Free Stuff to Do in Los Angeles Fall 2012

Free Stuff to do in Los Angeles:

· September 1– 10:00 am-11:30 am Music Center Plaza 135 North Grand Downtown Los Angeles “Drum Downtown.” Instruments will be provided. Join a giant drum circle and learn new rhythms/beats.

· September 6 Aquarium of the Pacific100 Aquarium Way Long Beach. “Seniors day”. Everyone ages 50 and above get free admission to the Aquarium.

· September7 6:30 PM TO 10 PM Music Center Plaza 135 N. Grand Downtown Los Angeles“Dance Downtown Samba”. Live bands and DJ’s and downtown’s only open air dance floor!

· September 15 9am-12pm “Coastal Cleanup day”. Alamitos Beach off of Shoreline and Ocean in Long Beach. Join other volunteers in cleaning up the beach. Trash Bags, Gloves, and a spirit of togetherness will be provided.

· September 22 3pm til late evening. Downtown W. 2nd street and Garey”Pomona Art Walk”. Live Music, Food and art.

· September 29 5pm Pomona, Thomas Plaza, “Pomona Night out”. Live music, open art galleries, classic car show, and Farmer’s market

· October 5 5pm-8pm Alhambra Downtown Renaissance Center “Mosaic Art Walk” Painters, Chalk Art, Digital Art, Live Music, Dancing.

· October 7 10am-3pm Downtown Los Angeles “Ciclavia”. Walk, Bike, and Socialize. Over 10 miles of roadway in Downtown Los Angeles will be closed for bikes, walking, street vendors, and live music. Highly recommended by Chewbacca and friends.

· October 10 6pm-10 Downtown Los Angeles Gallery Row “Downtown Art Walk” Self Guided toward of art exhibition venues. Live Music, Art, and Food trucks!

· October 28 12pm-6pm Chinatown, Alpine Recreation center “Community Halloween Carnival” Costume contest for children ages 3-12

· November 1-2 10am-6pm Olvera Street Los Angeles “Dia De Los Muertos Celebration”

· November 10 6-9pm Pomona Art Colony off of Garey between Holt and Mission Blvd. “Metro Pomona Artwalk” Art, Music, and Food

· November 10 3pm to Late evening Downtown 2nd street and Garey “Pomona Art Walk” Art, Live Music, Food Trucks.

My Informal Support: Elisa Gonzales Parent Partner

I was asked to write something about my personal informal support, well this is dedicated to my dear friend, Diane whom with all her heart and soul has always been there for me and my then children and later adults with children themselves. She has been at every birth of my grand children and when I am exhausted and stressed she is there for me to vent  and we can talk for hours. She is the one who will let me know I have to take a break when I am on the go. She is the one that many sleepless nights was up with me while I was looking for my child . She has been the one that will come and fix a meal or do my laundry when I am down. My friend will sit by me and be with me for all that I may need her for. I love her dearly and I am always telling her I need her to stay healthy and sound for a long time to come. We are both aging and share our pains and aches. I do not think I will ever find a friend like her; so patient WITH ME!!!    - Elisa G. Parent Partner Supervisor

My Informal Support by. Silvester Hernandez CFS

My greatest informal support would have to be Coach Campbell. Coach Campbell was my high school baseball coach who taught me not only how to play the game of baseball the right way but how to go about living life positively or “the right way.” Coach Campbell was very good at relating whatever baseball drill/practice activity to some aspect of life. Coach always presented the team with scenarios that would promote respect towards others, responsibility, hard work, resilience and many other positive qualities that will not only assist us in playing the game of baseball but that would “assist you youngsters in the game of life.” To motivate us and maintain positivity, Coach would always refer back to professional baseball and say, “in this game you can fail 70% of the time and still be considered a professional ball player.” To me that meant failure was not so bad and just because I failed a few times it did not mean I could not be good at baseball. It meant I should keep trying and not give up. That although failure was unavoidable in the game of baseball, it can be decreased with not giving up, maintaining resilience and  working hard  during practice and games. After high school I look back and now find myself often time relating baseball or sports in general to life. Coach Campbell and baseball helped me realize that life, just like baseball, will present you with many obstacles that one must manage and overcome in order to reach that professional level. So, keep trying and never give up. Thanks Coach Campbell for your support when I often times struck out.    - Silvester Hernandez, CFS

Just Me, Myself, and I by Jarnecia W.

I am a beautiful young lady.
I have a nice smile and people always put me up and down.
I am a nice and honest girls.
I think I can rock your world.
I love to listen to Nicki and Drake.
I hope that my heart will not brake.
The moment I was born I thought that I was torn.
I love the color purple and basketball.
I am very athletic first of all.

Happy Birthday!

6/8– Dahlon M. (Pasadena)                                                   8/9– Eric C. (Pasadena)

6/9– Nicole (Facilitator)                                                        8/11– Kameron D. (Pasadena)

6/10– Eri T (Therapist                                                          8/16– Ryan S. (Pasadena)

6/12– Adrian C. (El Monte)                                                    8/17– Oswaldo (Facilitator)

6/13-Ashley E.R. (Pasadena)                                                 8/18– Elisa L (Facilitator)

6/17– Christina (CFS)                                                           8/21– Dahre C. (Pasadena)

6/20– LaCarrie M. (San Dimas)                                            8/26– Ronald C. (Los Angeles)

6/28– Cindy (Parent Partner)                                              8/28– Blanca S. ( El Monte)

7/1– Paula (Facilitator)                                                          8/28– Mariah AD. (Pasadena)

7/3– Toneya R. (Pomona)

7/19– Stacy H. (CFS)

7/24– Alex (CFS)

7/24– Megan (Facilitator)

7/25– Angel K. (

7/26– Lawrence J(Pasadena)

8/20– Laura J (Therapist

Gabby P’s Poetry Corner

Why God?

By Gabriela P

Why do I have anger?

Why do I have sadness?

Why do I want to cry?

Why doesn’t my mom love me?

Why didn’t I have a father figure?

Why do I want to hurt those who hurt me?

Why do I also want to hurt the ones that love me?

Why do I feel pain in the inside?

Why do I feel worn out?

Why does my heart hurt?

Why can’t I just be happy?

Why God?

Why don’t you want to take me with you?

Why?

Mom

By Gabriela P

Why didn’t you ever hug me?

Why didn’t you love me?

Why didn’t you take care of me?

Why didn’t you listen to me?

Why did you listen to other people?

Why did you think I’m your enemy?

Why do you prefer my brothers more than me?

Why do you also prefer your man and your drug?

Mom I hope one day you can answer me

And Mom I hope one day you can love me.

Dad

By Gabriela P

Dad I wanted you to see me grow up

Dad it hurts that you weren’t around to protect me

Dad I wanted you to be my hero and safe from all these bad people

Dad I felt alone and scared without you

Dad I really feel like dying seeing all these people hurt me and you weren’t around to save me

Dad I asked you if you ever looked for me

Dad and you told me you did and that Mom hid us from you

Dad and I told you that it’s ok I believe you

Dad and know that I’m almost close to you I’m happy

Dad and when I see you I might not let you go

Dad I’m going to feel safe, love and comfort when we’re together

Dad never forget I love you

Summer Coping Tips:

Chewy asked RBS/Wraparound staff

 “What is your fondest (childhood) summer memory”?

 .

My fondest childhood memory is living and going to school in Holland and learning Dutch  -Carla M. Facilitator

 My fondest childhood summer memory is traveling to the San Francisco Bay area with my family. This one particular day we got some deli sandwiches with big pickles and we went to the forest and had a picnic on top of a giant sequoia tree.   Paula H.F. Facilitator(Facilitator)
 Living off of ice cream and freeze pops. Allie S. CFS

 My fondest summer childhood memory is swimming at the local pool, hanging out with friends, and eating ice cold watermelon with my siblings on the porch of our home.Paul A. CFS

 My best summer memory was playing hide and go seek with all of the neighborhood kids in the dark! We would hide in all of the different yards and just have a blast!  Elisa L. (Facilitator)

Riding my bike around town.Playing sports. Learning to play new sports (golf, volleyball, tennis, racquetball, bowling)

No School.Spending time with sisters/cousins/family.Swimming  Jorge A. CFS

 My best childhood memory is driving ten hours to a little town called Qunicy, Ca going to the fair and being in a small town with one movie screen in the theatre no Mc Donalds only fast food was round table  pizza but it was the most fun because I was surrounded by my family and to this day there Is no Micky D’s or no major department storeDenisha E. Parent Partner

 Going to my grandma’s house and playing with my cousins  Jessica B. Facilitator

Birthday parties(because my birthday is in July) by the pool with a Rainbow Brite birthday cake.  Stacy H. CFS

 Getting together with friends from different schools and playing soccer all summer. Julian C. CFS

 Running through the sprinklers Winnie B. CFS

From about the age of 7 to the age of 10, every August we would go on a family vacation to Laughlin, NV. I always loved staying in the big hotels and going to the different restaurants and trying my dad's steak and lobster dish that he would order. Also since it was so hot, we went night swimming almost every night, that was probably the best part of the vacation.

Briana G. Facilitator