Thursday, December 22, 2011

Ashe Cultrual Arts Center

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December 2011


Dear Friends,
The calendar is running out on 2011, and we are releasing a sigh of contentment as we think back over the many moments of community, culture and art you all have helped to make possible here at Ashé Cultural Arts Center. We have hosted over 20,000 of you at nearly 800 performances, events, exhibits, lectures, films, panels, meetings, convenings, workshops, socials, and family and community gatherings.

You and your friends, colleagues, children, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and grandparents have left such lively and endearing spirits with us when they joined us. We have hosted 6,000 of you in other venues off-premises. All of this has returned to us and strengthened our commitment and effort to create and continue the task of mixing the wonderful ingredients of community and culture with art. Please think of us when you make contributions and gifts to organizations at work in the community.

These are indeed times that can try the soul.  But we realize that the power of culture and community combined can lift us, carry us and anchor us through bad times, till times get better. We thank you for your support, encouragement and presence. We exist because you exist. Your life gives our life purpose. Your challenges give our life focus. Your potential gives our life vision.  
 
As this year ends, we encourage you to be of good heart, to believe in hope and the unknown but dependable power of good work and faith. We count on you to be there in 2012, and we assure you that you can count on us being there. In the end, we are to each other the inspiration that we need to build a better world. If that is not enough, then certainly the warm smiles, hugs and kisses of so many "wonder full" children should move us a long ways toward full-powered involvement and action. But, my friends, the most important part of tomorrow is the belief in the possibility that things can be, will be better for us all. Passed all the history, the current reality, there is a path, maybe several that lead to a better tomorrow.

You can count on us to be lighting candles rather than cursing the darkness. And we know that we can count on you to do the same. See you in 2012. Till then, enjoy the bonds of family and friends and the blessing of children and elders in your life. We look forward to the 2012 journey with you. God willing, it will be full of love, learning and adventure.
 
Blessings and Best Wishes,
The Ashé Family




SISTAHS MAKING A CHANGESistahs Making A Change
Every Monday and Thursday
Ashé Cultural Arts Center
1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, New Orleans
Free and Open to the Public

Classes will resume in January.  Stay tuned for the schedule.

For more information, contact Jamilah Muhammad at (504) 569-9070.

KUUMBA INSTITUTE announces its
Kwanzaa Program

December 26-30, 2011; 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Tuition:  $25 per child
Registration fee for new students:  $10 per child

To register visit Ashé Cultural Arts Center at 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard.
Call (504) 569-9070.
________________________________________________________________
Kuumba Kwanzaa 2011


Happy Holidays!
Ashé Cultural Arts Center's Holiday Schedule
 Open Half-Day on Friday, December 23, 2011
Closed all day, Monday, December 26, 2011
(Kuumba Institute's Kwanzaa Program will be open December 26 through December 30.)

We will resume regular business activities on
Tuesday, December 27, 2011.
 


    

Contact Information:
Ashé Cultural Arts Center
1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70113
(504) 569-9070

www.ashecac.org

CAROL BEBELLE
Co-founder & Executive Director 
Join Our Mailing List
This email was sent to divineprince@houseofthedivineprince.com by violatjohnson@gmail.com |  
Ashé Cultural Arts Center | 1712 Oretha Castle-Haley Blvd. | New Orleans | LA | 70113

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Grow with Ashe Cultural Arts Center

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Appeal Letter

November 2011


________________________________________________________________
Thank you for a wonderful year full of wonderful moments!
Your presence in our audiences and your presents in our coffers have made this year possible. We hope you will continue both.
_______________________________________________

Dear Friend,

The weather is cooling down, and we are turning the corner that leads to the end of 2011. At Ashé, we are preparing for an end-of-the-year flurry of activity which culminates with the 12th Annual Holiday on the Boulevard Festival, December 9-11, 2011. Watch for our calendar of upcoming events on our Facebook page (Ashé CAC) or our website www.ashecac.org.

More than 20,000 individuals have visited Ashé so far this year, and we have served an additional 5,000 people through our off-site activities. We've hosted 750 events so far this year, and we have an active rooster of over 200 regular program participants. We've shared our performance works in Louisiana with Jefferson Parish, Baton Rouge and Crowley. We've brought our performance works to Southern University in Baton Rouge and Xavier University in New Orleans. We have strategic partnerships with Loyola University, Dillard University and Tulane University. We've brought performances to Houston and Santa Fe, New Mexico. We have been doing our best to contribute to the cultural economy in New Orleans and to provide livelihoods for nearly 100 artists, contractors and staff.

Our network of partnerships and collaborations continues to flourish in New Orleans, across the country and around the world. Ashé has received three awards and commendations this year. We have traveled to Japan to share cultural healing with victims of the Tsunami. We have continued to nurture and connect with our colleagues and friends in South Africa, the Congo, Haiti, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico and Japan.

We are proud to have established a critical partnership with College Unbound, a national alternative education program, and Roger Williams University in Rhode Island which has launched Ashé College Unbound, a distance-learning model. The program is aimed at helping eleven New Orleans artists, culture bearers and activists earn bachelor's degrees in General Studies from Roger Williams University in two years, with a community and cultural development emphasis.

This year has been full of our efforts to create more and more ways for art and culture to serve human and community development. We are writing you to share our efforts to date and to ask you to be a part of helping us to live up to the meaning of our name (ashé: the ability to make things happen).

Please become a donor or a paying member of Ashé Cultural Arts Center, and become a part of making things happen in New Orleans and for New Orleanians. Your contribution will make a difference. The times are hard, but an ever-growing number of small donors can accomplish as much as, or more than, a few large ones.

Your contribution will assist us to:
  • Complete the financing of the Venus Gardens/Ashé Apartments;
  • Support our expanded hours of operation, after 6PM weekdays and week-ends; and
  • Support our many cultural and creative projects with artists and culture bearers.
Your gift can be unspecified, or you are welcome to specify one of the fundraising focuses above.

We accept cash, checks, credit cards, stocks, bonds and life insurance assignment. Visit our website at www.ashecac.org for credit card donations. You can send your payment by mail to us at 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70113. Make check payable to Efforts of Grace, Inc./Ashé Cultural Arts Center.

Call 504-569-9070 to discuss your gift or to ask any questions.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season full of many warm and memorable moments.

With Sincere Gratitude,

LD CB


Carol Bebelle Lloyd Dennis
Co-Founder & Executive Director Board President
Ashé Cultural Arts Center Efforts of Grace, Inc.


Contact Information:

Ashé Cultural Arts Center
1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70113
(504) 569-9070

www.ashecac.org

CAROL BEBELLE
Co-founder & Executive Director

Join Our Mailing List
Like us on Facebook


This email was sent to divineprince@houseofthedivineprince.com by violatjohnson@gmail.com |
Ashé Cultural Arts Center | 1712 Oretha Castle-Haley Blvd. | New Orleans | LA | 70113

Monday, October 31, 2011

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Are-You-an-Artist---Jump-Aboard-the--Every-Artist-Insured-Tour---November-2--2011.html?soid=1101250662692&aid=gF_U_5oP3E8

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Are-You-an-Artist---Jump-Aboard-the--Every-Artist-Insured-Tour---November-2--2011.html?soid=1101250662692&aid=gF_U_5oP3E8

Mural Heading 650 Pixels


Actors Fund Logo

The Actors Fund, the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation, and Sweet Home New Orleans offer free seminar on health care reform for

local visual and performing artists and entertainment professionals

New Orleans is next stop on the "Every Artist Insured Tour"

NEW YORK, NY - The Actors Fund's Artists Health Insurance Resource Center (AHIRC) will offer a free health care seminar to visual and performing artists and entertainment professionals at the AshéCultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in New Orleans on November 2, 2011, from 6 pm to 8 pm. The seminar, co-sponsored by Sweet Home New Orleans and the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation, will address how our nation's artists can benefit from recent health care reform. The event will mark the next stop on AHIRC's "Every Artist Insured Tour," encompassing dozens of cities across the country. To register, call the Ashé Cultural Arts Center at 504.569.9070, or visit ahirc.org/everyartistinsuredtour for more information.

The seminar will show attendees how to evaluate their current coverage, and whether there's a better plan or program available. Seminar topics will include understanding health care reform; applying for government programs; finding affordable health insurance and health care; getting insured despite a pre-existing condition; and lowering the cost of medications. The seminar will be followed by a Q&A and individual consultations. All information is comprehensive and unbiased, with no commercial or political sponsors.

Established in 1998, AHIRC's mission is to help all artists in the United States get quality affordable health insurance for themselves and their families. Many of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which passed on March 23, 2010, are directed at the individual and small group market, where the majority of visual and performing artists and entertainment professionals who are ineligible for union insurance find themselves.

"The median income for actors, dancers and musicians is below $24,000 per year and only a small percentage have full time work," said Jim Brown, National Director of Health Services for The Actors Fund. "Our team from AHIRC understands health care for artists, and we're proud to partner with Ashé Cultural Arts Center to provide this seminar for the local New Orleans arts community."

"Every Artist Insured: Understanding Health Care Reform", a guide to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, otherwise known as the health care reform, will be available at the seminar.

This free guide is also available at ahirc.org.

Other Louisiana cities upcoming on the tour include:

Baton Rouge, LA
Tipitina's Music Co-Op
2600 Government St
November 3, 2011, 2 pm - 4 pm

Lafayette, LA

101 Jefferson St. Suite 100
November 4, 2011, 2 - 4 pm

To request a seminar in your area or for more information, contact Jim Brown, The Actors Fund's National Director of Health Services, at 917.281.5966, or email jbrown@actorsfund.org.

ASHÉ CULTURAL ARTS CENTER is an initiative of EFFORTS OF GRACE, INC. Located in Central City New Orleans, Ashé Cultural Arts Center has established a successful practice of cultural art presentation and production, community development, artist support, and the creation of partnerships and collaborations that amplify the impact and reach of our outreach and support efforts. Visit www.ashecac.org

THE LOUISIANA CULTURAL ECONOMY FOUNDATION The primary mission of the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation is to be a catalyst for the development and enhancement of the distinct cultural industries of Louisiana by promoting the economic health and quality of life of our cultural economy workforce. Visit www.culturaleconomy.org.

SWEET HOME NEW ORLEANS The mission of Sweet Home New Orleans is to support the individuals and organizations that will perpetuate New Orleans' unique musical and cultural traditions. It provides Social Services, Economic Development, and Community Revitalization programming to local musicians, Mardi Gras Indians, and Social Aid & Pleasure Club members. Visit www.sweethomeneworleans.org.

THE ARTISTS HEALTH INSURANCE RESOURCE CENTER (AHIRC), a program of The Actors Fund, was created in 1998 with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts to help people in entertainment and the arts find affordable health care and health care coverage and reduce the number of uninsured artists. AHIRC offers in-person counseling in New York and Los Angeles, national telephone support, an internet resource database (www.ahirc.org) with over a half-million visitors each year and more than 100 Getting and Keeping Health Insurance workshops held at arts, cultural and human services organizations throughout the country. Visit www.ahirc.org.

THE ACTORS FUND is a national human services organization that helps everyone - performers and those behind the scenes - who works in performing arts and entertainment, serving more than 12,000 people annually. Programs include social services and emergency assistance, health care and insurance, housing, and employment and training services. Visit www.actorsfund.org.

###


SAVE THE DATES
3 FESTIVALS: Free and Open to the Public / Vending Opportunities
(504) 569-9070
------------------------------

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Make a Joyful Noise Gospel Festival

Ecuadorian Festival

1700 Block of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard


&


December 9, 10 & 11, 2011

Holiday on the Boulevard

Ashé Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard

FUNDERS LANGUAGE 2011-JAN


Contact Information:

Ashé Cultural Arts Center
1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70113

(504) 569-9070

www.ashecac.org

CAROL BEBELLE
Co-founder & Executive Director

Join Our Mailing List

Every Artist Insured Tour

Mural Heading 650 Pixels


Actors Fund Logo

The Actors Fund, the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation, and Sweet Home New Orleans offer free seminar on health care reform for

local visual and performing artists and entertainment professionals

New Orleans is next stop on the "Every Artist Insured Tour"

NEW YORK, NY - The Actors Fund's Artists Health Insurance Resource Center (AHIRC) will offer a free health care seminar to visual and performing artists and entertainment professionals at the Ash�Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in New Orleans on November 2, 2011, from 6 pm to 8 pm. The seminar, co-sponsored by Sweet Home New Orleans and the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation, will address how our nation's artists can benefit from recent health care reform. The event will mark the next stop on AHIRC's "Every Artist Insured Tour," encompassing dozens of cities across the country. To register, call the Ash� Cultural Arts Center at 504.569.9070, or visit ahirc.org/everyartistinsuredtour for more information.

The seminar will show attendees how to evaluate their current coverage, and whether there's a better plan or program available. Seminar topics will include understanding health care reform; applying for government programs; finding affordable health insurance and health care; getting insured despite a pre-existing condition; and lowering the cost of medications. The seminar will be followed by a Q&A and individual consultations. All information is comprehensive and unbiased, with no commercial or political sponsors.

Established in 1998, AHIRC's mission is to help all artists in the United States get quality affordable health insurance for themselves and their families. Many of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which passed on March 23, 2010, are directed at the individual and small group market, where the majority of visual and performing artists and entertainment professionals who are ineligible for union insurance find themselves.

"The median income for actors, dancers and musicians is below $24,000 per year and only a small percentage have full time work," said Jim Brown, National Director of Health Services for The Actors Fund. "Our team from AHIRC understands health care for artists, and we're proud to partner with Ash� Cultural Arts Center to provide this seminar for the local New Orleans arts community."

"Every Artist Insured: Understanding Health Care Reform", a guide to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, otherwise known as the health care reform, will be available at the seminar.

This free guide is also available at ahirc.org.

Other Louisiana cities upcoming on the tour include:

Baton Rouge, LA
Tipitina's Music Co-Op
2600 Government St
November 3, 2011, 2 pm - 4 pm

Lafayette, LA

101 Jefferson St. Suite 100
November 4, 2011, 2 - 4 pm

To request a seminar in your area or for more information, contact Jim Brown, The Actors Fund's National Director of Health Services, at 917.281.5966, or email jbrown@actorsfund.org.

ASH� CULTURAL ARTS CENTER is an initiative of EFFORTS OF GRACE, INC. Located in Central City New Orleans, Ash� Cultural Arts Center has established a successful practice of cultural art presentation and production, community development, artist support, and the creation of partnerships and collaborations that amplify the impact and reach of our outreach and support efforts. Visit www.ashecac.org

THE LOUISIANA CULTURAL ECONOMY FOUNDATION The primary mission of the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation is to be a catalyst for the development and enhancement of the distinct cultural industries of Louisiana by promoting the economic health and quality of life of our cultural economy workforce. Visit www.culturaleconomy.org.

SWEET HOME NEW ORLEANS The mission of Sweet Home New Orleans is to support the individuals and organizations that will perpetuate New Orleans' unique musical and cultural traditions. It provides Social Services, Economic Development, and Community Revitalization programming to local musicians, Mardi Gras Indians, and Social Aid & Pleasure Club members. Visit www.sweethomeneworleans.org.

THE ARTISTS HEALTH INSURANCE RESOURCE CENTER (AHIRC), a program of The Actors Fund, was created in 1998 with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts to help people in entertainment and the arts find affordable health care and health care coverage and reduce the number of uninsured artists. AHIRC offers in-person counseling in New York and Los Angeles, national telephone support, an internet resource database (www.ahirc.org) with over a half-million visitors each year and more than 100 Getting and Keeping Health Insurance workshops held at arts, cultural and human services organizations throughout the country. Visit www.ahirc.org.

THE ACTORS FUND is a national human services organization that helps everyone - performers and those behind the scenes - who works in performing arts and entertainment, serving more than 12,000 people annually. Programs include social services and emergency assistance, health care and insurance, housing, and employment and training services. Visit www.actorsfund.org.

###


SAVE THE DATES
3 FESTIVALS: Free and Open to the Public / Vending Opportunities
(504) 569-9070
------------------------------

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Make a Joyful Noise Gospel Festival

Ecuadorian Festival

1700 Block of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard


&


December 9, 10 & 11, 2011

Holiday on the Boulevard

Ash� Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard

FUNDERS LANGUAGE 2011-JAN


Contact Information:

Ash� Cultural Arts Center
1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70113

(504) 569-9070

www.ashecac.org

CAROL BEBELLE
Co-founder & Executive Director

Join Our Mailing List

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Gulluh Books

Amazon.com Widgets

Some of my favorite picks of Gullah Geechee books.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Free Screening of Rejoice and Shout at AsheCAC!

Mural Heading 650 Pixels

FILM AND GOSPEL COME TOGETHER TONIGHT AT ASH�!

Live Gospel!

featuring

The Electrifying Crown Seekers

Tyrone Chambers

Rev. Lois Dejean

Ash� Cultural Arts Center at 6:00 p.m.

1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard

PLUS

Rejoice and Shout

SAVE THE DATES
3 FESTIVALS: Free and Open to the Public / Vending Opportunities
(504) 569-9070
------------------------------

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Make a Joyful Noise Gospel Festival

Ecuadorean Festival

1700 Block of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard


&


December 9, 10 & 11, 2011

Holiday on the Boulevard

Ash� Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard

FUNDERS LANGUAGE 2011-JAN


Contact Information:

Ash� Cultural Arts Center
1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70113
(504) 569-9070

www.ashecac.org

CAROL BEBELLE
Co-founder & Executive Director

Join Our Mailing List

Friday, October 14, 2011

Free Screening of DEAF JAM by Judy Lieff

Mural Heading 650 Pixels


ASH� CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
invites you to a free community screening of

DEAF JAM

by Judy Lieff

Deaf Jam Photo

Aneta Brodski, a deaf teen living in New York City, discovers the power of American Sign Language poetry.
As she prepares to be one of the first deaf poets to compete in a youth slam,
her journey leads to an unexpected collaboration.
Friday, October 21, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Ash� Cultural Arts Center
1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, New Orleans

---------

STICK AROUND FOR THE TALK-BACK AFTER THE FILM
with
Frederick "Hollywood" Delahoussaye, Moderator
Poet; Assistant Coordinator, Kuumba Institute, Ash� Cultural Arts Center
PANELISTS
Benjamin Trahan, Director of the TRIO Talent Search America Organization, Dillard University
Asia Rainey, Director of Wordplay New Orleans; Coach of New Orleans Youth Slam Team (NOYS)
Preach (Asia-Vinae) New Orleans Youth Slam Team Poet
Shedrick White, Director of Never Ending Words Foundation (motivational speaker, poet, educator)

For more information: (504) 569-9070 - www.ashecac.org.
Film Series Logo

Credit box for film series


SAVE THE DATES
3 FESTIVALS: Free and Open to the Public / Vending Opportunities
(504) 569-9070
------------------------------

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Make a Joyful Noise Gospel Festival

Ecuadorean Festival

1700 Block of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard


&


December 9, 10 & 11, 2011

Holiday on the Boulevard

Ash� Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard