in the area with supervised summer activities. It's open to students from throughout Miami.
“We want all children to participate, not just the ones in Liberty City,” said Lynda Roberts, a crime prevention specialist with the Miami Police.
The Safe Summer 2010 Coalition is comprised of the police department, the city parks department and the Model City and
Little Haiti Neighborhood Enhancement Teams. Concern about street violence and the budget cuts plaguing summer youth programs led the coalition to run a series of eight “Summer Safe” activities, which kicked off on June 4.
Past events have included a forum where teens could speak about violence and crime in their communities, a movie night, a skate day and a food-and-fireworks festival on the Fourth of July.
The back to school giveaway is the last event on the list. Sponsors for the event include the South Florida Youth Foundation, the Miami Heat and WMBM radio, which will provide the music.
But the giveaway event is not just about school supplies, it’s also about making sure the children are physically prepared for the new school year.
Jackson Memorial Hospital, the University of Miami Hospital and Children’s Hospital have teamed up to administer free vaccinations at the event. Free vision and dental exams will also be available. For further information, call Lynda Roberts 305-603-6095.
ELore006@Fiu.edu
Mock Trial Story
Youth to analyze “crime scene”
Written by ERICA LORET DE MOLA
Florida International University
This time, crime will have no victims. In an effort to provide youth with safe summer activities, a coalition of organizations is presenting a mock crime scene and ensuing trial, and teens will not only be the witnesses, but also the lawyers and the jury.
It is all part of the Teen Court Mock Crime Scene and Trial event taking place this Saturday, Aug. 7, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Charles Hadley Park, 1300 NW 50th St. Teens who attend the event will analyze mock crime scenes and play the roles of judge, jury lawyer and defendant in a trial.
“The children will come across different scenarios of crime scenes around the park, and try to analyze the situation,” said Lynda Roberts, crime prevention specialist with the Miami Police.
The event is the seventh of eight “Safe Summer, 2010” community activities designed to provide Liberty City youth with safe summer activities. But organizers say that teens from anywhere in Miami or Miami-Dade County can participate. Churches and youth groups have been invited to attend.
The Miami-Dade County Teen Court, a program to provide alternate punishments for underage, first-time offenders, will run the event. When offenders go through MDCTC, their punishments are determined by their peers in the program, rather than in the juvenile justice system. The goal is to decrease juvenile delinquency and crime.
For information, please call Roberts at 305-603-6095.
ELore006@Fiu.edu
Written by ERICA LORET DE MOLA
Florida International University
This time, crime will have no victims. In an effort to provide youth with safe summer activities, a coalition of organizations is presenting a mock crime scene and ensuing trial, and teens will not only be the witnesses, but also the lawyers and the jury.
It is all part of the Teen Court Mock Crime Scene and Trial event taking place this Saturday, Aug. 7, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Charles Hadley Park, 1300 NW 50th St. Teens who attend the event will analyze mock crime scenes and play the roles of judge, jury lawyer and defendant in a trial.
“The children will come across different scenarios of crime scenes around the park, and try to analyze the situation,” said Lynda Roberts, crime prevention specialist with the Miami Police.
The event is the seventh of eight “Safe Summer, 2010” community activities designed to provide Liberty City youth with safe summer activities. But organizers say that teens from anywhere in Miami or Miami-Dade County can participate. Churches and youth groups have been invited to attend.
The Miami-Dade County Teen Court, a program to provide alternate punishments for underage, first-time offenders, will run the event. When offenders go through MDCTC, their punishments are determined by their peers in the program, rather than in the juvenile justice system. The goal is to decrease juvenile delinquency and crime.
For information, please call Roberts at 305-603-6095.
ELore006@Fiu.edu
Updates
So i was unable to attend the workshop because i got really sick, but since then i have written two more advances. One was for an event that took place this past Saturday at Hadley Park, and the other is coming up the weekend before school starts...a free school supplies giveaway, which i plan to cover. I did the best writing so far with that advance according to my professor, so I'm really excited to keep the momentum going :)
Friday, July 23, 2010
Nasty Weather
Weather permitting, i'll be going to the workshop at the cultural arts center in Liberty City tomorrow...let's see what happens
Workshop Tomorrow
Workshop seeks to assist artists
Written by ERICA LORET de MOLA
Florida International University
Artists, non-profit organizations and business owners can learn how to map out their futures at a workshop Saturday, July 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 Northwest 22nd Ave. in Miami.
Sponsored by the Diaspora Arts Coalition, the workshop will focus on how to adjust to an ever-changing economy and how to use individual strengths to develop future business models.
“This is part of a workshop series we’ve been doing for a while, and this one in particular centers around the current economic climate,” said Johnny Sanders, the coalition president.
The Diaspora Arts Coalition, made up of more than 50 cultural organizations and artists of color, works to support the arts in the African-American community. It works to help artists and organization create joint marketing and advertising programs and to promote facilities such as the Cultural Arts Center and the Joseph Caleb Auditorium, which offer multicultural programming.
One workshop goal is to help African-American artists learn the skills to market and sell their work.
“We help them maximize their art and make a platform for themselves,” Sanders said.
The cost of the workshop is $10 for coalition members and $20 for non-members.
For more information or to RSVP for the workshop, call 305-244-2158 or email diasporaartscoalition2009@gmail.com.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Written by ERICA LORET de MOLA
Florida International University
Artists, non-profit organizations and business owners can learn how to map out their futures at a workshop Saturday, July 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 Northwest 22nd Ave. in Miami.
Sponsored by the Diaspora Arts Coalition, the workshop will focus on how to adjust to an ever-changing economy and how to use individual strengths to develop future business models.
“This is part of a workshop series we’ve been doing for a while, and this one in particular centers around the current economic climate,” said Johnny Sanders, the coalition president.
The Diaspora Arts Coalition, made up of more than 50 cultural organizations and artists of color, works to support the arts in the African-American community. It works to help artists and organization create joint marketing and advertising programs and to promote facilities such as the Cultural Arts Center and the Joseph Caleb Auditorium, which offer multicultural programming.
One workshop goal is to help African-American artists learn the skills to market and sell their work.
“We help them maximize their art and make a platform for themselves,” Sanders said.
The cost of the workshop is $10 for coalition members and $20 for non-members.
For more information or to RSVP for the workshop, call 305-244-2158 or email diasporaartscoalition2009@gmail.com.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Monday, July 19, 2010
MCI
So my latest article was an update about one i had written before about the Miami Children's Initiative...I'm hoping to be getting a lot more information about that tomorrow after an important meeting that's scheduled to take place. I'm actually excited about this project. It seems really interesting and that it would really bring some much-needed help to the children and families of Liberty City (read previous posts). I hope it gets moving fast because it has the potential to make a huge difference
I also plan on attending a business/financial workshop being held at the cultural arts center on Saturday. Hopefully a good group will show up...let's see what i can get (fingers crossed)
Oh, and yes, i'm getting the hang of this :)
I also plan on attending a business/financial workshop being held at the cultural arts center on Saturday. Hopefully a good group will show up...let's see what i can get (fingers crossed)
Oh, and yes, i'm getting the hang of this :)
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