Our Future Entrepreneurs

One of the many interesting things I've been doing in retirement is mentoring high school seniors involved in the L.A. Futures Academy.

On Thursday I went to TBWA\Chiat\Day with two of the Light Bringer Project staff –– Paddy Hurley and Kelly Phillips –– to speak to students from Dorsey High School's School of Business and Entrepreneurship  who have been creating a video with the intention of reimagining Dorsey, That school sometimes gets a bad rap but in reality has plenty of students like these who are college-bound and not in the least bit interested in settling for anything less than superior achievement for a bright future.

We reviewed the video and then I spoke to them about the importance of appropriate attire, conversational speaking and a well-written resume when preparing for summer internship interviews. They were actively engaged in this discussion and asked really good questions. I was asked to give them tips because I interviewed dozens of prospective interns at the high school and college level throughout my career. 

A lot of people associate Tom Coston's nonprofit Light Bringer Project only with the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade and the Pasadena Chalk Festival.

But the fact is that most of what they do on a day-to-day basis is all about providing pathways to success for children and teens in public schools in Pasadena, Los Angeles and San Francisco through arts and communications programs.

TBWA\Chiat\Day is one of the L.A. Futures Academy corporate partners. In this program, high school seniors are mentored by key staff at this and other major advertising agencies, and other mentors like yours truly come in from time to time.

Security is high. The reception area is upstairs in the yellow building and an enclosed, elevated walkway leads to all the action in the agency. 

Nobody goes across that walkway without being signed in and name tagged. I remember this well from my days in private-sector advertising and public relations before I went to work in the public sector. 

Industrial espionage is a very real issue in agencies. Here they make security appear more casual than it really is. "If found wandering, please return me to the Gatehouse."

Across the covered walkway, the cavernous agency is where very talented copywriters, graphic designers, production managers and many others create award-winning campaigns for big-time, worldwide clients. This is just a portion of the vast area:

Another mentor on Thursday was Melissa Heitman, executive project manager at TBWA\Chiat\Day. She guided the students through the process of managing a project, including overseeing every detail, following a timeline and working within a budgets.

The title on the screen when I took this photo was Be Fearless.

 

Two additional shots from Thursday's visit:

A large black RV emblazoned with a red dragon is parked outside the building. It was not in use at that moment, but ordinarily the interior serves as an innovation studio to stimulate the untapped creative ideas of staffers outside the hustle and bustle of the agency.

Paddy and I carpooled, and as we were driving through the parking lot to leave the premises an ad van pulled in. You can't tell from the photo, but the film "Avatar" was showing on the side of the van in very high definition. I think if I saw this while I was driving on the road I would be terribly distracted!

I want to thank everyone at TBWA\Chu iat\Day, Dorsey High School's School of Business and Entrepreneurship and of course Light Bringer Project.

I also serve as a mentor at the Technology Academy at Foshay Learning Center. The curriculum includes a communications and marketing component.

There are plenty of mentoring opportunities out there. I highly recommend that you give it a try, no matter which organization you work with. And you can tailor your time commitment to suit your schedule.

I took most of the photos myself; many thanks to Paddy Hurley, Kelly Phillips and TBWA\Chiat\Day for some of the others.

Looking for Something to Do? Free Events Feb. 8 to 15

Here are my top picks of events for adults, teens and children scheduled from Feb. 8 to 15. 

All events are free, so take a look –– and don't you dare tell me there's nothing to do in Pasadena!

Teens are invited to a creative writing workshop Saturday, Feb. 8, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Story Room at Pasadena Central Library. No experience is necessary. Selected stories will be published on the Teens Blog  and in the new Teen Zine. To sign up, call (626) 744-4066, option 4.

Art Center College of Design's annual open house is Sunday, Feb. 9, from noon to 4:30 p.m. View the works of current students in the areas of advertising, entertainment design, film, environmental design, photography, product design, illustration, fine art, graphic design and more; meet the faculty and current students; and if you're interested in attending Art Center College of Design in the future, sit in on a presentation about admissions and financial aid.

Learn the Basics of Grant Writing Monday. Feb. 10, from 4:30 to 5:30 at La Pintoresca Branch Library. Jamie Jackson, a nonprofit management consultant, will help you learn how to write and structure a successful grant proposal and how to tell a compelling story about your nonprofit organization.

With the theme "Is Your Data Safe: Inernet Security," this month's workshop for owners and managers of small businesses is Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 8 to 10 a.m. It's part of the Art of Small Business Survival series hosted by the City of Pasadena, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Foothill Workforce Investment Board. Register here.

Pasadena Presbyterian Church presents German organist Hans Heilscher for the popular Music at Noon weekly concert Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m.

High-speed rail? City rail lines? Provincial trains? Learn the ins and outs of riding the rails in Europe during a special presentation Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at Distant Lands. They'll cover planning your itinerary, choosing between individual tickets and rail passes and how to use Europe's comfortable and efficient trains, from purchasing a ticket and boarding your train to exiting at your destination.

The community is invited to meet Camille Levee, the new executive director of Women at Work, at a reception Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at their new office at 2555 E Colorado Blvd, Suite 204. RSVPs are requested at (626) 796-6870.

Nick Udall, chair of the Global Agenda Council on New Models of Leadership, will sit down with Jeremy Hunter, assistant professor of practice at the Drucker School of Management Thursday, Feb. 13, at 8:30 a.m. at Southern California Public Radio's Crawford Family Forum to discuss a new model for creative and productive leaders in which innovation is a complete mentality, not a business-led process.

Children are invited to make Valentine's Day cards and crafts Thursday, Feb. 13, at 2:30 p.m. at Villa-Parke Branch Library (RSVP at 626-744--6510) and the same day at 3:30 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library (RSVP at 626-744-7268).

Gung Hay Fat Choy! In honor of the Chinese New Year, storyteller Barbara Wong will share ancient Chinese tales with children Thursday, Feb. 13, at 3:30 p.m. at Hill Avenue Branch Library.

Teens interested in summer jobs or internships will be guided through the basics of writing and organizing their resumes Thursday, Feb. 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Pasadena Central Library's Teen Central. RSVP to (626) 744-4066, option 4.

You don't have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to see Cate Blanchett's Academy Award-nominated performance in "Blue Jasmine" (2013, PG-13) there Friday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m.

The La Pintoresca Teen Education Center will host Valentine's Day Bingo, a friendship bracelet station, a delicious yogurt-filled strawberry contest, a fun photo booth and more Friday, Feb. 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. 

Join Dr. Joseph Lazio, chief scientist for JPL's Interplanetary Network Directorate, for a discussion about NASA's Deep Space Program Friday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. in the Vosloh Forum (building UU on this map) at Pasadena City College. Looking back at the program's 50-year history, Lazio will explain the Interplanetary Network's evolution and the critical role it has played in space exploration. 

Pasadena's 32nd annual Black History Parade and Festival is Saturday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning at Charles White Park in Altadena and ending with the festival at Robinson Park in Pasadena. Be sure to note the street closures.

Many thanks to First Covers, Art Center College of Design, Janet Cohen Consulting, Lera Blog, Rail Pictures, Payson Roundup, Southern California Public Radio, About.com, Barbara Wong, Urban Socialites, The Film Club, Kendra's Card Company, Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Pasadena Weekly for the photos.

Mystery History -- Solved!

Ron wins with his 10:06 p.m. Tuesday guess "Richard Feynman lecturing at Cal Tech [sic]"

In the photo above, Dr. Richard Feynman writes physics equations on a chalkboard during one of his many lectures at Caltech.

An influential theoretical physicist, he solved the puzzle of quantum electrodynamics, earning him the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1965, which he shared with two others.

Feynman was known worldwide –– but he was a local who lived in Altadena.

He wasn't a one-dimensional egghead, that's for sure. He was esteemed as much for his humor, spirit of adventure and love of life as he was for his brilliant mind.

He was a musician, artist and actor, traveled the world and had many close friends, including our late, beloved Jirayr (Jerry) Zorthian. After meeting at a party, they spent decades as best friends, respectively teaching each other physics and art.

In June 2008 the Arroyo Monthly published a wonderful article titled "The Renaissance Man and the Nobel Laureate." It begins on page 14. Click on this symbol on the Arroyo Monthly page to enlarge the article:

Zorthian's Feynman Wall of Passion that he created at his Altadena ranch has become iconic to those of us who spent many happy hours there.

The physics equations and artful sketches Feynman drew on cocktail napkins and paper placemats at the now-defunct Gianonni's in East Pasadena became legendary. 

His 1985 book "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman" became a New York Times bestseller.

Feynman famously explained physics in a way that anyone could understand.

He was instrumental on a presidential commission that investigated the Challenger disaster. By compressing the material used in the shuttle's O-rings in a clamp and immersing it in cold water, he demonstrated that the O-rings became less resilient in cold weather. This simple presentation led to the commission determining that the disaster was caused by the primary O-ring not properly sealing in unusually cold weather at Cape Canaveral. 

There's even a film about Feynman and his investigation into the Challenger disaster. William Hurt plays Feynman.

His interest in Tuva sparked him to plan a trip there, with his now-famous mantra "Tuva or Bust!" But the Soviet Union blocked his many travel requests. Ironically (or perhaps it was calculated), it was only after he passed away in 1988 that his request was granted.

In 1993 the U.S. Postal Service commemorated his life and work by including him on a postage stamp series along with three other influential and award-winning scientists: Barbara McClintock, Josiah Willard Gibbs and John von Neumann,

Please take the time to enjoy this video that includes wonderful moments with Richard Phillips Feynman and his last interview in 1988.

Many thanks to Caltech, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Zorthian Ranch and the U.S. Postal Service for the photos.

Mystery History

Where are we? And what's happening?

The first person to guess correctly will win lunch with me -- I'll buy yours and you'll buy mine.

Remember, leave your brief guess as a comment on this blog post but don't try to give the entire back story (that's my job).

I'll have the full scoop on Thursday.

Citizens Police Academy -- Orientation

Thursday, Jan. 30, was the first night -- orientation -- of the 12-week Citizens Police Academy Class #40 in the Assembly Room at the Pasadena Police Department. Police Chief Phillip Sanchez greeted everyone and set the tone for the course.

CPA is a program that allows citizens who live, work or own property in Pasadena to learn about every aspect of Pasadena police operations.

Everyone paid careful attention in the orientation. I'm the one you can barely see in the fuchsia sweater behind the gentleman in the green shirt.

Chief Sanchez introduced everyone to the Pasadena Police Department command staff, all of whom I've known for years, and it was great to have them in this setting.

Left to right are Commanders Darryl Qualls, John Perez, Lisa Rosales and Chris Russ, and Lt. Tracey Ibarra, adjutant to the chief of police and the PD's public information officer.

At one point they all took off their badges, including Chief Sanchez, and passed them around for everyone to hold and to feel the weight. "Our officers are warriors and our badges are in the shape of a shield," he said. I didn't take a photo of a badge in my hand, but took a photo of Chief Sanchez's badge on his uniform during a break.

As the City of Pasadena PIO for 22 years, I was involved in several Pasadena Police Department incidents from the standpoint of providing additional support for media relations at the request of police chiefs from Bruce Philpott to Phil Sanchez, often at incident command centers.

But I never had time to attend the Citizen Police Academy, so now I'm really looking forward to getting a realistic view into the day-to-day activities of all the divisions and sections.

Dinner was served up by Pasadena Police Department volunteers.

At the end of a break I caught up with Tracey Ibarra.

We divided into three groups for a tour of the PPD. One of the stops was the Communications Section where 9-1-1 operators and dispatchers take calls and relay information to patrol officers (be sure to watch the video on the link). I was particularly interested in this section because my youngest daughter Jessica does this job at night for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

While we were there, this operator took a call from an elderly gentleman who said someone in a car outside his home was threatening him and his family. The man spoke very broken English, so the operator immediately got a Mandarin interpreter on the line. It was all very fascinating.

Among the many other areas we toured was the Criminal Investigation Division. The detectives mostly work days, so we had the division to ourselves.

Kitty Johnson, a civilian employee in the Neighborhood Services Unit of the Community Services Section, will be a constant at all of the CPA classes, when commanders and officers from various sections will come in and inform us about the inner workings of the department.

We will also have two sworn officers who volunteered to facilitate this class (more about them later).

We'll be there from 5:30 to 9 p.m. every Thursday, with the exception of two daytime field trips to the PPD heliport and the firing range (I can barely wait for that one!).

I'll write a blog post every week to update you on the progress of the class, which will conclude with a graduation when I'll receive certification. I'm looking forward to this great adventure!


Photos were shot by yours truly and Chief Sanchez, who you can follow on Twitter here.

Looking for Something to Do? Free Events Feb. 1 to 8

Here are my top picks of events scheduled from Feb. 1 to 8. All events are free, so take a look -- and don't you dare tell me there's nothing to do in this town!

Draft policies for the City of Pasadena General Plan update will be reviewed at a community meeting Saturday, Feb. 1, at 9 a.m. in the Creveling Lounge (Building CC) at Pasadena City College. The policies cover topics such as growth, transportation, design, historic preservation, environmental sustainability, arts and culture, economic vitality, parking and education, and give direction for future planning efforts for several areas of Pasadena, including the Central District, East Pasadena, North Lake, Fair Oaks/Orange Grove, Lincoln Avenue, Washington/Allen, West Gateway and Northwest Pasadena.

Swap out your old books for something new Saturday, Feb. 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pasadena Central Library's west patio. All ages and genres are welcome.

Teens are invited to the Story Room at Pasadena Central Library for an anime afternoon Saturday, Feb. 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. Watch anime episodes, enjoy Japanese snacks and learn about the new manga in the library's collection.

Register your child aged 6 to 12 no later than Saturday, Feb. 1, for the Kids Safety Academy, which begins Feb. 8. From 9 a.m. on seven consecutive Saturdays, Pasadena police officers, firefighters and others will cover topics including stranger danger, fire safety, environmental stewardship, bike safety, the 9-1-1 system and much more. Space is limited to 30 children and their parents. Contact Police Specialist Karla Kauhola at kkauhola@cityofpasadena.net or (626) 744-7657.

Hastings Branch Library presents a special exhibit titled "Historical View of African American Families" from Feb. 1 to 28 during regular open hours. Explore the lives of families as seen through African American literature and the civil rights movement. This is just one of the Black History Month offerings throughout February in Pasadena.

Not a football fan? Caltech Performing and Visual Arts presents a chamber music concert Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 2, at 3:30 p.m in Dabney Lounge, located at Dabney Hall (#40 on this map). Works by Rachmaninoff, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Shostakovich and other composers will be performed.

Instructors from Armory Center for the Arts will provide art lessons to children Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library. Children will paint, work with clay and create collages.

Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. is Free Family Night at Kidspace Children's Museum. Explore the Imagination Workshop, Galvin Physics Forest, Digging Deeper Gallery, Nature Exchange, Harvest Corner and so much more that Kidspace has to offer!

Pasadena Presbyterian Church presents French violinist Etienne Gara for the popular Music at Noon weekly concert Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m.

You don't have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to see the 2013 film "The Butler" there starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey Friday, Feb. 7, at 1 p.m. The film tells the story of a White House butler who serves eight presidents over three decades with a backdrop of the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and other dramatic events that affected this man's life and family.

Pasadena City College is asking our participation in a community visioning workshop Saturday, Feb. 8, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Creveling Lounge. Help PCC President Mark Rocha, members of the Board of Trustees, staff and other officials develop a future vision for the college and its facilities.

An interactive outdoor installation is being created through a series of community events at Side Street Projects. During the opening event "Sculpting Social Landscapes" Saturday, Feb. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., you'll explore the newly built labyrinth, learn about the history, meanings and purposes of labyrinths and participate in sensory activities.

On Sept. 4, 1957, in one of the defining moments of the civil rights era, nine black students registered to attend the segregated Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, testing the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that required desegregation of schools nationwide. As a result, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus called in the National Guard to prevent the students from entering the school – a decision that flew in the face of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling that mandated all public schools in the nation be integrated "with all deliberate speed." On Sept. 24, President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered federal troops to escort the "Little Rock Nine" into the school, and their first day there finally began. Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of those students and now a resident of Pasadena, will speak at the Allendale Branch Library Saturday Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. about that fateful day, civil rights, social justice and ethical decision-making.


Many thanks to the Pasadena Planning Department, A to Z Library, anime.com, the mighty Zack Stromberg,  Pasadena Public Library, Petrea Burchard, The Musical Nose, Kidspace Children's Museum, Etienne Gara, The Hollywood Reporter, Pasadena City College, Jeanmarie Conlin and Little Rock Nine Foundation for the photos.