“A breath of fresh air” is the only way to describe the music by Southern California native Nicole Vaughn who recently sat down with Kids Who Draw to talk about “The Kind Campaign” an international organization that focuses on raising awareness on girl-on-girl crime and violence.

Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson founded the Kind Campaign with the goal of changing the lives of woman all across the world. Together they created a documentary taking it across the country screening it at hundreds of schools creating an environment where female students can feel comfortable conversing with each other and sharing their experiences. Along with the assembly these two inspirational ladies have also created a the concept of a “Kind Club” where females are encouraged to come together and create lasting friendships. It involves a curriculum that can be used in organizations and after school activities and was designed to have girls open up in honest conversation about issues with their peers so that they can come together and feel empowered.

We at KWD started this awareness campaign to spotlight many causes that musicians in the local music scene support and we are proud to kick it off with Nicole Vaughn. You can watch two exclusive performances below! And to learn more about the Kind Campaign and Nicole Vaughn Click the links below!

http://www.kindcampaign.com/

http://nicolevaughn.com/

Volunteers who’d like to bake, sell, and help out are welcome!

If you are interested in helping to raise awareness with us for one particular cause that we are advocating for please contact us! Whether it is an internship you’re looking for, a one time volunteer opportunity, or a group of other philanthropists to be a part of, we gladly welcome all volunteers and are always looking for future leaders of Kids Who Draw. All of our volunteers get the opportunity to be actively engaged and intimately involved in the planning and execution of our events and campaigns, and like we said before, we are always looking for future leaders to help Kids Who Draw be the change they want to see in the world.

KWD AUTISM Volunteer  Opportunities -

Sunday, May 20th 6am-2pm – Kids Who Draw Bake Sale for Autism Speaks

Opportunities to Volunteer -

Sunday, May 6th @ 3pm – Sign Making Day
23786 Birch Lane,
Mission Viejo, CA 92691

We will be getting crafty and be creating signs for the Bake Sale for Autism Speaks on May 20th. If you are interested in participating please bring your own set of posters! Art supplies that you are willing to bring is greatly appreciated! (ie; paint, spray paint, markers, etc.)

KWD Bullying Cause Volunteer Opportunities -

If this is a cause you are interested in volunteering for please contact us.

Right now we are currently searching for an Orange County Based Nonprofit Organization or Program that advocates for the victims of Bullying or protests against Bullying.

We have not yet planned an event for our Bullying Cause. If you would like to volunteer for this cause we will be beginning the planning process of our Bullying Cause Event soon.

KWD HUMAN TRAFFICKING CAUSE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES -

Last August 2011, Kids Who Draw threw a Live Music and Fashion Show event for Child Trafficking, called “The Red Light on Traffic.” We also participated in the SCTNow Walk in Laguna Beach and we will be walking with them again this year.

Kids Who Draw will be raising money for our team from now until the walk in September. Exact Dates TBD. If you are interested in joining our KWD team please contact us!

KWD INTNL HEALTHCARE CAUSE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES -

This year Kids Who Draw’s main cause we are focusing on is International Healthcare. We will be partnering with Mico York to raise awareness for this cause.

We are currently looking for volunteers who would like to participate in the planning and execution of our Mico York 2012 Event.

For volunteers who are looking for a permanent spot on our team we will be holding a Kids Who Draw Recruitment Meeting on Sunday, June 10th.

 

Kids Who Draw (KWD) envisions a world where the passionate youth can become the change that they want to see in the world. By working in music, fashion, film, and other art industries, KWD educates young generations about what organizations exist to address the world’s problems and provides easy opportunities to get involved as part of the solution.

At Kids Who Draw, our music and film departments, led by Luis Ledezma and Ryan Elam, have teamed together to expose various artists and musicians who are actively striving to be the change they want to be in the world. Keep an eye out for our interviews with different artists like, Nicole Vaughn, Stacy Clark, The Royal Sons, The Juliana Theory, The Devil Wears Prada, and more.

WHO: KIDS WHO DRAW

WHAT: Bake Sale for Autism Speaks

WHEN: Sunday, May 20th, 2012 6am-2pm

WHERE: 23786 Birch Lane, Mission Viejo, CA 92691

What is AUTISM?

• Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills.
• A disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old
• Autism Spectrum Disorder: a spectrum of psychological conditions characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interaction and communication as well as restricted interests and repetitive behavior.

What are the early signs of Autism?

• Development delays by 30 months
• Loses previous acquired abilities to say words or sentences
• No eye contact
• Lack of awareness for others’ feelings.
• Child does not respond to his/her name
• Cannot explain what he/she wants
• Intense and violent tantrums
• Odd movement patterns
• Fixation on things that can’t seem to be moved on from
• Unusual repetitive behavior
• Limited interests in activities or play.
• Unusual focus on pieces. (Younger children with autism often focus on parts of toys, such as the wheels on a car, rather than playing with the entire toy.)

Autism Statistics:

• As many as 40% of all autistic children never speak.
• An estimated 24,000 children are diagnosed with autism every year out of 4 million children born in the US.
• Estimated up to 500,000 individuals younger than 21 have autism.
• A new case of autism is diagnosed nearly every 20 minutes.
• Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
• Eight new cases of Autism are found each day – 7 days a week in California alone!
• From 1987-1998 there was a 633% increase in autism in the state of California.
• Then from 1998-2002 there was an additional 96% increase in Autism in California.
• In state-operated institutions of care, there are 3,436 people with autism

Autism Facts:

• The economic impact of autism is more than $90 billion and is expected to more than double in the next decade.
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism.
• Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.
• Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the US.
• Autism is a spectrum disorder: You can be very autistic or a little autistic – thus, you can be 1.) Bright, verbal, and autistic, or 2.) Mentally retarded, nonverbal and autistic.
• Asperger syndrome is a form of autism but differs from other autism spectrum disorders because it still preserves the linguistic and cognitive development.
• People with autism are different from one another.
• There are many treatments for Autism but no actual cure.
• Children rarely outgrow autism but for some, those who receive early intensive intervention, their symptoms may decrease radically.
• Some people with autism are among the most intelligent beings you’ll ever know.
• Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention.

It’s been a while since Kids Who Draw has had a blog post, but something has come to my attention that I feel is important and is  cause for action. I have recently learned that Governor Brown’s proposal to cut $517 Million from child care and development disables many families and children from having the opportunity to thrive in early care and education programs like preschool and transitional kindergarten. This especially affects low in come families, about 62,000 children lose the opportunity to early child care and education because of Governor Brown’s proposal.

As a new mother this is incredibly horrifying to me. As an unmarried, student mother of one my son could very well fit in that 62,000 number of children who lose that opportunity and that is not something I am willing to allow. I am writing this blog post to urge you to also write the legislature a letter that opposes his budget cut.

This is extremely important for all of our children and I hope it is not taken lightly.

Here are some fact sheets with some more information for you to read up on: (PRESCHOOL CALIFORNIA)

http://www.preschoolcalifornia.org/resources/resource-files/californias-child.pdf

http://www.preschoolcalifornia.org/resources/resource-files/realignment-fact-sheet.pdf

Here is a link to write a letter to the legislature! All you need to do is fill in your name and information and click SUBMIT!

https://secure3.convio.net/pca/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=327

KWD SUMMER INTERNSHIP June 11th – July 30th, 2011

KWD IS OFFERING:

• SIX (6 INTERNS NEEDED) 8 WEEK UNPAID SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
• RECOMMENDATION LETTER AT THE END OF INTERNSHIP
• GROWTH AND EXPERIENCE IN HUMAN RESOURCES
• EXPERIENCE WITH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
• EXPERIENCE WITH SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTS: ie; MARKETING, FUND RAISING, COORDINATING, MUSIC, FASHION, ART, PHOTOGRAPHY
• 2 PERMANENT HR REP POSITIONS BASED ON WORK ETHIC AND PERFORMANCE AT THE END OF SUMMER INTERNSHIP

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (NOT MANDATORY)

EXPERIENCE IN HR A PLUS
EXPERIENCE IN MARKETING A PLUS
KNOWLEDGEABLE IN:
PHOTOGRAPHY
MUSIC
FASHION
ART
FILM

TASKS, DUTIES, AND EXPECTATIONS:

• Ensuring timely recruitment of volunteers and TOP QUALITY for KWD.
• Creating and ensuring a plan to maintain a motivational environment including adequate opportunities for career growth and development.
• Screening Resumes and applications.
• Setting interview appointments.
• Meeting with Current Directors and keeping in close communication with each of them.
• Developing HR Policies for KWD Directors.
• Writing an HR Department Business Plan.
• Prompt communication via email, phone and Skype.
• Attendance to all mandatory meetings.

2 MANDATORY MEETINGS AT BEGINNING AND END:

1st Meeting: Saturday, June 11th, 2011 1pm in Westminster, CA
2nd Meeting: Saturday, July 30th, 2011 1pm in Westminster, CA

Click to Download Internship Overview (PDF)
FLIER – INTERNSHIP SHORT

Here are some cool things we are currently working on!

Kids Who Draw is planning to throw their first ever annual, KWD Summer Day Event in August 2011 this year with a focus on Human Trafficking. The event is called, “The Red Light on Traffic” and will be an attempt to raise awareness and money for the fast growing criminal industry, Human Trafficking. Proceeds from this event will go to the prevention of human trafficking as well as safe homes and shelter for victims affected by this heinous crime. Find out more at the following link: KWD SUMMER DAY EVENT 2011 – “The Red Light on Traffic”

On Saturday, April 23rd, CEO Of World Class Youth, Analyssa Benedict, will be holding a meeting for those who are interested in being a part of the KWD Fashion Committee. We currently have a lot of opportunities this summer for gaining experience in the Fashion Industry as we will be having a few fashion shows! Click the following link for more info and to RSVP on Facebook to the meeting! KWD: Fashion Committee Meeting