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Thankful Tuesday: Cleveland’s Portraits of Hope

It’s “Thankful Tuesday” and I’m beyond grateful for the support I have been receiving for this year’s Help-Portrait event! After sending out a letter seeking volunteers and support, I have been inundated with generous folks offering to give their time and skills to aid in making life just a little brighter for those less fortunate.

The bright smiles of youth were captured by Photographer Stephanie Briggs. — The bright smiles of youth were captured by Photographer Stephanie Briggs during Help-Portrait 2012.

If you’re not familiar with Help-Portrait let me give you a little background and I’m sure you will agree that this is a worthwhile cause! This project was founded in 2008 by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart and Kyle Chowning a marketing guru (my words) as a way to utilize the skills expertise and tools of photographers, stylists, and makeup artists to give back to their communities.

So, how you ask do you do that? Well, you gather up some of the aforementioned folks and choose a local group – church, shelter etc. where you will find a segment of the population unfamiliar with participating in a photo shoot and you set up mini-studios and begin to capture the beauty within these individuals. The best part is – you present them with a professional photo right there on the spot!

Santa visits with children during the 2013 Portraits of Hope at the Greater Cleveland Salvation Army

Now to really understand and have your heartstrings tugged in many directions click here, to see an early video that explains this movement much better than I can. After viewing this video, I wanted to see if we could make magic in Cleveland by setting up a Help-Portrait event.

In December 2012, I gathered a group of angels to help pull off our first Help-Portrait event and we have been going strong each year. We partner with the local Salvation Army’s Zelma George Women’s Shelter and provide each of the participants with their very own professional photograph.

This year for the first time we have barbers, stylists and several makeup artists offering their support and I’m certain this will be the best Portraits of Hope we have held in Cleveland as part of Help-Portrait. If you would like to be a part of this fabulous event, please fill out the form below and we will contact you. I guarantee you won’t regret it! Giving brings so much joy!

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About Last Night

The beaury of Old Vegas at night. (Photo by Shelley M. Shockley)

It’s my birthday week and as part of the celebration I joined a group of friends for my inaugural trip to Las Vegas.

To be completely honest, I am underwhelmed. The weather is great and the sites I’ve seen are interesting, but can I say I’m pining to return – NOT!

I guess the fact that I’m not a gambler plays a large role in that decision. Add to that I’m not a member of the “Mile High” club with loads of discretionary cash just waiting to be blown and my initial thoughts of “Sin City” remain.

Bellagio Water Show — One of the highlights of the trip, a beautiful musical light show in front of the Bellagio. (Photo by Shelley M.Shockley)

As I sit in the Casino writing this one observation that amazes me is the number of children spending there vacations in Las Vegas. Not to be totally judgmental, but WHY?! I mean how bored are they and how much fun can the parents have?

Also, who started the rumor that as long as you are playing you are drinking? I haven’t played a lot, but not once has a waitress asked me if I wanted a cocktail! Actually as I sat playing no one appeared but as soon as I got up, a gentleman seated two machines over received a drink! I wondered aloud, “How much do you have to play to get a drink?” His nonverbal response was “nothing,”so my response was “She must like the way you look!”

Stratosphere at night — Night view of The Stratosphere. (Photo by Shelley M. Shockley)

All in all, a good vacation thanks to a good group of people and some good sights.

Bedford Hts. Mayor Fletcher Berger featured panelist this Friday

Panel seeks to bring values and morals into the home to combat violence in the community

Cleveland, OH – The violence plaguing Northeast Ohio has prompted many organizations into action and Messiah International Ministries, a local church will host a Panel discussion on “Real, Deep, Relationships” this Friday, October 2, 2015, at 7 p.m. as part of these efforts.

Apostle Phyllis Fosh-Carter, founder of the “Journey to the Well Experience” ministry at Messiah International Ministries said of the discussion, “This is an opportunity to prayerfully bring more values and morals into the homes to aid in combating the violence in the community.”

The program, open to everyone, will address many issues including Building Trust, Godly Relationship Foundations, Healing from Past Hurts and Communication. To facilitate this dialogue, the assembled panel includes Bedford Hts. Mayor Fletcher Berger; Pastor Barbara Dillard and Evangelist Tracy Goodlow of Church of the Living God; Apostle Rodney and Sharon Tucker of Kingdom Life Ministries; Karyn Buggs a Training and Development Coach as well as Apostles Harold and Phyllis Carter.

Further explaining her goals Apostle Carter said, “We are giving the community the knowledge and tools to be empowered and have a better attitude as citizens.”

WHO: Mayor Fletcher Berger of Bedford Hts., OH, Apostles Harold & Phyllis Carter, Pastors of Messiah International Ministries

WHAT: Journey to the Well Experience, a Panel Discussion

WHERE: Messiah International Ministries, 98 Center Rd., Bedford, Ohio 44146

WHEN: Friday, October 2, 2015 @ 7:00 p.m.

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See Artwork created from recycled toy guns!

Local organizations to unveil winning artwork in “Anti-Gun Violence Art Competition”

Cleveland, OH – Gun violence is pervasive in our communities and Rid-All Green Partnership has joined with several local organizations to bring awareness to the problem while promoting their mission of sustainability through the creation of beautiful artwork using recycled toy guns.

On Saturday, September 12^th a celebration will be held at The Rid-All Green Partnership, 8129 Otter Road (off East 82^nd and Kinsman) to showcase the work of student and adult artists and to unveil the winning piece from the “Anti-Gun Violence Art Competition” held last winter in conjunction with the first “Toy Gun Buy Back Program.”

The Competition was one component of the “Toy Gun Buy Back Program,” sponsored in conjunction with The Gloria Pointer Teen Movement and Inner Visions. Both of these organizations work within the community to combat violence and create community dialogue around these issues.

The community leaders will also take a moment to honor local journalist Rachel Dissell with the Community Humanitarian Journalism Award. Yvonne Pointer said of Dissell, “Rachel is a godsend! She not only tells the stories of Cleveland, but also goes out of her way to help effect change during her free time. She has been a tremendous help to the “Toy Gun Buy Back Program,” and we just want to say a proper thank you to her.”

Rachel Dissell, left, will be honored withe the Community Humanitarian Journalism Award. She is pictured with Yvonne Pointer and Jennifer Richvun late last year. (Photo Courtesy of Yvonne Pointer)

Damien Forshe, co-founder of Rid-all Foundation said, “This is a celebration to recognize all of the participants and to show the community the wealth of talent we have amongst our young people.” The celebration will be held from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. and will include fun activities for the entire family along with food and entertainment. This event continues the foundation’s goal to raise awareness around the issue of gun violence and to engage youth in alternative activities.

About Rid-All – Our mission is to transform communities, starting with 3 acres in Cleveland’s Kinsman Neighborhood, known as the Forgotten Triangle. We’ve reclaimed the land for growing fruits and vegetables, farming fish, creating soil from food waste discarded by others and more. We’ve constructed two green houses, four hoop houses, a tepee and an edible trail to add to our fish farming. The Rid-All organization has also developed a keen interest in youth development and has implemented programs such as essay contests, science education programs for Cleveland Metropolitan School students and a summer Youth Farmer Leadership Program. Visit ridall.org for more information.

About Gloria Pointer Teen Movement – Our purpose is to honor unsung heroes who are committed to stopping violence and saving America’s children. Our concept is to provide events that will raise awareness and provide continuous dialogue that lead to change in communities across the country.

About Inner Visions – Our mission is to create a safe, thriving region where inequities are eliminated and relationships of mutual benefit are formed. We connect people across neighborhood boundaries to work on meaningful grassroots community improvement projects.

FMA Health Education Network to present Service Community Award to Michelle Knight this Saturday at Health Fair

Award presented during 6th Annual Health Education Network Health Fair

Cleveland, OH – In an effort to close the gap on disparities in health education among minorities and the under served in Cleveland, FMA Health Education Network presents its 6th Annual Health Education Network Health Fair this Saturday, July 25th from noon – 5 p.m. in the parking lot of St. Luke’s Pointe (the old St. Luke’s Hospital), 11201 Shaker Blvd.

The goal of the Health Fair is to present health education information, and other vital information to the residents in the immediate vicinity of St. Luke’s Pointe. With more than 700 community members serviced last year, the Associates expect an even larger audience this year.

Some of the offerings will include glucose, oxygen and circulation screening in addition to blood pressure checks and the Grand Opening of The St. Luke’s Low Cost Pharmacy featuring a “Brown Bag Review” of prescriptions for any potential medical interactions. Services and information will be provided by practices within St. Luke’s Pointe Medical Center, Faith Medical Associates and St. Luke’s Dental Clinic among others.

A fair would not be complete without activities for children including the City of Cleveland Smoke House, Metro Park Nature Tracks, pony rides, face painting and entertainment provided by the City of Cleveland Department of Recreation’s Show Wagon.

A brief award ceremony will include the presentation of the Service Community Award to Michelle Knight in honor of her work in the community.

Event organizer Dora Appling, said the event demonstrates “Where faith and medicine work together” the people will not only survive they will thrive.