As the first step and as her project in Landmark Education’s SELP, Goyal arranged a movie show for 180 children from Bangalore, which took place on 1st April at the Galaxy Theatre. The movie shown was Care of Footpath, which was chosen to relate specifically to the lives of the children attending – it’s about a child of humble beginnings who learns to excel in school and become educated.

Read about this initiative in more detail in at article from Bangalore’s Citizen Matters.

The project titled Renton Trails, and featured in an article in RentonPatch, is taking on fundraising to new trails, having volunteers use GPS devices to map new trails, taking on cleaning up open areas, habitat restoration and more. While the town will have the final say on where the new trails go, Case sees plenty of opportunity for individuals to demonstrate leadership and make a difference.

“People can make their own volunteer positions,” he noted.  “Our focus is fundraising and community activism so we can get this accomplished without spending all the taxpayers’ money.”

Renton Trails is having its debut event, a cleanup of Honey Creek Trails, this Saturday, May 12 at 9am. To find our more or get involved, visit the Renton Trails site.

The event will take place from 7-11pm downtown at the Pink Ultra Lounge on 6th and Pine. Dates with ten men and ten women will be auctioned, with the package including a complete date experience such as a romantic dinner, a movie night, dancing or even rock climbing.

The event is intended to raise $10,000 for children’s scholarships and provoke awareness about what it will take for Kenyan children to get real opportunities.

Tickets cost $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. For more information visit the Date to Educate event page.

Zeitz, who professionally is the executive director of the Global AIDS Alliance nonprofit, says that “What once was an America ‘by the people and for the people’, today is a dysfunctional and ailing America ‘by corporations and for corporations.’ Our elected leaders have failed us, as they are stuck in an intractable quagmire of greed-driven, lowest-common-denominator deal-making.”

According to an article at AZ Central, the work was part of a Landmark effort to gain funding to eliminate bedbug infestations at public shelters, and to increase awareness of the problem. Orlando’s partner in his efforts, Dawn Gouge (an etymologist whose efforts guided the work at the Mesa shelter), is seeking $190,000 in grants to take on the issue at other shelters.

Earlier this year the first fundraiser for the group was held. Titled ‘Paint my Town with Heroes’, the event, held at the El Fandango restaurant in San Diego, used $40 tickets and a silent auction to raise money, and engaged in a conversation with attendees using visual media to explore what the program can provide for the community.

In addition to art techniques, Urban Heroes programs are about children having the leadership skills to create murals that enhance their communities. Find out more at the Urban Heroes blog.

‘Dream a Little Dream’ Art Camps launched

A series of art camps titled ‘Dream a Little Dream’ was launched in the city on Monday. The camps are aimed at touching the lives of hundreds of underprivileged children. The first art camp was held at APSA – Dream School, a voluntary organisation for underprivileged children at HAL. About 200 children participated in the one-day camp. The project is an initiative of Reena Chowdhury, an IT professional who wants to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children.

In addition, event organizers are requesting that people hang a string of colored lights or turn their porch lights on that night to bring attention to the idea of spotlighting abuse. According to the ‘Turn the Light On’ website, one in five children in the United States is sexually abused before they are 18 years old, and only 10% of the time is the abuser a stranger.

The ‘Turn the Light On’ site is also requesting donations, which will go to Shepherd’s Counseling Services, which provides for the needs of adult survivors of childhood abuse.

The event will feature survivor testimonials, community speakers and a range of musical performers – the live music begins at 6:30. Find out more information by going to the Turn the Light On site.

The Red Hat Society is an international organization inspired by a poem by Jenny Joseph which begins “When I am an old woman I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me”. The leader of each fun-loving group is called a queen; their clothing, regalia.

According to an article in The Dominion Post, ‘Queen Kinsa’, as Mrs. Hays is known in the group, saw a need for a such a group in Upper Hutt which would allow women to be social, be fully self-expressed, and take part in a variety of interesting activities. The first outing of the group featured a lunch at the Mayfair Cafe after a ride on the Silver Steam Rail.

Future events are also being planned – the group is considering a train trip to Wairarapa to visit antique shops, travel to  Akatarawa Valley and/or Matiu-Somes Island, or other shopping, pampering or shooting excursions.