Ojai is a small quaint town an hour and half north of Los Angeles. 6 miles north of Ojai you will find a magical 27 acres overlooking the Ojai valley and named “The Ojai  Foundation”.

I recently wrote about foster teens transitioning out of foster care. Shortly after I found out that I would become one of the incredible 7 adults to take a part in the co-mentoring program for five foster teens transitioning out of the foster care system.  Last weekend the 7 adults got invited by “The Foster Team Alumni Program” to go to Ojai and spend the weekend at “The Ojai Foundation” to meet the young adults for the first time.

Some of us drove up the coast to go to Ojai; it really is a pretty ride. At arrival the adults checked in and we got to meet 3 young adults from the ages of 19 to 20, the other 2 young adults decided to join us later in the program.  The adults were in awe of the beauty and the serenity that this special place holds.  Some of the features include:

• 27 acres over looking the Ojai valley
• 100% vegan kitchen
• Youth and adults retreats

They use yurts for sleeping areas, which are a larger scale version of a tent with hard wood floors and some have actual wooden doors. All yurts look out to a view of the outdoors. There is no shortage of clean or hot water and plenty of bathrooms and showers.  You might need to walk a little to find the bathrooms,  and that’s why flash lights are required and part of the fun.  There are rules as to what you do with the waste after eating meals and that explains the high level of efficiency in how well kept The Ojai Foundation is.

We spent two full days getting to know the young adults.  The discoveries were awakening and painful at the same time.

• One young adult celebrated his 19th birthday, loves poetry and has not seen his family since 2008.  He is currently living in a group home.
• Another young adult is a sociology major at UCLA , incredibly smart and living with a boyfriend.
• A third young adult loves sports and currently lives in a group home.

These young adults have been through a lot,  nevertheless all three showed up to all exercises during the 48 hour retreat. It was fascinating looking back at the initial reaction from the young adults during checking in and the final transformation revealed upon checking out . The truth is us adults found out we have a lot in c0mmon with the young adults and we were able to learn from them even though they felt they did not have much to offer. For example,  I found out one young adult and I had a very similar upbringing and we are both Madonna fans.  Another young adult and I shared an admiration for the late singer Amy Winehouse.  Bonding definitely took place and relationships were built among the adults and the young adults.

This is just the beginning for us adults.  We committed together for the next year to help ensure that these young adults have the best transition possible.  I personally feel like I have three new siblings to look after and I am sure the same goes for the rest of my co-mentors team.

Please share your thoughts about the Ojai Foundation and if you find this co-mentoring program of interest, please let me know by leaving a comment below or contacting me directly.

Partners Trust Podcasts - Bringing Southern California Communities to Life

” El Mirador” is a West Hollywood historic building located at 1302 Sweetzer Avenue. This 32 apartment building is situated on the corner of  Sweetzer and Fountain and stands six floors tall.

Built in 1930, El Mirador is a rare find in West Hollywood. It is situated in a way that allows views from the north, west, east and south.  Tenants rarely move out and are willing to pay top dollar to stay.  The city of West Hollywood has been known for converting apartment buildings to condominiums since the late 1980s.  This trend had slowed down when new construction became the new trend, offering a better value in buying real estate.

One day, as I was doing my caravan run,  looking at new properties that had hit the market, I noticed a posting of a public hearing  at the El Mirador building.  According to a West Hollywood planning official, the building is getting a makeover:

• The makeover will cost about $4,000,000

• There is an application to turn the building into condominiums or a bed and breakfast .

This could be construed as good news or bad news depending on whom you ask. The current tenants are thrilled about the renovations, but not necessarily about the fact they might need to find somewhere else to live if the building turns into condos. Sweetzer and Fountain is a busy corner during rush hours and we should expect more of a traffic jam once the renovations begin.

On the bright side, Condo buyers can look forward to buying into this architectural gem when the time comes. Another option, West Hollywood visitors can have a charming bed and breakfast to call home while visiting our lovely city.  I suppose there is really no bad news just a change to one of West Hollywood’s historic buildings.

What are your thoughts on this latest transformation that is about to take place?  Please share your thoughts as I am sure the community would like to consider them before the hearing date on March, 27th 2012.

Partners Trust Podcasts - Bringing Southern California Communities to Life

Sacha Baron Cohen is well known respected stand-up comedian, writer, actor and voice artist. His most recent fame came from self-created characters like Ali G, Borat and Bruno.

Cohen co- started in the 2011 film “Hugo” and was looking forward to attending the 2012 Oscars. Cohen has his own film coming up in 2012 named a “The Dictator” for which  you may have noticed the billboards around town with him dressed in character with no name or title.  Sacha Baron Cohen is not known to be shy or conservative on topics he discusses or rolls he chooses to play. Sacha Baron Cohen does what he does best in his newest project, playing an off-the-wall, exaggerated dictator character. These sorts of roles are what he is known for and what he does best.  However, there has been some push-back with his current endeavor and the Oscars proved a great forum for him to push the envelope even more.

Here’s how it went down:

• The Academy was not willing to have Cohen attend the Oscars and promote his new film, knowing he would attend dressed as his character.

• Cohen was not about to give up the fight and made sure the Academy was aware of his rights on freedom of speech.

• The Academy gave in and Cohen was granted entrance with 2 guest passes and a parking permit.

True to form, Cohen attended the Oscars dressed as his upcoming character “The Dictator” guarded by two beautiful female soldiers.  As a smart celebrity he landed an interview with Ryan Seacrest. The interview went well for the most part till Cohen “accidentally” spilled a pile of ashes on Seacrest’s new tuxedo.

Cohen was not allowed to stay at the Oscars and was escorted out with his two female soldiers. Was this a successful publicity stunt for Cohen’s upcoming film?  Cohen tweeted after the show “My Sunday calendar is now as empty as a North Korean grocery store… Death to the west, death to America and good luck (Oscars host) Billy Crystals (sic). You are fantastic.”

I would have to go out on a limb and say: what ever the intention was, it worked really well for Cohen. If anyone was not clear on who Sacha Baron Cohen is or what his upcoming film is about, I believe they now know.

What are your thoughts? Do you think it was a successful publicity stunt?  Please share your ideas and leave your comments below.

Partners Trust Podcasts - Bringing Southern California Communities to Life

The nation just experienced the Super Bowl event and a historic half time performance by Madonna. Here in Los Angeles we have entered award season and the Oscars and the Grammys both take place in the month of February.

It was estimated that 112 million viewers watched the Super Bowl. Volkswagen paid during the Super Bowl $3.5 million for a 30 second spot to air.  The goal for Volkswagen and other advertisers to gain branding and visibility from the huge number of viewers. ABC is estimating to generate as much as $70 million in advertising revenue during the Oscars show.

The Oscars will be held on February 26th, 2012 in Los Angeles. The world will be celebrating the achievements of Hollywood and watching their favorite stars gather together, dressed to the nines. The movies “The Help” and “The Artist” & “Hugo” seem to be leading the chart in most categories. I enjoyed them both a great deal, but not as much as I enjoyed the movie “J Edgar” though it did not get nominated for any category.

On February 12th, the 54th annual Grammys award show will be held in Los Angeles.  Music’s biggest names will be on site to vie for the top awards such as “Best New Artist”, “Record of the Year” and many more. Adele has her name in many categories and she’s poised to take home the gold. Whether you are a fan or not you have to admit that Adele’s newest CD is soulful, healing and something most audiences can relate to.  The young star was born 1988 and this is her second CD.

I am not music or a film critic, but I do appreciate a good film and I do love music. For the Grammys I will be very happy for Adele and for the Oscars, I wish “J.Edgar” would have been nominated for at least one category.  Whatever your preference, these shows promise to be incredible events full of glitz and glamor and ever so entertaining.

Having these two iconic events hosted in our city is great for the economy as people flock here from all over the world to attend or witness these affairs.  The winners at the Oscars, the Grammys and the Super Bowl stand to see a huge increase of income by holding these winning titles.  They will be the sought after talent in their industries.  How will all this money help our local and national economy?  My hope is that some of this money will go to help those in need.

What was your favorite CD and movie of 2011?  How do you think award season will impact our economy?  Please share your thoughts and leave your comments below.

Partners Trust Podcasts - Bringing Southern California Communities to Life

We are human.  We work hard, we get run down and sometimes we get to the point of doctor ordered bed rest. Bed rest means just that bed and rest – no exercising, no shopping and no activities.  However, sometimes having to take a break from your full routine, allows for you to get some perspective and gain a healthy mind.

I recently got myself into this predicament. I ran out of steam and got very ill, then I was ordered to bed rest.  The idea was nice and sweet till day 4 when I had 6 more days to go and I knew I had reached my limit. I was over it – watching T.V. was not an option and my I pad was getting to the point of overheating, meditation does not require that much time and reading a book only included me and the book was reading. Friends would call and ask if I needed anything.  My answer was quick and clear, “Yes.”  I was craving an intellectual and a healthy conversation with a healthy mind. A conversation that would include the energy behind another soul, the vibration of how they spoke and the insights they had to offer. This conversation would include:

• Another human contact
• No Gossip
• Engaging

Most friends were busy with prior commitments, but luckily my friend, Monica Garcia-Grill was up for the challenge. She had been gone for a while and I wanted to hear her experience while she was away for 6 weeks.  My mind was craving another unrehearsed human mind to explore what’s inside of it. I was able to escape bed rest and drive 2 miles to achieve a healthy mind.  I knew in my heart the value of engaging with another healthy mind would help my recovery process so I decided to take an action.

• The conversation lasted for 2 hours
• It only cost me $1.95
• The result was priceless

My doctor might not have approved of me breaking the rule and leaving bed rest however, it was important to keep a healthy mind as part of the ingredients for a quick recovery. For me it was not about reading another book or watching another DVD, but more importantly choosing the kind of conversation I needed to sustain a healthy mind.

Have you been order to bed rest lately?  How did you find the best way to sustain a healthy mind? Please let me know your thoughts and experiences and leave your comments below.

Partners Trust Podcasts - Bringing Southern California Communities to Life

Downtown Los Angeles has the hottest spots in the country, from the Nokia Theatre, to the Grammy Museum, the Staple Center and much more. These attractions are owned by A.E.G., but who owns A.E.G. and what’s the future of Downtown Los Angeles?

The man who is responsible for the Downtown Los Angeles attractions is actually from Denver and his name is Phillip Anschutz.  He is a billionaire and his interest in Los Angeles began when he purchased the Los Angeles Kings.  Anschutz made his money in telecommunications, oil and real estate. He is a very conservative republican and isn’t in the public eye much.  The company has its public figure and that is Tim Leiweke.

Leiweke is the opposite of Anschutz.  He is a very liberal democrat and very much a public figure.  Together with Anschutz, A.E.G. was created. A.E.G. saw the value in Downtown Los Angeles that no one else ever had and the goal became to turn Downtown Los Angeles into the next Time Square – a space that would include:

• The Nokia Theater
• The Staples Center
• Los Angeles Grammy Museum

A.E.G. became a major force in the professional sports and the entertainment industry and this gave Downtown the boost it needed to revive its economy.  Next is the proposed new state-of-the-art NFL stadium in Downtown Los Angeles.  There are mixed reviews about the new NFL stadium, from the cost to traffic issues and whether or not it’s ultimately a good thing for Downtown Los Angeles.

Whatever happens with the stadium, the vision that Phillip Anschutz, a non-California resident, had to see to the possibilities in a place like Downtown where no one else had, is truly fascinating.  His successful partnership with Tim Leiweke, two such different people who share a common goal and vision, is so inspiring.

How do you feel about Downtown LA?  What do you think of the new proposed stadium?  Please share your thoughts and leave your comments below.

Partners Trust Podcasts - Bringing Southern California Communities to Life

Most, if not all, of us are preparing our New Year’s resolutions. We often include staying fit, losing weight, joining a gym or going on a diet as part of our New Year’s resolutions because getting in shape is important to us as a culture and especially here in Los Angeles.

I work out 3 to 4 days a week to make sure I am staying fit year-round. In my most recent visit to the new and improved 24 Hour Health and Fitness I noticed this lady who was under 5 feet tall, not more than 100 pounds and with gray hair entering the gym in front of me to work out. I was intrigued by her excellent walking posture and her level of energy so I followed her around curious to know more about this intriguing woman.  This is what I found out:

• Her name is Gladys Ryan and she is 98 years old.
• She is from England and is now a West Hollywood resident.
• She does comedy and loves working out.

I was blown away by her level of energy and her desire to stay fit.  Since that day, I always make an effort to look for Gladys and say hi. She never seems to have a bad day and I have never heard her complain. She is not afraid of walking up or down the stairs or jumping on the cycling machine. One day I decided to ask her a few questions:

• I asked how old she was? She replied, “old enough to know better.”
• I asked her if she enjoyed staying fit? She quickly responded “No, but I have to do it.”

Gladys is smart and alert with a jovial spirit and a great sense of awareness. Watching her work out I used to get worried that she might hurt herself with weights or bike riding, but as far as she is concerned it’s a walk in the park. One day I decided to join her in her work out and I was worn out before she was.

To Gladys Ryan staying fit is not a New Year’s resolution but rather an ongoing lifestyle choice. 

Does Gladys’ work out regiment and dedication inspire you to get fit in the New Year? Feel free to say hi to Gladys on Facebook or in person; she is an incredibly delightful person to have a conversation or work out with.  Share your experiences and leave your comments below.

Partners Trust Podcasts - Bringing Southern California Communities to Life

The holiday season is just around the corner with three widely celebrated and beloved holidays coming up: Hanukkah, Christmas and the New Year.

This year Hanukkah falls on December 20th and it will last for 8 days.   There is usually a party with the famous warm donuts being passed around and the seven nights of candle lighting and celebration.  Christmas shortly follows Hanukkah and there is a lot of preparation involved with Christmas:

• Christmas tree shopping
• Gifts  shopping
• Some traveling might be involved to be with family and loved ones

New Years comes shortly after to conclude the holiday season. New Year’s resolutions, midnight gatherings on December 31st, traveling to be with loved ones and perhaps some display of fireworks are all part of the New Year’s celebrations .

The Holiday season holds one common thread and that is “hope”. Hope for more sustenance, more joy and better health.  Hope to be better in all aspects of our lives.  Hope does not differentiate between different religions or backgrounds, hope is something we all want to tap into.

While preparing for the holiday season, I wondered what is one thing we should be aware of.  Do not pile new debt on top of old debt.

Some people are still paying for 2009 holiday expenses as they enter the 2011 buying season. Don’t make your financial situation worse by being one of them.

1. Don’t go crazy. Think about your purchases.  If you’re buying for friends and relatives, they will be the first to understand that you are shopping on a budget.
2. Consider writing a heartfelt note to those on your list, being sincere about your feelings toward them and why they mean so much to you.

Our nature is to look forward to new beginnings and the holiday season represents just that.  It is not a coincidence that all three holidays always fall in the same month, the month of Sagittarius. The month of Sagittarius represents the month of miracles.  May the energy of these three holidays infuse all of us with greatness and well-being.

Please share your ideas below on how you plan to spend the holiday season.

Partners Trust Podcasts - Bringing Southern California Communities to Life

West Hollywood small businesses help the city’s economy a great deal. These three stories of the city’s long time small business owners will leave you inspired.

27 years ago the city of West Hollywood became its own city.  In the mid 1980′s  Monte Overstreet, a well known landlord in West Hollywood, acquired a Mexican restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd at the corner of Hildale. I had the pleasure of walking with him down the street a few days after he closed the transaction and my first question was, “What are you planning on doing with this restaurant?” Overstreet’s vision was to turn this low key neighborhood restaurant into a well-known night club. Only a few months after his purchase, is when the nightclub Rage was established. Rage is one of West Hollywood small businesses main attractions.

• Rage nightclub pays the highest rent per square foot in the country compared to other nightclubs.

• 21 years after opening Rage remains extremely popular on Saturday nights, with special events during the week.

As Rage was gaining momentum, a small neighborhood jewelry shop named Raffi opened its storefront on Santa Monica Blvd. coincidentally across the street from Rage nightclub. It was the only jewelry shop in the area that people could go to for jewelry and watch repairs.  Years passed and with economy changing and Raffi’s landlord demanding more rent, Raffi needed to move to a different location, but was not willing to leave the city of West Hollywood where he had developed many relationships. Only a few months went by and Raffi was able to move a few doors down; that’s when the new Raffi Custom Jewelry Store was reborn . Raffi’s Custom Jewelry got a new and improved store front with more square footage and he didn’t have to compromise and leave the city of West Hollywood.

In 1983 Grace Sun Dental group opened its door a block away from Raffi’s in West Hollywood.  I was patient number 80 and I’m still a patient today.  Doctor Sun has been in the same location since opening and continues to show her love and loyalty for her clients and for the city she cares about so much.   I had the pleasure of sitting one-on-one with Doctor Sun for a short chat on a Sunday afternoon and she told me about some really interesting features at her practice:

• Dr. Sun has her own lab in the office and she does her own cosmetic dental work to make sure it is done to perfection.

• You get a foot massage while your teeth are being cleaned.

These are three stories of West Hollywood small businesses, their histories and their owners.  I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know all three businesses and their owners over the years.

Have you been to any of these businesses?  What’s your favorite West Hollywood store?  Please leave your comments below!

Partners Trust Podcasts - Bringing Southern California Communities to Life

Foster youth is a generation that in most cases can no longer remain in a foster care home system after the age of 18. The question is where will they go? What will they do and how will they cope?

A recent posting on Facebook with an enticing title caught my attention, “Foster Youth Alumni Co-Mentoring Project” was the title. It just so happens that the agency was holding an orientation the following day for anyone interested in the co-mentoring program. I was drawn to the idea remembering how tough it was being 18 and how tough it must be being 18 and leaving the foster care home system so I attended the orientation.

Discovering how the agency works and what they provide to the foster youth was an eye opening experience to say the least.  We spent the afternoon discussing the difference between traditional mentoring and co-mentoring.  We also discussed how the program works and what is required from a co-mentor. We were able to meet some of the mentors and youths from the previous mentoring program and heard their experience and stories. To say it was empowering would be an understatement.  Let’s just start with a few facts:

• More than 70% of people in prison have spent some time in the foster care system.
• Once the foster youth leaves the foster home system at 18, they might be homeless, financially challenged or simply unequipped to face the next chapter of their lives.

Foster Youth Alumni Co-Mentoring Program plays a key role in the transition process.  How does the co-mentoring program work?

• The foster youth age is from 18 to 25 years old.
• The program is a 15 month commitment with a 3 month pre-program training commitment and 12 months as part of the group program.
• 12 adults and 6 teens will work together for 12 months; the program will function as a type of family.
• The project includes a 3 day retreat for all participants and that is when the mentors will meet the Foster Youth for the first time .

The screening process for the qualified mentors is very involved and it takes two months to complete.  There have been a lot of applications submitted, but only 12 mentors will make the next program starting in February 2012.

• Every applicant will attend a one-on-one interview with the agency.
• Backgrounds and references will be checked along with a finger printing process.
• The 12 mentors will go through a training period to make sure the potential mentors are up for the 12 months commitment.

Personally I could not wait to sign up and I am hoping I have what it takes to be one of the 12 mentors. Unfortunately, like any other non-profit organization, funding is a challenge.  The co-mentoring program has a budget only for 4 programs a year and with the demands of volunteers I witnessed during the orientation there is simply not enough funds to meet the demand.  This is another opportunity for anyone with time restriction, but who has the means to help out financially.

If you like mentoring or have the time or means to help this great organization, please share your thoughts and let us know how you can help.

Partners Trust Podcasts - Bringing Southern California Communities to Life