We ought to unfold
the jubilant, lively and
colorful spirit within us.
In painting
or doing other things, we
should bring vitality and
happiness to this world.
Greetings,
lovely viewers,
and welcome to
Good People, Good Works.
This week’s show features
Art Share Los Angeles,
a wonderful
non-profit organization
located in the Arts District
of Los Angeles,
California, USA.
Art Share operates
a community-based
arts learning center
whose goals are
to change lives among
the area’s underprivileged
and provide a safe shelter
and workplace
where both emerging and
established local artists
can exhibit and perform.
My name is Rocio Diaz.
I am sixteen years old,
about to turn seventeen.
I love Art Share
because it creates
the person I am today.
Without Art Share
I wouldn’t be the person
I am today.
Art Share’s two-story,
nearly 3,000-square-meter
facility features a visual
and ceramic arts studio
with kiln
on the ground floor,
an extended art gallery,
a 450-person capacity
space for dance and
theater performances and
an administrative area.
The building’s
second story contains
30 low-rent lofts to
support and house artists
who qualify
for government
housing assistance
based on income.
Art Share
is a community center,
it’s an art incubator,
and what we do is
we provide free art classes
for low-income teens,
anything from painting,
to hip-hop dance,
ballet, jazz, spoken word,
film classes,
graffiti art, and mosaics.
And we recently have
a recording studio, so
we are teaching kids how
to record their own music.
The main programs
offered by Art Share
include “BLAST”
or Building Language
and Art Skills Together,
where professional artists
hold free classes
to teach at-risk
and disadvantaged youth;
“FACT” or Families and
Communities Together,
a supportive service that
helps reconnect youths
and parents; and
the Community Artists
Exhibitions Program,
a platform for artists
to present month-long
solo and group shows.
Attracted by its reputation
and benevolent work,
talented artists
and visionaries
from all walks of life
gather at Art Share
and use their skills
to make constructive
contributions to society.
Working as Art Share’s
program director
for more than eight years,
and executive director
for three,
the farsighted Tracy Kelly
continues to make
invaluable contributions
to Art Share,
including pioneering
the “BLAST” program.
I came to Art Share
actually looking for space
to create a diversity
training program
for teenagers.
I thought that art was
a really good way
to bring people together.
And it has been
a very good way.
But when I got here,
I had about
a hundred students
that didn’t speak English.
So what we created
was a program where
they got two hours worth
of English classes
and two hours worth
of art classes to
help them learn English.
So that’s how
we got started.
And then I incorporated
that into dance,
into film, vocal classes,
theater classes,
and we incorporate it
in all the classes now;
there’s always
an English language
learning component
to all the classes.
The Families and
Communities Together
program is directed
by Ricardo Perez,
a passionate artist
who uses his talents
to encourage youth
to rediscover themselves
through art, bring them
closer to their families
and better understand
one another.
The FACT program
is the six-month program
that is family based.
So we invite youth
that are referred
from their school, because
they’re having problems
at school, and we invite
the families to participate
in the program
because it’s shown that
usually when children
are having difficulties
at school, it’s because
most likely something’s
going on at home, and
so we invite the parents
and the youth,
so together they can build
on better improving
their communication skills
at home.
Art Share’s enjoyable,
innovative programs
have won the hearts
of the local students
who come and spend
their after-school hours
in and around the facility,
where they can meet
like-minded friends
and learn and do what
they’re interested in.
I was a part of
“spoken word”
performance,
three dance classes,
a 3D paper mache class
and a painting class.
So I decided to
take on everything I can,
and through
each and every class
I’ve learned so much.
I’ve learned
so many aspects in art
that if you want a painting
to be really tangible,
you have to think about
every single detail
there is in
like, the human face.
Dance just taught me
to be very disciplined
with myself.
If I want something
I better go for it
and I can’t hold back.
It actually
opened up my eyes
to a big possible range
of professions
in the dance industry;
there are so many things
I can go to, and
it’s overwhelming.
Spoken word poetry,
it’s taught me
to actually open up
and it made me realize
that my voice is important.
There are lots and lots
of young adults and teens
that feel that their voice
isn’t worth anything
and I just believe
that isn’t true.
So in a lot of my poetry
I talk about
we have to speak,
we have to be heard,
because if not, things
are just going to keep on
going the way they are.
So ‘Art Share L.A.’
has really helped me
become a better person.
It’s teaching me to be
more professional and
I’m ready to take on some
other responsibilities
a grown person should.
If I was to be able to
teach here (at Art Share),
it would set an example
for kids.
I also stood in here once
too, and I’m a teacher now.
So it shows progress.
And I would just love to
get Art Share out there.
There are too many
non-profit organizations
that just go unheard of.
So I want to be able to
push Art Share out there
along with other ones,
so teens can actually
have a place to go and,
open up their mind.
When we return,
we’ll learn more
about Art Share
and how the arts
bring a new dimension
to students’ lives.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
My name is Enrique Lopez
and I’m eighteen.
I love Art Share
because Art Share
made me love art,
and it’s just brought
a lot of things to me.
It brought dance, and
I was able to do my solo
and show it to people.
And I love Art Share
because it’s like
my second family.
Welcome back to
Good People, Good Works.
We are visiting Art Share,
an innovative
non-profit organization
in Los Angeles, USA
which uses the arts
to improve the lives
of at-risk youth
and provides family
counseling services
as well as
subsidized housing for
low-income local artists.
Youth that participate
in Art Share’s programs
perform better
in school and
have more definite plans
for the future.
We actually have
a 92% graduation rate
from the students
in our program, that
graduate from high school,
and about 70%
of those students
typically go on to college.
So I think
what we’re doing,
especially now in a time
where we recognize that
a lot of the arts programs
are cut from high schools,
we’re really filling
that gap and providing
a very much needed service,
where students oftentimes
can actually see and
understand the outlets
that their artistic talent
can lead to
in a professional capacity.
Hi, I’m Tessa Elbettar,
and this is my piece,
if you can see it.
My parents
are both born in Iraq.
I was born here (USA).
For me art is just
a big part of my life and
I attended art high school.
Every day I’m doing art,
so I think
that’s the best way,
for me especially,
to express yourself and
I think that this gallery
was a great opportunity
to bring my roots into art
which is the thing
that I do best.
I think
it’s just a great program,
and it’s such a great way
for kids to present
their art to the public.
It’s just a great program
because it gives us
an opportunity that
we would never normally
have to present ourselves,
so I really
appreciate everything
that they (Art Share) did so far.
Art Share’s work
has gained the recognition
of Congresswoman
Lucille Roybal-Allard
of the US House of
Representatives
who stated that
Art Share’s programs
“are responsive to
the community’s needs (by)
empowering individuals
and families through
artistic development.”
Executive director
Tracy Kelly now takes us
on a tour of
this inspirational place
of learning.
Welcome to Art Share.
This is command central.
This is the center where
everything happens.
We have finance here,
this is where the kids
come in and hang out
and get their initial hugs
and talk to the staff.
And then
Danyol Jaye over here
makes things happen.
This painting:
“The Graduate,” which
is one of Art Share’s goals,
to make sure all the teens
that come to this center
graduate high school,
was done by an artist
named Dan Wooster,
one of the first
professional artists that
got involved in Art Share
in the year 2000.
This is our art classroom.
In here there are
ceramics classes,
mosaics classes,
painting, and graffiti arts.
Today is Friday
so if we weren’t doing
our performance today,
we would have
graffiti arts class and
papier-mâché class today.
Here, as you see,
there’s another Wooster,
and you can see
how the students
have been working on
their last minute touches
for their paintings,
which are now
hung in the gallery.
This is our hall gallery.
This is another
professional artist that
showed his work here
three months ago.
And it was a very
inspirational art exhibit.
We can make art
out of anything.
So here you are,
a graffiti arts chair.
Then we’ll come back here
to our library,
where we collect books
for students to use
for book reports
or just general reading.
We call it the
Lesley Gilb Taplin Library.
Lesley was a big supporter
of Art Share,
she collected books and
made sure that students
always had books to read,
whether homeless,
low income,
or underprivileged.
This theatre is where
we do dance classes,
hip hop, jazz, salsa,
karate classes,
vocal classes
and acting classes,
to say the least.
As you can see, we have
all the student artwork
hanging in the gallery,
they’ve been working on it
for six months and
the theme, as you know, is:
“It takes
a village, communities
working together.”
And we think it’s
really, really awesome
what they’ve come up with.
Wow!
What a lovely place
for young artists to foster
their innate creativity
and exchange ideas!
Our heartfelt thanks go to
all the dedicated staff
of Art Share
and its volunteers
for their loving guidance
and support
in empowering youth to
achieve their life’s dreams.
Art Share
has really brought
a lot of opportunities here.
I just want to thank them.
They’re so helpful.
For more details
on Art Share, please visit
ArtShareLA.org
Cheerful viewers,
we enjoyed your presence
today on
Good People, Good Works.
Join us again
next Sunday for the second
and final part
of our visit to
Art Share Los Angeles.
May your spirits be lifted
by heavenly inspiration.
Friends of the Hound
is an animal welfare
organization in Australia
that is dedicated to
rescuing and re-homing
greyhounds in pounds
and who have been
a part of the cruel
greyhound racing industry.
Most of our dogs are
surrendered by trainers.
We do rescues from
local pounds as well.
They're a big dog
but they're so quiet.
They don't need
a lot of exercise
and they're really easy
to have around.
Learn more about these
loving canines on
“Greyhound Rescue:
Friends of the Hound in
Australia - Parts 1 and 2”
airing Thursday and
Friday, June 10 and 11,
on Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants.
Hi, my name is
Ashley Clemente.
I love Art Share because
you always get to do
what you want like dance,
art, singing and acting.
And everyone works here
as a family so you can
talk about problems
with someone;
they’ll listen to you.
I like the kindness of
Art Share and it’s just
a really good place.
Greetings,
serene viewers,
and welcome to
Good People, Good Works.
This week’s show
is the second part of
our two-part series on
Art Share Los Angeles,
a wonderful
non-profit organization
located in the Arts District
of Los Angeles,
California, USA.
Art Share operates
a community-based
arts learning center
whose goals are
to change lives among
the area’s underprivileged
and provide a safe shelter
and workplace
where both emerging and
established local artists
can exhibit and perform.
Art Share
is a community center,
it’s an art incubator,
and what we do is
we provide free art classes
for low-income teens,
anything from painting,
to hip-hop dance,
ballet, jazz, spoken word,
film classes,
graffiti art, mosaics.
And we recently have
a recording studio, so
we are teaching kids how
to record their own music.
I like art because
it’s a good hobby.
You get to figure out
the beauty of it, and
sometimes when
you really pay attention
you can find that you’re
a good artist and you can
paint beautiful stuff.
More than just a place to
meet, Art Share’s classes
provide an opportunity
for young artists to
thrive and feel free to
express themselves in
a rewarding environment.
Art Share let me change
because I used to be really
shy when I was small.
And then,
dancing and doing art,
allowed me to
communicate with people
better, and have an
understanding of people,
because I meet people
from different
backgrounds,
and I get to know about
people around the world,
and I also learn how to
respect my elders, and
respect my peers as well,
and how to work together
as a group.
Hi, my name is
Catherine Yamez.
I love Art Share because
they teach you one by one,
and that Art Share is
more like your family;
they treat you like it.
I love Art Share because
we go out to places and I
love dancing and singing.
The family-like support
provided by Art Share
helps students learn
self confidence and
empowers them to
open up and freely
communicate their
thoughts and concerns.
Kids are really
passionate and they have
really deep feelings about
a lot of things that you
can see in the artwork.
They’re concerned about
the community, they are
concerned about nature,
and what we are doing
to the air and Earth.
They have a lot of
concerns about the society
that we’ve created
and how they fit into it.
So, it’s a part of saying,
“You (kids) are part
of the society, we do
care what you think.
I know,
we don’t always ask you,
because we forget.”
But you have to speak up
and being more confident
and doing that,
it helps you figure out
where you belong.
I had one kid that
he took an art class,
and he just became
so enraptured with
the art class that
it totally changed his life.
He graduated
high school and
he’s now going to
Pasadena City College
and he’s a law student.
So, it really can
change your life.
It doesn’t necessarily
mean that you are going
to become an artist,
but it will help you grow.
Danyol Jaye has been
involved with the
entertainment industry
since he was
seven years old.
He is currently the
administrative assistant
and events coordinator
for Art Share.
When I first got here
I was the student and
so I got the support
as a student
Art Share really
cultivated something and
they reminded me that,
no matter what it is that
you’re going through,
if you have no money,
if you’re homeless,
whatever, we’re here.
They continued to
remind me that you
always have someone
that you can trust.
You always have
someone here that
you can talk to.
You always have
someone here who is
willing to help you
with any resources
that we have.
There was a point
in my life where,
as much as I love singing
and anyone who
knows me knows that
singing is my passion,
there was a point where
I just didn’t want to do it
anymore;
I didn’t want to push.
And when I got to
that point, Art Share and
the people at Art Share,
Tracy Kelly especially,
started giving me
performing opportunities
and said,
“I have someone who
wants to hear you sing.”
And just by her doing that
and by the people that
were here at the time,
just by them coming and
supporting and saying,
“You sound great,
you were wonderful, I
want to work with you,”
it really, really changed
my perception
on what I do.
And Art Share
reminded me that
“You are important.”
You are already a star,
everybody else is
just taking a while
to figure it out.
They literally helped me
to know that
I have purpose.
Art Share has been my
safe haven and now that
I’m not a student,
that safe haven
that was there for me,
I get to help that
become a safe haven
for somebody else.
The only thing that
I would add is that I,
at the deepest of my heart,
in the very depth
of my heart and soul,
I wish and I pray daily
that people
truly understand
how important art and
music and creativity is
in the lives of teens
and adults.
When we return,
we’ll learn about how
Art Share is helping
foster cross-cultural
understanding in the US.
Please stay tuned to
Supreme Master
Television.
I’m David Estrada.
I love Art Share because
it’s a home.
I learn to open up with
people through art and
dance, and it just helps
me grow as a person.
Kids who grow up
through art and music,
they will be
different people (with)
different thinking and
they will share that love
and give to the world
peace, humanity
and culture.
Welcome back to
Good People,
Good Works.
We’re visiting Art Share,
a splendid non-profit
organization
in the Arts District of
Los Angeles, California,
USA that uses the arts to
help transform the lives
of young people.
Art Share is a gallery
that’s brought a lot of
kids from Los Angeles
classes in photography,
art, music, helping them
in their education,
helping them
in their schooling,
teaching them art,
teaching them how to
color, and teaching them
how to dance.
A recent exhibition
hosted by Art Share was
entitled “Artists & Art
of Mesopotamia
in Los Angeles.”
Its highlight was
the works of
Chaldo-Assyrian artists
from Iran and Iraq that
Iraqi-American artist
Paul Batou has collected
over the years.
It was a joyous
cultural event that
celebrated diversity.
We have some art pieces
from Iraqi kids
who lived in Iraq.
They joined the American
kids to build a bridge of
love and peace through
art, music and poetry.
I sent some art supplies
to the school there(Iraq),
and the kids sent back
to me 14 pieces of art.
The dreams of all kids
are the same
around the world;
a dream of having family,
home, security, school
and to practice art, music,
poetry, and sport
in peace; that they can
grow and contribute to
the world’s well being.
When I told them
we will exhibit their art,
they felt so happy,
like somebody will
look at their dreams and
will look at their hope
as if like a big message
was being sent
to the public of the
United States of America.
These kids are
the same as any kids
around the world.
They have
the same dreams.
They need homes,
they need families,
they need medicine,
they need food,
they need hobbies,
they need music,
and they need art.
As an artist, I feel
art is important
for all the kids.
Art will help them
be more creative,
help them dream,
and they’ll have
more thoughts.
Art will help you even
in your academic studies.
So these kids after school,
they come to Art Share to
learn dance or music
or art or photography.
This is what helps them
in the future.
Art and music will help
to create a good mind,
a beautiful mind.
Together, the community
of Art Share creates
a loving and heartening
environment for
the city’s youngsters to
thrive and prepares them
to become the best
they can be in life.
We’re a family and we all
really love each other.
And I’m a hugger.
And we all learn that
you come in, you give me
a hug, you go to class.
Yes, we are a big family.
I love to see the kids
grow up and change,
and take responsibility
and leadership roles.
They go from
not speaking and hiding
under the big hood,
and the head down and
not looking at anyone
in the eye to really
communicating with you,
looking you in the eye,
and sharing how they feel.
I really like to see that.
I love Art Share because
they’re a great non-profit
organization and they’ve
helped me out a lot…
finding my inner self.
It’s really great
being here; it’s like
a whole new family.
And I just love Art Share.
It’s a place to come
and settle down
and feel like home.
I want to say
“thank you” to Saria,
who is my poetry teacher.
Thank you to Liz,
who is my Jazz - Hip Hop
teacher.
Thank you to Eddie J.,
who is my other teacher
of Jazz and Hip Hop.
And also thank you to
Daniel J., and Tracy, and
Amanda, and, there’s
a lot of people to name,
I just can’t name them all,
but I really want to
give thanks to everyone,
because they’ve all been
there for me,
and especially Martha,
she’s one of my
biggest mentors around,
and thank you,
and I love you guys.
Our thanks go to
all of Art Share’s staff
and volunteers for their
benevolent work that
brings the uplifting arts
to various communities
in Los Angeles,
California, USA.
Their loving kindness has
constructively touched
and transformed the lives
of countless youth
and families.
Thank you, Art Share,
for making me the person
I am and for teaching me
each skill I have
and developing
the successful person
I know I will be
in the future.
For more details on
Art Share, please visit
ArtShareLA.org
Generous viewers, we
enjoyed your presence
today on Good People,
Good Works.
Up next is
The World Around Us,
after Noteworthy News.
May we color the world
with our divine
artistic nature.
And I just pray
that people really
start to support
and start to recognize
that we need to
encourage our teens
and young adults,
and I think if you don’t
know of a place
that does that, Art Share
is one of the best places
that you can come
and see, the product
of what we do
and support us
for having great students.
Thanks to
the unwavering, loving
efforts of International
Animal Rescue, which
is based in the UK,
600 wild bears in India
have been liberated from
being forced to dance for
so-called entertainment.
The bears are
looked after,
inside our sanctuaries,
and we have
a commitment to those bears
for the rest of their lives.
Meet members
of International
Animal Rescue,
the recipient of
the Shining World
Compassion Award
as well as Shining World
Hero Award recipient
Susie, a caring canine,
Thursday, June 17
on Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants.