shelleyshockley

Family to celebrate life, raise awareness about unsolved murder

Come out and help the Halton family celebrate the life of their loved one this Sunday, January 11th.

Cleveland, OH – Jan. 11 is a day that will live in infamy for the Halton family, but instead of hanging their heads in sorrow they will host a celebration, “Your Legacy Lives On..”, to remember their beloved son, brother, husband and father Stephen D. Halton, Jr.

The celebration says Lady Sheila Halton “is a time to celebrate our son’s life and to reignite interest in his case.” Stephen D. Halton, Jr. was fatally shot on Jan. 11, 2014 as he waited at a bus stop to go to work at Cleveland Clinic Hospital in the early morning hours.

Halton’s death followed a string of robberies in the Collinwood community, and although there were arrests in some of these crimes – his murder remains unsolved.

A flyer promoting the event invites the public to “Come celebrate with Bishop Stephen D. Halton, Sr., Lady Sheila D. Halton and the Halton Family as we commemorate the life of Stephen D. Halton, Jr.” The Master of Ceremony is Louis Pollard of Columbus. Joining him on the program are Mark T. Jackson & Final Call, Stacey Airelle and Iran Watson & Iwat Ministries.

The celebration, organized by Bishop and Lady Halton and their daughter, Tanesha, will be held at their church, Bethlehem Temple of Praise Church, 2607 Archwood Ave., on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. The Memorial Celebration is free and open to the public.

They encourage anyone with information in Stephen, Jr.’s death to contact Cleveland police at 216.623.5464 or CrimeStoppers at 216.623.5440, which is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.

Cleveland Photographers, Greater Cleveland Salvation Army team up to give “Portraits of Hope” to area families

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

This December 6th, photographers around the world will gather for the sixth annual Help-Portrait event. In 2009, Help-Portrait began as an idea that transformed into a movement in just three months. The idea behind Help-Portrait is simple: 1. Find someone in need 2. Take their portrait 3. Print their portrait and 4.Deliver their portrait.

Local writer and photographer Shelley M. Shockley has brought the movement to Cleveland for the last three years, and once again is partnering with the Greater Cleveland Salvation Army’s Zelma George Family Emergency Shelter to provide portraits to some of Cleveland’s transitional families.

“Help-Portrait is a picture perfect opportunity to offer families living in our shelter a beautiful memento that will last a lifetime. Hopefully it will make them feel special and take their minds off of their worries even if it’s just for a little while. We feel blessed to have been asked to participate.” said Major Lurlene-Kay M. Johnson, Divisional Secretary of The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland.

The enthusiasm from site participants is exactly what Shockley was hoping for when she began organizing this effort, “When I learned of this movement and saw some of the photos from other parts of the world I wanted to bring that same sense of joy to the Cleveland community.”

This Saturday, Shockley and a team of volunteers will gather at Cleveland’s Harbor Light facility, 1710 Prospect Ave. and set up “mini-studios” to bring the Help-Portrait movement to Cleveland. The team of volunteers includes local photographers, graphic designers and other volunteers.

About Help-Portrait:
Celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart formed Help-Portrait, a non-profit organization, in 2009 as he contemplated using his skills and expertise to give back to those who may not have the opportunity for a professional photo. The idea is that a photographer has the unique ability to help someone smile, laugh and return their dignity. It is a movement, a shift in photography.
From Bangalore, India to Ghana, Africa, the language of Help-Portrait crosses cultural and socioeconomic barriers. Even Hollywood has gotten in the act as A-list actors Zachary Levi and Yvette Nicole Brown volunteered at a Help-Portrait event in Los Angeles.

About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. For more information, go to http://www.salvationarmycleveland.org.

Looking for the light – Help-Portrait 2014

The smiles say it all. This is the light we seek to find this Saturday during the 3rd Annual Help-Portrait Cleveland event.

In three short days a few Cleveland area photographers will have the opportunity to look for the light as they participate in the 3rd Annual Help-Portrait Cleveland event.

This annual event is called Portraits of Hope and it is our desire to leave the approximately 20 families we will photograph with a sense of hope. A belief that despite their current situation things will soon turn around for them.

We are looking for that light or sparkle in the eyes of children and parents. The sparkle that says in this moment – Life is good. This is one of my favorite events of the year and I hope they can feel and experience the joy that we are attempting to share with them.

If you would like to share in this experience we will be at the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland’s Harbor Light facility 1710 Prospect Ave. from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Grateful to say “Happy Friday”

My new Volvo XC60 provided just the right amount of comfort and safety today.

I am so HAPPY to say it’s Friday! This has been a challenging week, one that prevented me from fulfilling my Blog Post A Day challenge and my 30 Days of Gratitude.

I could rant, moan and groan about this – instead I choose to accept what is placed before me and move on. The good news is that the missed opportunities were not because I just forgot, or had some sort of writer’s block. Instead my absence was due to life truly getting in the way.

So while I didn’t post on these days I will continue my gratitude messages within this post.

Day 10 – I am so grateful that I live in a country and a community that has any number of very good to excellent medical facilities within my reach. Especially grateful for these facilities on Monday as one of my dearest friends need this care and was able to utilize it.

Day 11 – I am grateful to hear that the above referenced friend has been released from the hospital and is happy about the treatment she received.

Day 12 – I will keep with the medical gratitude as today I am grateful for the doctors and nurses who treated my brother at Urgent Care and noticing an irregularity sent him to the nearest hospital for further observation.

Day 13 – I am grateful and thank God for his mercies and for eliminating the need for my brother to have an invasive, yet preventive procedure.

Today (Day 14) I am truly grateful for the vehicle pictured above. A little over a month ago I was blessed with this wonderful machine that has successfully carried me through the first snow storm of 2014! I’m still getting used to her in these conditions, but boy was I happy to have her today!

Now on to a weekend filled with rest and creativity!

Day 9 of 30 Days of Gratitude – Yay Browns!

I am grateful this week for the Cleveland Browns! I have been a lifelong fan and not since the 90’s have I been this geeked about my team! I have been disappointed but never to the point of giving up! Today without taking the field my Cleveland Browns are now in 1st place in the NFC North.