"I Have A Dream Diversity Means Business" The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project: Family Edition

1st Annual VIP Father's Day Picnic Video

Hello CreatingLegacies family.  This season we are grateful that you have participated in some of our exciting events.  We are honored to bring you a homegrown approach to family fun as we create our legacies together.  Most importantly we wanted to recognize all of the mothers, fathers and all who act as such.

On Saturday, June 14, 2014 Creating Legacies hosted the

1^st Annual VIP Father’s Day Picnic

in Brooklyn’s, Prospect Park.

Families shared in a day of food and fun!

Marilyn the Chef of DivineAppetite Caterers

presented a delicious and elegant spread for all to enjoy.

Tamara Dumay of Khinky Chic Hair

shared her artistic gifts with the children through face painting.

We look forward to celebrating our VIP father’s and father figures in the years to come.

 

PLEASE CLICK TO SEE THE YOUTUBE VIDEO:

Special thank you to Saidkamol Javadov of KOLLProduction and to Gulinoz Javadovaof Taken Forever Photography for capturing the essence of our families through video.  Please keep these bright and talented “Flatbush Artrepreneurs” in mind as you need services for you and yours!  

Dan Zanes Garden Party Highlights

Hello CreatingLegacies family. 

I hope that all of you had an amazing summer.  I hope that the little legacies had a great back to school experience.  It was wonderful to share in some of the activities of summer with you.  Creating Legacies

is collaborating again with

The Flatbush Enterprise and the Nostrand AvenueMerchants Association

for another series of,

“The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project.”

We are honored to have received another grant from

Citizens Committee of New York City

to inspire artists to entrepreneurship with this workshop series.

Our deepest appreciation goes out to

DAN ZANES, Grammy award winning musician for headlining our kick-off event leading our families in music and movement at the DAN ZANES Garden Party,

hosted at the Bergen Street Community Garden on July 26, 2014.

If you have not already done so, check out the short video produced by

Koll Production and Taken ForeverPhotography.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH:

Please share the video on your social media.

For those of you interested in music classes for your little legacies, DAN ZANES will be hosting the DAN ZANES House Party this fall at, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

CLICK HERE to Check out the fall schedule for children ages0-4years! 

"Women of Vision" Vision Board Party Video Highlights

Hello Creating Legacies family.  This season we are grateful that you have participated in some of our exciting events.  We are honored to bring you a homegrown approach to family fun as we create our legacies together.  Most importantly we wanted to recognize all of the mothers, mother figures and all who act as such.

We hosted the Pre-Mother’s Day “Women of Vision” Vision Board Party on Saturday, May 3, 2014.  A group of amazing women collaborated to share their dreams and express them creatively through a vision board project.  We enjoyed brunch from Charmaine Aberdeen’s, Charming Delights from Home Caterers. We had an afternoon of inspirational and empowering FUN!

Click below to see the video highlights produced by Koll Production:

DAN ZANES Garden Party July 26, 2014

This Program is made possible by Citizens Committee for New York City

Creating Legacies 1st Annual VIP Father's Day Picnic

This past Saturday, June 14, 2014, Creating Legacies hosted the, 1^st Annual VIP Father’s Day Picnic.  We gathered in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park to celebrate fathers and father figures.  Whether in the form of television personalities or en vivo, it is because of the powerful men in our lives that we have such examples of strength, wisdom and leadership.  There are so many amazing men in our midst cultivating our little legacies and we were honored to be among a few last Saturday.

Tamara Dumay - Khinky Chic Hair

Artist, Tamara Dumay of Khiny Chic Hair, painted the children’s faces.

Marilyn Moore - Divine Appetite Caterers

Marilyn Moore of Divine Appetite Caterers, prepared a beautiful spread of whole grain sandwiches, sea scallops with rice and beans, and miniature plantain lasagnas for each guest.  

Father’s Day themed cupcakes were designed by dessert stylist, Aisha Zee.  The event was documented by Saidkamol Javadov and Koll Production.  Thank you to, “The Flatbush Artrepreneurs,” who dedicated their time and talent to making our first picnic so special.

Local Garden Stroll: Kings County Nurseries

Spring was long awaited this year and I plan to enjoy every moment of it.  Neighborhood walks are one of the joys of living in Brooklyn and this year, my 2 year old son, Sage can finally partake in the joy.  We started our day talking about seasons and the type of weather that we experience in the spring.  We read, Zinnia’s Flower Garden by, Monica Wellington and then headed out for our afternoon walk.

Our main stop today was King County Nurseries.  My mother used to take me to Kings CountyNurseries after school on Fridays in the spring. She rewarded me for a good week by allowing me to choose a flowering plant, of which I always chose tulips.  Here I am, decades later, relishing the same tradition with my son.  We walked up and down the verdant aisles learning about, herbs, flowers and plants and reflected on the springtime story that we read earlier today.

I introduced my little one to the fabulous couple, Joe and Lisa Merola who are the owners of the family landscaping company.  Kings County Nurseries was founded almost 60 years ago.   This husband and wife team continues to serve Prospect Lefferts Gardens and beyond with providing everything you want and need for your household gardening.  Additionally, they provide landscaping services throughout the city.

It was a wonderful outing for Sage to see a family legacy in action and interact with Joe and Lisa.  This visit, he chose to take home a Melissa and Doug Blaze Firefly Kid’s Flashlight.  Apparently one of the chief buyers is the couple’s 2 year old granddaughter who decided that they should carry the full line of Melissa and Doug gardening supplies.

Stop by Kings County Nurseries when you get a chance.  It’s a great place to visit with your family and get the supplies to grow your family garden together.  If you are new to gardening, the staff is knowledgeable and patient in helping you through the process.  It is a powerful feeling to know that you have grown the food that your family eats, or at least some of it anyway.  Have fun, Creating Legacies.    

Kings County Nurseries, Inc.

625 New York Ave. (bet. Rutland Rd. and Fenimore St.)

Brooklyn, NY 11203

(718) 493-2363

The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project Reception Highlights

We culminated the 2013-2014 workshop series inspiring artists to entrepreneurship at The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project Reception, Friday, March 21, 2014.  We ushered in spring with an amazing collective of creative people.

The evening began with hors d’oeuvres , catered by, Charmaine Aberdeen’s, Charming Delights from Home and Marilyn Moore’s, Divine Appetite Catering.  Many connections were made as artists networked with others in the community.  Lindiwe Kamau and Pia Raymond of The Flatbush Enterprise, NostrandAvenue Merchants Association and Creating Legacies presented participants and volunteers with certificates encouraging their continued growth as entrepreneurs and community leaders respectively.

Our fabulous door prizes provided by our Flatbush Artrepreneurs went home with our fortunate winners.  We extend special thanks to, UltimateTax Preparers, Inc. for providing 4 winners with business owner gift bags.  We appreciate, Kareen Fagan of Enid B. Artisnal Skincare for donating a jar of French Gardens Shea Butter.   We are grateful to Aisha Zee for the splendidly themed cupcakes and for the grand prize, an original painting on canvas of a beautiful spring bird.  Most of all, we thank Gulinoz Javadova of TakenForever Photography and Saidkamol Javadov of Koll Production for capturing the essence of the evening on camera and production of the video.

We look forward to continued growth of our entrepreneurs.  Please support The Flatbush Artrepreneurs businesses and help spread the word.  We look forward to more exciting programming this summer from, The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project.  Stay creative!

This program was made possible by, Citizens Committee for New York City

The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project Encore Highlights

The Flatbush Enterprise, Creating Legacies and the Nostrand Avenue Merchants Association partnered to present, "The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project: Encore Edition." Participants gathered at, Brooklyn Public Library's, Crown Heights Branch to present this informative business workshop for Brooklyn's emerging artists. Representatives from, NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, NYC Small Business Services and The Brooklyn Public Library shared a wealth of information.

Click here to watch the YouTube video for highlights from

“TheFlatbush Artrepreneur Project: Encore Edition.”

This program was made possible by Citizens Committee for New York City.

The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project Reception

Hello Creating Legacies Family.  The CreatingLegacies partnership with The Flatbush Enterprise and The Nostrand Avenue Merchants Association to present, “The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project” was an amazing and energizing workshop series inspiring artists to entrepreneurship.  It was well attended and we are honored and humbled that so many Flatbush Artrepreneurs chose to share their brilliant business ideas with us.  Moreover, we had overwhelming support from our extended community including, The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Small Business Services, The BrooklynPublic Library, The Ultimate Tax Preparers, Blue Pictorial and Dream Big, Go Hard!

Spring is finally here! We look forward to celebrating our blossoming Flatbush Artrepreneurs on Friday, March 21, 2014 from 6:30pm-8:30pm.  Please join us at Spring to Success an evening reception celebrating the graduates of, “The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project” Class of 2013-2014

@ MY PLACE 1150 Nostrand Avenue (corner of Rutland Road) Brooklyn, NY 11225.

Spring to Success promises to be a wonderful opportunity for networking and creative exploration.  We look forward to sharing with you.

If you would like to donate something (i.e. promotional products, piece of your art, gift certificate for your service etc.) as a door prize please let us know.  We will be sure to announce your company to the audience upon presentation of the prize.

RSVP: nycreatinglegacies@gmail.com or (718)774-5466

This program is made possible by Citizens Committee for New York City

Creating Legacies Family Day at the Prospect Park Zoo

Last Sunday, October 13, 2013 Creating Legacies enjoyed Family Day at the Prospect Park Zoo.  The beautiful autumn afternoon began with an exclusive visit to the Discovery Center.  The educational specialist, Delilah and our special guest, Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo led the children in an animal encounter with the resident rabbit. The Discovery Center’s play space ignited children’s imaginations to build a fire at the whimsical campsite and perform veterinary check-ups on animal puppets.  Following exciting interaction with children and adults, the little naturalists watched the Sea Lion feeding at the epicenter of the zoo.  Before running off to feed the farm animals, each child refueled with a snack bag including Happy Family Brands organicsuperfoods.   NYS Assemblyman Karim Camara shared in the day with his two children.  Creating Legacies thanks him for sponsoring the event so that families could participate at no cost to them.

 

Flatbush Artists Unleash Creative Genius

 

 

 

A burgeoning community, Flatbush has a flavorful mélange of culture expressed through the work of many local artisans.  Lindiwe Kamau of Expression in Ceramics and I created, “The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project,” to provide a sphere of creativity where community artisans are inspired to become entrepreneurs.

Creating Legacies partnered with, The Flatbush Enterprise and the Nostrand Avenue Merchants Association to present this powerful experience.  Last week completed the 3 part workshop series where we journeyed with the creative genius of architects, photographers, spoken word artists, actors and painters among other artisans.

In this creative and engaging workshop series, “The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project,” artists were empowered to identify their artistic medium, develop a business using their craft and network with other artisans. While I facilitated the workshops, several gifted and talented guests graced the audience with their knowledge and inspired them with their experience.

 

Elzora Williamson, founder and owner of 47 year retail institution, Trophies by Syl, empowered the group to define success and pursue their passion.

Hip hop artist, photographer and videographer BLUE, of,Urban Overdose Photography, shared his knowledge about brand management and trade marking. 

Educator, actor, filmmaker and motivational speaker, Eden Marryshow motivated the artists with his, “Dream Big, Go Hard!” experience to get energized, enthused and confident about executing their artistic vision through entrepreneurship.


Tax preparer and Enroll Agent, Woody Raymond of, Ultimate Tax Preparers, Inc. taught the artrepreneurs about the process of business formation

I am grateful to have experienced, “The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project” with so many of Brooklyn’s creative, emerging artists.  We look forward reconvening for a fabulous culmination ceremony to celebrate and showcase the artists in progress.  Many thanks to, The Brooklyn Public Library - CentralBranch, for hosting us. The Flatbush Enterprise extends our sincere appreciation to, Citizens Committee forNew York City for making this program possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project" today @ 6:30pm

"The Flatbush Artrepreneur Project"

 



Creating Legacies As A Three Strand Cord

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
                                                                     Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12

I am an only child who was reared in a single parent household.  I always wanted siblings, but my mother never entertained my requests for brothers and sisters. “You weren’t born with a twin.  You were born alone and you will die alone,” she would remind me in her usual blunt fashion.  Somehow, I never quite accepted the words that she ushered in order to protect me.  While in the literal sense, her words are true, I believe that people exist in relationship to one another.  I am inspired by this scripture from the Bible encouraging us to be in relationship with others.  It empowers us to put our hands and hearts together to make profit where there is loss, to build where there is brokenness, to ignite where there is smolder, and to unify where there is division.  Intertwined and strong, let us be like the three strand chord as we are building our families and, Creating Legacies!