Wait... WHAT? It's MARCH already?

How did that happen? Where did January and February go? Where was I?! 2010 has been insanely busy, but awesome at the same time. Brace yourself. This is going to be a long one.

FIRST AND FOREMOST- The deadline for Miss Brooklyn 2010 paperwork has been extended, thanks to the overwhelming response we've received from the awesome media coverage of Brokelyn (Living Big on Small Change). See their two recent articles: Ladies, become the next Miss Brooklyn and Miss Brooklyn is a cheapskate too! Plus 2010 pageant deadline extended! Go the the Miss Brooklyn Website to submit an application! And thank you, Brokelyn, for helping us continue to introduce the Miss Brooklyn Organization to our community!

Secondly, CONGRATULATIONS to the new Miss Fulton County 2010, Heather Shaffer, and the new Miss Finger Lakes 2010, Amy Valenti. Both are amazing women who've worked to achieve their goals of becoming titleholders, and I'm thrilled for them both!

 

From L to R, Myself, Heather Shaffer- Miss Fulton County 2010, Lynn Tryon- Miss Mohawk Valley 2009 and Kristina Ferris, Miss Thousand Islands 2010.

 

From L to R- Jen Starkey, 3rd Runner up, Kieren Sheridan (YAY SISTER)- 1st Runner up, Amy Valenti- Miss Finger Lakes 2010, Corri Dartnell- 4th Runner Up, and Chelsea Prophet- 2nd Runner (I hope I got the placements right!)

Yesterday I attended The Queen's Corner- a fundraiser for the Miss Brooklyn Organization. Thanks so much to Amaris Acosta for organizing such a wonderful event!

It's hard to believe that I'm beginning my last month as Miss Brooklyn. I intend to make the most of it! Last week, I joined Todd Adelman at Brooklyn's Block Institute to bake cookies for a Children's Miracle Network Bakesale. THANK YOU, TODD! This Wednesday, I'll return to Block Institute for Read-Across-America Day- a nice close to my year as this same event last March was one of my first appearances as Miss Brooklyn 2009. On Thursday evening, I'll be attending the Women's History Month Celebration of Brooklyn female-authors at Superfine, reuniting with author/ illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg, who I met at an appearance in October. Check the Brooklyn Heights Blog for more info!

The Queen's Corner Pageant Networking Event- This Sunday!

This Sunday, Amaris Acosta (the new director of the Miss Brooklyn Organization) has organized a fantastic day of pageant networking for titleholders, volunteers, family and friend in the Northeast! The Queen's Corner Expo  will take place on February 28th from 11a-4p at the Newark Hilton Gateway (take NJ Transit to Newark Penn- it's connected to the hotel!). Below is some information on the event. The expo is an official fundraiser for the Miss Brooklyn Organization, and it promises to be an exciting and informative day!

Join us for a fun afternoon filled with fashion, glamour and pageantry! Meet titleholders and competitors from the Tri-State area and beyond! Get ready for pageant season with workshops featuring industry experts. See the newest styles for sale in our fashion show featuring clothing from Red Carpet Pageant & Prom. Get a head start on your competition with CROWNSHOTS by Carter Studios. Enter for a chance to win great prizes! Meet coaches, trainers, and representatives from pageant systems. Bring your sash, crown, and your camera-you won't want to miss any of the fun!

 

~Take photos & sign autographs with local and state titleholders

~Learn from the best at our "Insiders' Workshop"!

~Wear your crown, banner and/or medallion if you have a current title-and be featured during the event!

~Enjoy an overstuffed goodie bag, courtesy of our sponsors

~A free raffle ticket is included with each ticket purchase.  Raffle prizes are high quality gifts that every pageant girl would love!

If you compete in pageants, there is no need to travel; you can meet other contestants, represent your title and enjoy camaraderie and photo opportunities with your peers-while learning from pageant and industry experts! This event is for the newbie and the seasoned vet-don't miss it!!

Check out the website at www.the-queens-corner.com 

Since the event is in Newark, this would make a great afternoon activity before attending the Light For Haiti event co-organized by Claire Buffie, Miss Jubilee 2009, that evening!

Light for Haiti

Free Sunday PM? Interested in having a great time while making a difference? Then check out the event below, sent to me by none other than the awesome Claire Buffie (Miss Jubilee 2009).

In light of the recent disaster that has devastated Haiti, a group of New York artists are coming together to produce a benefit concert to fund medical relief. The music and voices of Broadway, the passion of spoken word and slam poetry, the rhythm of Indie rock, R&B and reggae will all come together in one night at The Canal Room in New York City. Sunday, February 28 at 8:00 pm, please join us in celebrating our gifts of song, word and laughter to benefit the Haitian people.

 

 Purchase tickets at www.canalroom.com

Make donations by contacting Claire at 646.469.7559 or emailing lightforhaiti@gmail.com
And for more information, a complete (and incredible) list of performers, and to see exactly where our money is going, the GHESKIO Medical Center, go to www.lightforhaiti.net

Advocating for the arts, from the comfort of your computer chair!

Do you think all students should have an equal opportunity to flourish at school, regardless of their specific talents?

Do you believe creativity is important to the development of students?

Do you have 2 minutes of computer time to spare?

The Americans for the Arts has set up a wonderful tool which allows you to express your concerns (in your own words, if you'd like, or through pre-written talking points) to your national, state, and local representatives with the power to support important upcoming arts funding decisions and oppose the drastic budget cuts proposed for the Fiscal Year 2011.

It took me approximate 2 minutes to email Representative Anthony D.Weiner and Senators Kristen Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, expressing my concern about the state of arts funding for the upcoming fiscal year. A few short clicks and I was done, no lengthy exposition needed.

So... What are you waiting for? Stop reading this blog! 

Write your elected officials here: http://capwiz.com/artsusa/home/

Students as a Group of Individuals, Not Just a Group

I wanted to share a post I read this morning on the Association of Teaching Artists blog. It really gets at the essence of the need for individualized, creative education reform.



AXIS MUNDI


Education Week reports on a new study that finds that "achievement gaps between students of different genders and racial, economic, and linguistic groups are large and persistent...even as they seem to be narrowing for K-12 students as a whole."

Also: An excerpt from How Do We Think about Our Craft? an essay by Maxine Greene published by Teachers College, Columbia University.

"Gradually becoming aware of all this, we are beginning to recognize that every young person must be encountered as a center of consciousness, even as he or she is understood to be a participant in an identifiable social world. Each one may be encountered as a being who is at once a distinctive individual and someone whose consciousness opens out to the common, an intersubjective world in which he or she is inextricably involved."

-Posted on 2/9/10 by Michael Wiggins

GOOD LUCK TONIGHT, ALYSE!

Alyse winning Preliminary Swimsuit!

In only a few short hours, Miss America 2010 will be crowned! As soon as I finish up my homework, I'm heading over to Inga's to set up camp in front of her big screen TV and cheer the beautiful Miss NY 2009, Alyse Zwick! My Vegas source (Kim Cantoni) has kept me abreast as to Alyse's performance, and as expected, she's as fierce as ever! We're so proud, girl! Tune in to TLC at 8p EST tonight to watch!

WORK IT, ALYSE!

Looking Ahead: Women's History Month

The talented Brooklyn-based author and illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg, just sent me the following information on the upcoming Women's History Month festivities to take place in Brooklyn. I hope you can attend!

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION: Brooklyn Honors Local Artists and Literature, March 2010 with Six Author-Illustrators, Three Bookstores and a Gallery

* Mar. 4 Thur. 6-8pm SUPERFINE EXHIBITION - OPENING RECEPTION 

Artwork from picture books by illustrator/authors SELINA ALKO, MIRIAM COHEN, PAT CUMMINGS, MELANIE HOPE GREENBERG, AILEEN LEIJTEN, and MEGHAN MCCARTHY   Exhibition:  March 2- March 14    

LOCATION: 126 Front St. (DUMBO) Brooklyn NY 11201 718.243.9005

* Mar. 6 Sat. 10:30am GREENLIGHT BOOKS presents SELINA ALKO and AILEEN LEIJTEN

LOCATION: 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 INFO: 718.246.0200

* Mar. 13 Sat. 10:30am GREENLIGHT BOOKS presents MELANIE HOPE GREENBERG and MIRIAM COHEN

LOCATION: 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 INFO: 718.246.0200

* Mar. 14 Sun. 11am - Noon BOOKCOURT presents a panel discussion featuring illustrator/authors SELINA ALKO, MIRIAM COHEN, PAT CUMMINGS, MELANIE HOPE GREENBERG, AILEEN LEIJTEN, and MEGHAN MCCARTHY. 

LOCATION: 163 Court Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 INFO: 718.875.3677

 

* Mar. 20 Sat. Time: TBA GREENLIGHT BOOKS presents MEGHAN MCCARTHY 

686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 INFO: 718.246.0200

* Mar. 21 Sun. 4-6pm P.S. BOOKSHOP Group Story Time with illustrator/authors SELINA ALKO, PAT CUMMINGS, MELANIE HOPE GREENBERG, AILEEN LEIJTEN, and MEGHAN MCCARTHY. 

LOCATION: 147A  Front Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201  INFO: 718.222.3340

  

* Mar. 27 Sat. 10:30am GREENLIGHT BOOKS presents PAT CUMMINGS 

LOCATION:  686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 INFO: 718.246.0200