Education, Art & Culture Committee Meeting

6. Authorized signature of sponsoring organization:
I cannot provide this by email but I will bring the Principal of Palm’s Middle School
to the presentation on Sunday February 7th 2010 along with a signed hard copy.

7. Description of your project:
10‐session course on financial literacy prepared for middle schools (Palms, Webster and
Mark Twain)

8. On a separate sheet of paper please answer the following questions:

a) Describe your project or program.
FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR MarVista Middle Schools
10-session course

The mission of the program is to provide equal access for all children (regardless of background) to the knowledge, tools and insight of the mechanics of finance that can lead to independent responsibility, and a life of balanced abundance and opportunity.

This 10-session course will be in the format of a power point with worksheets. This course is offered free to each school and will be customized to the student group.

The structure of the material will incorporate the California Standards of Math and Social Studies, specifically:
Factors/multiples/fractions/decimals/percentages
Analysis of data/simple processing/range calculation
Simple/compound interest
Earning/saving/spending
Spending vehicles: cash/checking/debit/credit
Banking: checking/savings

An outline of the course content is attached.

We have been working with Palms Middle School for the last year, augmenting the program to the needs of the children and the school.

Those who have been particularly involved with this:
Ms. Bonnie Murrow, Principal
Mr. Michael Schneider, Math and Science teacher
Ms. Barbara Solarz, English teacher
Ms. Johara Twaijri, Math teacher

b) If your project involves construction, provide a set of plans and list of materials.

This project requires production of media and print materials.
namely:
10 Session PowerPoint
Writing/editing
Image selection/acquisition
Research
Customizing to each school
- Palm’s Middle School (in progress)
- Daniel Webster (to come)
- Mark Twain (to come)
Preparation and production of work session materials
Preparation and production of teacher’s guide

c) In a draft budget, list the equipment, services, or materials you plan to be used in the grant.
Production materials $ 450
- Binders (for each student)
- Paper (for worksheets)
- Ink cartridges
- Presentation materials (teacher training)
- Presentation materials (parent involvement)
Stock photography $ 400
Copywriting/school Liaison/editing 55 hours@ $35 $1,925
Interview with local banks 20 hours @$35 $ 700
PowerPoint production 40 hours@25 $1,000
Total $4,475
(Any monies received will be set against these costs).

d) How will your project benefit residents of Mar Vista?
There is no question of the need for our youth to be better prepared in financial literacy. Currently there are very few programs that address this need. The team from Moolah&Me has already donated a considerable amount of time to creating a program that can be used in schools (i.e. aligns with California Standards) and is something that children will be excited and stimulated by. Once this program has been completed, it can then be offered and used by other groups in the community (Mar Vista Recreation), Church, sports, community groups etc. We are happy to make it available to them.

e) Provide IRS tax determination letter if the sponsoring organization is tax‐exempt.
Moolah&Me has been created thus far using only personal funds and donated time. It has not been set up as a non‐profit, but no fees will be charged to any entity that wants it. (Our long‐term goal is to partner with banks and investment houses that will sponsor the production costs. In turn, we will be able to advise the banks of the programs and products that would resonate and be useful to a young audience).

f) When do you plan to begin your project?
We are currently testing content for format, tone and imagery and intend to have a 10-session course available for use at Palms this school year 2009 - 2010. With collaboration from Daniel Webster and Mark Twain, materials could be ready for them too.

g) When will your project be completed?
See above

We do hope that our submission proves successful. This is a vitally important issue that needs to be addressed and we are proud of the progress and program that we have created. A great deal of personal time and funds has already been donated by the creators of this program. Community council support would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely
Tania Konishi
___________________________
Attachment 2

Mar Vista Community Council

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATION

Date:   August 24, 2009

Amount Requested:  $1,500 

1. Name of contact person filling out this application

Richard Simon

2. Telephone number of contact person                  

310.836.2277

3. Email address of contact person 

ufobass@aol.com

4. Name of community organization to receive grant funds on behalf of applicant, if such an organization is a part of the proposal:       

JazzAmerica

5. Address of organization named in #3:                   

PO Box 661777 LA, CA 90066

6. Authorized signature of sponsoring organization:

7. Description of your project:

In a series of 9 learning sessions, and a tenth session consisting of a public performance, I, Richard Simon, representing JazzAmerica, will provide youngsters instruction in  the The Blues.

8. On a separate sheet of paper please answer the following questions:

a) Describe your project or program.

Mar Vista Blues Workshop

Mar Vista youth who sing or play a musical instrument – to any degree at all -  are invited to participate in this Blues Workshop.

Sessions will be on the same day and time each week for ten weeks, one hour per session.

I will present numerous recorded examples of The Blues, as performed by classic Blues performers such as “Big” Joe Turner.

Together we will discover the basic components of The Blues:

- even non-music-reading students will come to understand the Three Chord that form the basic harmonic structure of The Blues

- everyone will learn the three-line melodic structure – the “haiku” of The Blues

- we’ll explore the “call-and-response” nature of The Blues

- we’ll learn (to identify, sing and play) the notes in the Blues Scale

- we’ll have students compose their own Blues tunes – a wonderful vehicle for expressing joy, frustration, and a whole range of emotions

(As a former community college English instructor, a professional jazz musician for many years, and Program Director for JazzAmerica, I have enjoyed  seeing young people discover their “voice” through the arts. I taught this Blues Workshop series most recently under the auspices of VYMA, the Verdugo Young Musicians Association, during their summer camp in July 2009. Meanwhile, on Saturday mornings from late May through early September, I am leading 38 youngsters in jazz “WorkChops” at the Musicians’ Union in Hollywood. During the school year, I JazzAmerica is a sub-contractor in charge of a jazz program after school  at Fairfax high school. For further information on JazzAmerica, please visit: www.JazzAmerica.org)

b) If your project involves construction, provide a set of plans and list of materials.  

(N/A)

c) In a draft budget, list the equipment, services, or materials you plan to be used in the grant.

Instructional Services ($150 per session, 10 sessions) comprise the entirety of the grant:

   -  providing recorded examples

   -  devising vocal and movement exercises as learning aids

   -  researching, preparing and printing out written sheet music (at a level tailored to the students’ abilities)

d) How will your project benefit residents of Mar Vista?

-student/performers will experience the joy of The Blues, even as they learn cooperation, mutual respect, a little History, and the roots of today’s popular music

- the community will delight in their children’s Culminating Performance

- the diverse population of Mar Vista will draw a little closer together

e) Provide IRS tax determination letter if the sponsoring organization is tax -exempt.

 (under separate cover)

f) When do you plan to begin your project?

The Blues Workshop can begin any week during the Fall of 2009.

g) When will your project be completed?

Completion will be on the 10^th week of the Workshop

Notes

-  The Blues Workshop will need the use of an indoor public facility

-  Eligible students should be free to attend the Workshops on a regular basis

-  Students should already own or have access to musical instruments they can bring to the Workshops

-  We’ll need to recruit students for the Workshop.  

-  A pre-workshop “evaluation day” for incoming or prospective students would be helpful to  note their age range and musical background