EYC Artist Alley to feature ArtStorm talents

Three talented young artists from the community group Art Storm LA will participate at this year's Environmental Youth Conference Artist Alley. Their art form is called "Masterpiecing" or graffiti art.

Art Storm LA changes taggers into artists by providing canvases, paint and safe and legal locations for young people to pursue their art. The organization keeps helps youth develop their talents, and provides opportunities for expression.

Here are the three artists participating at the EYC:

RAMON ROBLES, Age 20
Ramon, a native of Cypress Park in Northeast Los Angeles, demonstrates a unique leadership ability that translates into his art. An accomplished track and field athlete, Ramon also races past his partners in the skills department. He uses colors, image and lettering, a superior imagination and brings an intellectual and funny, spontaneous quality to his masterpieces.

BRAULIO MENDIVIL, Age 19
Braulio, a native of Cypress Park in Northeast Los Angeles, is a natural talent hidden in the guise of his personality, which could be described as 'the trickster.' He puts as minimum an effort possible in all things, including aerosol art. But his lazy, selfish and stubborn independence are quickly forgiven when his canvas comes to life. With minimal effort, he makes it look so easy, and while his exterior personality may be an untamed practical joker, his inner mind is actually quicker and smarter than a lot of artists.

MICHAEL ANDRADE, Age 18
Michael brings excitement. His ability to let his unprepared first aerosol paint strokes lead him into any direction and the skills to pull it off is amazing. Like an abstract thinker, or someone who has traveled deep into the interior of the self, Michael is determined to push the envelope and keep on painting long after the piece is `finished.' I have seen canvases morph into 2nd or 3rdthemes and structures, and all with an exacting eye. Exactly exact with an exacting excellence.

See more of Ramon, Braulio and Michael's artwork at http://s610.photobucket.com/albums/tt187/ArtStorm/Available%20Office%20Art/.

Meet Joe Bravo

Internationally-recognized artist Joe Bravo, known for his Tortilla Art, is the newest Million Trees LA contributing artist. He explains his innovative use of this unique medium as "...an integral part of the Hispanic Culture and my heritage. For the subject matter of my tortilla paintings, I use imagery that is representative of Latinos, conveying their hopes, art, beliefs and history. As the tortilla has given us life, I give it new life by using it as an art medium."

Joe made this tortilla painting especially for Million Trees LA. It is called "We reap what we sow" and will be on exhibit at the Environmental Youth Conference on November 4. Come and see it for yourself!

"We reap what we sow", Acrylic on Flour Tortilla, 28"x28" framed, 2009

Wanted: Green Documentaries, Video Journals, Podcasts and other multi-media projects

If you are 12-18 years old or know of any teen who has a one-minute (or less) multi-media project about the environment (e.g. documentary, video journal, podcast et al) that can be shown or highlighted at the EYC, please email Dr. Haco Hoang from Million Trees LA at Haco.Hoang@lacity.org by 12noon on September 21, 2009. Please include the following information in your email:

- Complete contact information of youth involved in the project (name/s, age/s, school/organizational affiliation, e-mail address/es and phone number/s)

-Brief description (1-2 paragraphs) of the project and how it addresses environmental issues
- Hard copy sample of the project on a DVD with high quality resolution (preferably 720dpi or higher) that is non-returnable.
- All environmental multi-media projects will be considered. However, this year’s panels will emphasize the issues of:

1) water conservation, 2) alternative energy and 3) sustainable consumption.Sample projects include storm water capture through tree plantings, green technology such as solar and wind power, and eco-friendly clothing.

Applicants whose projects are selected will be notified by September 30^th and must accept or decline by 5pm on October 7^th.

If you have any questions, please email Haco.Hoang@lacity.org or call 213-473-9950. For more information about MTLA, please go to our website at www.milliontreesla.org.

WANTED: Youth Speakers at the Environmental Youth Conference

Are you passionate about your Green ideas and want to talk about it at the EYC? If you are 12 to 18 years old and interested in making a panel presentation before conference attendees from the Los Angeles area as well as other countries, send an e-mail to Lisa.Sarno@lacity.org by September 21 (deadline was extended).
Please include the following information in your email:
• Complete contact information of youth presenter (name, age, school/organizational affiliation, email address, and phone number)
• Brief description (1-2 paragraphs) of the environmental project that you want to present at the conference

A presentation about any environmental project will be considered. However, this year’s panels will emphasize on the following: WATER CONSERVATION, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, and SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION. Some examples include storm water capture through tree plantings, green technology such as solar and wind power, and eco-friendly clothing.

Applicants who are selected will be notified by September 30th, and must accept or decline by 5pm on October 7th.

If you have any questions, call 213-473-9950 or submit questions to MTLA’s comments section on www.milliontreesla.org

WANTED: TEENS FOR VIDEO PSA

We are seeking youth VOLUNTEERS willing to participate as actors in the 2009 Environmental Youth Conference PSA. If you have what it takes to be on TV, and you want to volunteer your time to a good cause, please consider being a part of this project.

Volunteers must be:
• 12-20 years old
• Outgoing, enthusiastic, cooperative
• Not shy in front of the camera
• Available to tape on a Saturday in August or September

A total of ten youth volunteers with be selected to be part of the culturally diverse cast.

If you are interested, submit two photos and a completed Volunteer PSA Talent Form to bpw.pao@lacity.org by August 21, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. You can also fax to (213) 978-0332, Attention: Michelle.

If you are selected, your parent/guardian will have to signify consent for your participation. Below are the forms. Please print, fill out and send in.

For questions, call (213) 978-0325.

Million Trees LA Urban Forestry Grant

Million Trees LA is pleased to announce a grant competition for schools and their related programs in the City of Los Angeles. Million Trees LA is soliciting grant proposals from schools that have successfully completed and implemented urban forestry projects in their schools, communities or neighborhoods. The purpose of the grant competition is to recognize successful youth-led urban forestry project within the city of Los Angeles. Each successful applicant may receive a grant of up to $1,000 to continue their urban forestry projects, and may be highlighted at the Environmental Youth Conference on November 4, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Eligibility
Private and public schools within the City of Los Angeles are eligible to apply including student clubs or organizations, specific classes, and academic or extracurricular programs in schools. Successful applicants will present or highlight their projects at the Environmental Youth Conference on November 4, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Other applicants may also be selected to have their projects recognized at the conference.

Criteria for Selection
The selection of successful applicants will be based on two criteria. First, the applicants must have successfully implemented and completed a tree planting project in their schools, community or neighborhood in Los Angeles within the past year. Second, successful applicants must use the entire grant award to complete and implement another tree planting project within 3 to 6 months after receiving the funds.

Proposal and Submission Application
Interested applicants should submit a 5-7 page typewritten proposal that addresses the following components:

1) Cover letter that includes the name of the organization including project leads (names of teachers, student leaders and contact information), and detailed description of its purpose/mission, membership (demographics) and affiliation (school name).

2) Description of completed urban forestry project including number of trees planted, location of project, partnerships with community groups, and impact of project for school, community or neighborhood

3) Projected use of $1,000 grant including how the funds will be used to complete and implement another tree planting project, location of project, name(s) of and contact information for project lead(s), partnerships with community groups, and how the project will directly result in tree plantings.

4) Photographs that clearly identify the location of the completed project and participants.


Completed applications are due no later than 5pm on September 5th and should be emailed to Lisa Sarno, Executive Director of Million Trees LA at Lisa.Sarno@lacity.org. Successful applicants will be notified by September 30th, and must accept or decline by 5pm on October 7th.

EYC 2009 is set for November 4, 2009

Tell all your teachers, friends and neighbors about the 2009 Environmental Youth Conference! This year's conference will be on a Wednesday at the LA Convention Center. Flyers in English and Spanish are below.

True to its theme "Start Local, Impact Global," this year's EYC will not only let participants understand how local efforts translate globally. It will also offer a chance for LA youth to interact with participants from other countries to see how they go green.

For more information, call (213) 473-9950 or visit www.milliontreesla.org.