Teaming Up for the New School Year

by Sharon Chin, Texas Tower PR

Hi there! It has been a while since a Tower member wrote a post for Creative Action. In case you forgot, I am Sharon from Texas Tower PR, a student-run PR agency at The University of Texas. Creative Action is actually the oldest client that Tower has! Along with Linda, we are the account executives for this account and we help with all media related projects. It’s great to be back!

As we welcome the change in weather, we are finally getting into the momentum of things as the fall semester begins. After a meeting with Mary Alice Carnes and Erik Weasenforth from Creative Action’s marketing team last week, we can’t wait to get started with the exciting line up of their events. I wanted to fill everyone in on a couple of projects we have in mind. (At Tower, we are still getting used to the name change, but we absolutely love it!)

Before I start talking about our involvement with Creative Action, I would like to introduce our new recruit into the account, Aly Kasberg. You may also like to read more about Tower and our new members here.

To start off, one of our bigger projects this semester will be setting up a press page for the new website. We are currently doing some research and putting together a few options for the page. We are always looking for media attention, so why not make the organization accessible and appealing by laying out the right information? We strive to do just that and we want the media to love us!

Another event that we look forward to is the fall fundraiser, I Spy Pie! Who doesn’t look forward to pie? It’s the perfect fall treat. We aim to secure multiple press coverage for the event as well as record a PSA to be aired on local radio stations. I had lots of fun at audio editing last year and would love to give it another try.

Lastly, everyone in the Creative Action account is excited to be attending the Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble next month. Getting first hand experience at such programs is vital to us. It is important to learn more about the organization from within, and it will be a great introduction to the newer members.

It will be a busy semester with Tower, but we look forward to it! We will also be attending the open house on October 4, and we hope to see everyone there.

UPDATE: Theatre Action Project is now Creative Action. Read more about our name change.

Mission Possible: Volunteer Project Leaders Assemble!

by Mary Alice Carnes, Community Relations Director

This year Theatre Action Project is soliciting special individuals to serve as Volunteer Project Leaders for some very specific initiatives. Volunteer Project Leaders with direct special assignments this new school year. Read further if you’re ready to hear about this call to action.  Warning: your participation may involve being a creative artist, critical thinking, being a confident leader and fun…

Volunteers at Fall Fundraiser

The Mission:
Your mission as a Volunteer Project Leader–should you decide to accept it–is to recruit a task-force of volunteers from our very special list of operatives. Your assembled team will meet to brainstorm ideas for special projects in a timely manner, find a productive way of meeting your goals, and above all use your creativity and have fun.

The Projects:
Volunteer Project Leaders and their volunteer operatives will help Theatre Action Project in the coming year accomplish unique missions, such as:

• Creating Fun Hats: Making and decorating paper bag hats in the weeks leading up to I Spy Pie! our fall fundraiser October 20th at Central Market North. Yes, it’s as fun as it sounds.
• 

  TAP patio

  Spiff up and Beautify: Watering the plants at Theatre Action Project’s outdoor patio, trimming branches, pulling a few weeds, and keeping the landscaping neat and clean.  Schedule to be determined by the team of operatives. Easy as pie!

• Hosts: Help plan the TAP Fall Open House on October 4th. It’s a meet and greet where we invite the public and potential new volunteers to meet the staff, enjoy tasty foods and beverages and learn and how to get more involved with TAP.

• 

  Arts and crafts for youth while El Buen Samaritano’s Hands for Hope event distributes 1200 Thanksgiving meals to families.

  Arts and Crafts Team: Brainstorming and executing fun arts and crafts activities for youth and families at El Buen Samaritano’s Hands for Hope Thanksgiving event, Saturday, November 17. Also, making bracelets and journals for our TAP in the classroom programs.

Benefits:

• Self-satisfaction of doing good in your community.
• Helping TAP meet it’s mission.
• Meeting and working with other leaders and volunteers.
• Adding skills to your resume.

These are only a few of this fall’s special assignments for Volunteer Project Leaders and their team of operatives. Are you ready to answer the call? If so, contact, Mary Alice Carnes, email: maryalice@theatreactionproject.org. This message will not self destruct.

Hard to Say Goodbye

by Katie Grills, Community Relations AmeriCorps VISTA

Culture, language, and the intangible things that make a place what it is are constant preoccupations for me as a writer. These interests also make it challenging for me to let go of the experiences I have in life. In other words, it’s hard to say goodbye.

My time as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Theatre Action Project (TAP) will always populate my imagination as a time of color and joy—a place where good-willed artists come together with the intention to see the world changed for the better, and actually see their wildest dreams for the next generation come true.

Here are some of the amazing things that have happened this year that I will never forget:

• The nearly 2,700 hours of time that volunteers selflessly gave
• The smiles and huge hearts of more than 200 people who were compelled to pass through our doors to give freely of their time and talents
• The endless well of wisdom that I had to draw from in our staff, and especially from Mary Alice, my wonderful supervisor and dear friend.
• The support and warmth of the Austin community
• The unbridled creative spirit of young people

I am forever grateful for the work that TAP does, and I will continue living and working for their mission to develop creative artists, courageous allies, critical thinkers, and confident leaders wherever I go. My next step is a move to Atlanta, GA, where I hope to continue cultivating a career in the nonprofit sector. I want to continue being an advocate for the arts, and especially for the crucial part that creativity plays in the development of the lives of young people.

Many thanks to the TAP community for carving out a place in my heart and mind that will stay there for years to come.

Getting Your Heart Beating

by Mary Alice Carnes, Community Relations Director

I visited TAP camp last Wednesday during our Rhythm and Drums week. The energy in every session was electrifying. There’s something about making a rhythmic sound that makes your heart beat faster. I witnessed the fun you can make from making a drum out of a plastic paint bucket turned upside down, stomping your feet, and the ka-thump, ka-thump you get from moving your body and singing.

All of this drumming brought back memories of the show Stomp I saw years ago at Austin’s Paramount Theatre where everything was turned into a percussive instrument: brooms, plastic bags, pasta (yes pasta!) and even the kitchen sink.

Rhythm and Drums campers showed me that to be a creative artist, all that was needed was to trust in the guidance of a devoted Teaching Artist, follow our hearts, and step through the door to our imagination.

TAP Camp continues through August 1oth. Don’t miss all the fun!

Big Hair Country Fair: BBQ, Fun Hair and Carnival Games

by Mary Alice Carnes, Community Relations Director

Theatre Action Project (TAP) presents the Big Hair Country Fair, Saturday, March 24. The event features hairdos for attendees provided on site by Birds Barbershop stylists. Guests will also enjoy all the Salt Lick BBQ they can eat, refreshments, cake walk, carnival games and a vintage photo booth complete with costumes. Musical entertainment is provided by Western Swing band Hot Club of Cowtown and Oliver Rajamani.

The Big Hair Country Fair takes place from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Salt Lick Pavilion, 18300 FM 1826, in nearby Driftwood, Texas. Proceeds benefit Theatre Action Project.

Karen LaShelle, Executive Director touts the fun elements of the event. “Who can resist Texas Swing music, BBQ, cake walk, carnival games and big bouffant hair-dos? This is going to be a raucous fun time–all for a really good cause–supporting the development of young people through the arts. All of the proceeds will directly support our school programs, which cost as little as $2 per child per hour.”

Our old-fashioned Cake Walk gives you the chance to win gift cards for cakes, cupcakes and all things delicious from these Austin favorites: Lick It, Bite It, or Both, 1886 Cafe and Bakery, Delish, The Cupcake Bar, Bellissimo Bakery, and Walton’s Fancy and Staple. Yum!

Cake not your taste? Pan for gold at our Fool’s Gold station. We have jewelry you can win from Russell Korman Jewelers, DLC Brooklyn, and Kendra Scott Jewelry.

Any way you look at it, you’re in for a great time at the Big Hair Country Fair.  To buy tickets, visit: TAP Big Hair.

P.S.: Another big hair style I like is that of Diana Ross. I remember pretending to be a Supreme  using a hair brush as a microphone and singing in my own living room girl group. See you at the Big Hair Country Fair!