I am a communications professional in the greater Philadelphia area and am always on the lookout for new freelance opportunities. I have an MA in Writing Studies from Saint Joseph's University. This site is just a sampling of some of some of my magazine and online writing. I'd love to hear from you, so please fill out the Contact the Author form at the bottom of the page or email me at [email protected]
Mired in Quarterlife Crisis
This article orginally appeared in Moxy Magazine
The “quarter-life crisis” is a topic that’s been all over the blogosphere recently. It was originally described in 1997 in the book Quarter-Life Crisis written by Abby Wilner as“a period of anxiety, uncertainty and inner turmoil that often accompanies the transition to adulthood.”
For Garcia, the solution was deciding to make a change. She moved from New Jersey to Austin, Texas sight unseen. Her feelings of wanderlust and Career ennui are consistent symptoms in quarter-life crises. Luiza Rasposo of Atlanta, Georgia, and Marian Schembari, of London, England, two other crisis-sufferers, also experienced this desire for drastic change as part of their quarter-life crises.
Rasposo was in a dead-end job and feeling guilty over her desire to quit. “Deep down I knew I would have to do a radical move to get out of my crisis,” said Rasposo.
Schembari was working at PR firm in Manhattan. While the job was what would have been any young grad’s dream job, Schembari felt stunted. “I wasn’t using the creative part of brain, I felt completely suffocated and even though everything was ‘in place,’ I knew that job – that life – was not the one I was supposed to have,” she says. She felt a desire to travel and have adventures but didn’t know how to make that happen.
Getting Out of the Mud
Rasposo followed the call to move all the way to back to her native Brazil. While she had assumed it would be easier to work things out in another country, her crisis simply came to a head in Rio de Janeiro.
“Nothing was right, both in and out,” said Rasposo. After two months, she moved back to Atlanta. For her, the turning point came after she began setting simple goals for herself. Becoming more optimistic and seeing opportunities all around was the key to getting out of her funk. Since returning to Atlanta she has instead found a way back to herself as an interactive marketing coordinator and freelance writer.
The key, she says, was learning that “every step is moving you forward, regardless if it doesn’t take you where you think it should.”
For Schembari it hasn’t been that simple–she believes getting out of a quarter-life crisis is just as much a process as getting into it. “I don’t think it’s something you can just snap out of,” she said. She instead made a conscious decision to embrace her crisis and see where it took her, rather than run away from it.
It took her back across the Atlantic to London, where she now runs a business doing social media consulting for authors, operates the Pajama Job Hunt, an online guide for new grads and the unemployed. She plans to continue her personal and professional journey as she and her boyfriend move to New Zealand this winter.
The Next Step In the Journey
“Once you realize that the only person that needs to approve of your actions is you, then you have reached your tipping point,” said Garcia. Her quarter-life crisis led to a boost of self-confidence that led her to found the Young Women’s Roundtable, a group that connects Gen Y women with female executives who serve as mentors. Rasposo agrees: “Look for opportunity, it’s all around you.” Instead of wasting your time being frustrated, try to figure out your next step.
Stop doing whatever it is that makes you unhappy, adds Schembari. The beauty of being young is not having as much to tie you down to one place or one job or one set life. She encourages women to embrace all their experiences; “it’s more than okay to feel crap about where you are, because that’s what prompts us to take action,” she said. After all, no crisis lasts forever.
© Danielle Bullen 2011
The Landing Zone
Featuring ETP Members Who Have Landed
This article originally appeared in The Lamplighter.
ABCS of the Job Search or the 7-Step methodology – This was developed by Rod Colon for those in career transition.
1. Identify your core skills.
2. Determine the market demand for your core skills.
3. Use online and networking resources to review job descriptions with emphasis on core requirements.
4. Find and call advocates to clarify the position and sell if appropriate.
5. Submit value proposition (cover letter, resume, and job description) to advocates.
6. Follow up with advocate. 7. Repeat.
The following are experiences of three ETP members (Yolanda Torres, Andree Laney, and Richard Kroh) who put these steps into action and landed new jobs. Their stories will inspire the rest of us to continue along the ETP path to a job search success.
Yolanda Torres
Yolanda Torres of Philadelphia worked as a Senior Accountant/Financial Analyst at Travelers of New Jersey. The company closed the office where she worked, putting her in transition.
Steps 1 and 2 were especially helpful in Yolanda‘s search. She says, “I wasn't using the proper buzz words.” She also states quantifying the achievements on her resume. Measurable results are a great way to show hiring managers precisely what you have accomplished in your past positions. In her job as “CEO of Me, Inc.,” Yolanda says the most important decision she has made is not to give up on herself. “When you are trying to sell yourself, you have to stay positive and confident because if you don't stay positive at an interview, it would show.”
Yolanda‘s perseverance and positive attitude paid off! Networking and connecting with potential advocates inside a company--steps 3 and 5--were also crucial to her success. A contact forwarded her resume to human resources at AC Insurance. After a five-month search period, she accepted a job as a Senior Accountant with ACE.
Yolanda encourages job seekers to work the seven steps. Different steps may prove as keys to different people, but you‘ll never know unless you use them all.
Andree Laney
Andree Laney from New Jersey worked at UBS Financial Services. Due to restructuring, she was laid off from her job as Associate General Counsel.
Andree also acknowledges the importance of networking, steps 3 and 5, to her job search. She was open about her search, had a finely tuned value proposition, and made sure to stay in contact with the people she met along the way that had helped her land her current position.
She says, “I have been intimidated by my stereotype of networking as frantic card exchanges and shallow conversations. ETP taught me to look at networking as way to connect with others for our mutual benefit.”She advises her fellow ETP members to use the time in between jobs to reevaluate goals. As “CEO of Me, Inc.,” the most critical decision Andree made was to spend time thinking about what she really wanted out of her next job.
After careful evaluation, and an eight-month search period, Andree was offered the position of Senior Counsel at Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, a management-side employment law firm.
Richard Kroh
Richard Kroh of Brick, New Jersey worked as an IT Operations Manager until economic conditions forced his previous employer to instate cutbacks.
Richard acknowledges steps 3 and 5 as crucial to his job search success. A previous vendor and two former co-workers all separately informed him of an open position. He says, “If they didn‘t know I was in transition, I may have missed it or noticed it too late.” He then followed step 1 to make sure his value proposition matched what the company was looking for before submitting his resume.
Besides connecting to others to build his network, one of the most important things Richard did as “CEO of Me, Inc.,” was to learn from those who went through transition before him. Although the internet is a valuable job search tool, another key decision he made was to go out a few days a week to meet new people. His networking paid off.
After identifying cheerleaders within the company his other contacts had tipped him off to, Richard landed an interview. Just 3 days later, he was extended an offer. Richard now works as an IMAC Project Manager.
To others still in transition, he advises,”Concentrate your efforts on the industry that matches most of your experience then see how your skills can be applied across a wider job scope,” also known as step 2. By doing that, Richard was able to secure his new opportunity.
© Danielle Bullen 2010
Creative Careers Beyond Craigslist Classifieds
This article originally appeared in Too Shy to Stop.
Adrian Hardy is still in school, but he’s already exploring alternative careers. When not studying at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, this member of the class of 2011 moonlights as a DJ. Says Hardy, the most rewarding aspect is “being able to provide great experiences for close friends and complete strangers alike.”
In the near future, Hardy and his friend and business partner, Manny Romano, plan to launch a web site that focuses on the adventures and fun of being a DJ. It will include videos and photos of DJ gigs. Hardy hopes the site will capture the passion and fun-loving attitude he believes all DJs have in common.
Drexel’s co-op program lets Hardy work as a paid intern at a menswear tailor, which provides him with enough income to supplement his other interest: fashion. He’s working on another web site that will offer modern young men advice in etiquette and fashion, all while showing them how to maintain a sense of spontaneity.
Between the jobs, websites and classes, Hardy bemoans the lack of sleep but ultimately calls his lifestyle “a fun and exciting way to work sun-up to sun-down.”
Jackie Ostick, another young professional with a passion for performing, says, “I’ve known since I was little that I wanted to be an actress.” After graduating from DeSales University in 2008, she moved to New York to pursue her dream career. Most recently, Ostick appeared in the play All Shook Up at the Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania. “It’s so rewarding to do what I love.”
Although not having a stable career can be scary, Ostick says she’s lucky to have supportive friends. Like other young creative professionals, Ostick also holds a second job to make ends meet. When she’s not in a show, she works at an after-school program. She likes kids so, even when she’s not acting, she’s fulfilled.
Many young people choose atypical careers to achieve a sense of fulfillment. Ashley Blaire Cook, who graduated from Villanova University in 2004, left her job as a psychotherapist. She wanted to find a different way to help people. As luck would have it, she met the owner of a new women’s magazine who was looking for someone to run it. Cook jumped into the opportunity and is now owner and editor-in-chief of Phlare, a magazine for modern, professional women in the Philadelphia area.
Cook says, “I am still learning how to set realistic expectations and ask for help.” Since she didn’t study publishing or editing in college, she’s learning as she goes along.
She adds, “I am a firm believer that none of us get here on our own. Without the support of my family and close friends, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Christina Hill, a Bryn Mawr College alumna from the class of 2004, was working in the pharmaceutical industry. As she planned her own wedding, she realized she always wanted to be a wedding planner. She says, “I think wedding planning was in my blood since high school. My friends used to joke that I was always planning a wedding without a groom.”
Hill credits her husband with encouraging her even when she doubted herself. She took the leap and started her own wedding planning business, Chill Weddings. Over the past few years, her business has grown into a venture she calls “extremely rewarding.”
Hill loves being her own boss but says the long hours are challenging. Weddings on the weekends cut into her social life. She also works as a pharmaceutical consultant, a job that adds to her busy schedule. Being able to do what she loves makes it all worthwhile.
Hill and Cook opened their own businesses in existing fields, which is scary in itself. But Lauren de los Santos, a 2006 graduate of University of California San Diego, went even further. She launched PineMark.com, the first and only green lifestyle certification available for individuals. The company rates how environmentally friendly people are in their lifestyles and rewards them for high scores.
Until April of 2009, de Los Santos followed a traditional career path, most recently in marketing. She says, “I was motivated to change because I saw a need in the marketplace for this idea, and I wanted to do something I was passionate about, which was merging my interests in business and the environment.”
Despite the risks that go along with being a start-up, like lack of cash flow, de Los Santos still took the leap, saying, “I’m young, so I feel that right now is the perfect time to start a business.” She loves the creativity and flexibility of being a business owner.
These enterprising people prove that desk jobs are not the only path to happiness. They weren’t afraid to take some risks and have been rewarded with satisfying careers.
© Danielle Bullen 2009
Jason Sadler Knows Marketing to a T (Shirt)
This article orginally appeared in Too Shy to Stop
Jason Sadler, 26, a 2005 graduate of the University of North Florida and current resident of Ponte Verde Beach, FL, came up with an ingenious way to earn money and help companies out with their marketing. He created the I Wear Your Shirt project.
Every day in 2009 he wears a different company’s t-shirt. No matter where he’s going, whether it’s to a wedding or a bar with his friends, he’ll be wearing a t-shirt.
The companies pay him a dollar amount equivalent to the day of the year. So, Ustream.tv, the company that bought January 1st, paid $1, and 503 Motoring paid $365 for December 31st. If he sells out every day, he will earn $66,795.
In an interview with T-Shirt Magazine, Sadler says he was thinking of ways to earn more money, when he realized, “I wear shirts every day of my life.”
According a The New York Times story, he was inspired by the Million Dollar Homepage, a successful project where a British man, Alex Tew, sold one million pixels on a web site for $1 each, to try out the same idea with t-shirts.
The efforts have clearly paid off. To date, he’s sold all but 11 days. I Wear Your Shirt has received impressive press coverage. Major media outlets, like The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and the Guardian, as well as the local Jacksonville press, have picked up the story of his ingenuity.
Principal of Philadelphia’s p4mv Marketing, Christian Shea, offers his take on the project: “This is absolutely a clever concept.” Coming up with original ideas is what marketing today is all about.
Sadler uses his social media knowledge to build attention for the project. He blogs and posts daily photos, videos, and updates on Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube. So far, 11,403 people are following him on Twitter, and he has 1,535 Facebook friends. He even has a daily web show, streamed live on Ustream.tv every day at 3 PM. All together, Sadler estimates that he spends 10-12 hours a day on both his web company and promotional efforts for I Wear Your Shirt.
Shea adds that this is the first time he’s seen this combo of personal advertising and Internet marketing used as a tactic. He’s curious to see if Sadler can keep up the momentum if he chooses to repeat the project.
Sadler’s promotional savvy comes from his previous experiences. As a co-owner and chief marketing officer of the web design company Thought & Theory, he’s very familiar with guerrilla marketing tactics. Being his own boss makes it easy to wear t-shirts to work. His marketing experience has also given him a vast network of contacts, so he also spreads the word about the project by word of mouth.
Like Sadler has said, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.”
© Danielle Bullen 2009
The Write Stuff
This article originally appeared in MavenMag Philadelphia
Few people are fortunate enough to be able to say “we’re just so lucky. I really love my job,” but Jessica Sharp, principal and co-founder of Maven Communications (no affiliation with Philadelphia Maven Magazine), is. Together with Rebecca Devine, she has built a full service public relations firm that serves clients in industries as diverse as, but certainly not limited to, technology, finance, nonprofit, and real estate.
Jessica, a Drexel graduate in corporate communications, began her career at a boutique public relations and advertising company. Rebecca’s path to Maven Communications began after her studies in political science at Brown University when she worked at a market research firm. Jessica realized that she enjoyed the PR aspects of her job the most and Rebecca, whose primary responsibility was crunching numbers for product launches admits, “I really missed the creative end of it.” Both women then found their way to Tierney Communications, a legendary Philadelphia advertising and PR firm. What began as a conversation between friends over a bottle of wine soon turned into a business plan.
Starting a new business is challenging, but they have succeeded with a combination of grace and grit. On their first pitch, which they won, incidentally, they had to compete with more established firms and on a very tight time frame. Once that first client was established, the business really took off. Not long since the one year anniversary of the founding of Maven Communications, these mavens now have twelve clients, including the corporate IT firm, InfoLogix and Safeguard Self Storage, with its sixty east coast locations.
Because of the size of their portfolio, they can stay better connected to their clients than a giant firm. Clients aren’t courted by principles and then shuffled off to junior account executives. Rebecca says, “It’s really important to keep it personal with the clients.” Maven Communications now has the ability to pick and choose the accounts they want. An article on the firm appeared in the Philadelphia Business Journal last February. That story,” made the phone ring,” Rebecca says. All of the attention they have received, including mention in the industry journal PR Week, has been positive, further fueling their success.
Having their own company means having “the freedom to take it where we want to take it,” explains Jessica. Along the way, they’ve learned a little about a lot of different industries, which keeps everything really fresh and interesting and allows them to better serve the specific needs of each client. Some recent and diverse additions to their client list include luxury real estate firm ARCWheeler, who is building condos on Rittenhouse Square, Excel Physical Therapy and the new website CollegeFanz.com, which is dedicated to all things related to college athletics. For the latter, the firm was able to get coverage in national publications and websites, like Entrepreneur, Digital Media Wire, and Forbes.com. That type of publicity has the dual advantage of raising the profile of both the client and Maven Communications.
Jessica and Rebecca handle everything at Maven Communications, from pitches and launches to billing and answering the phones. They take pride on in their one hundred percent ownership and the fact they learn every aspect of the business—both creative and administrative. As the heart and soul of the firm, they’re available to their clients 24-7.
Multi-tasking is the name of the game at Maven Communications. Public relations is more than writing press releases. It’s “communicating the client’s message in a way that grows their business,” Jessica explains. On any given day, they may meet with current or potential clients, hold brainstorming sessions, field media calls, coach employees on effective presentation, design a crisis communications strategy, and, of course, write (website copy, brochures, business plans, articles, etc.). Their jobs involve direct marketing, advertising, and planning events to showcase new companies or new products—all to create an integrated communications experience.
Keeping with the collaborative spirit of the Philadelphia creative community, Jessica and Rebecca have partnered with other firms to provide web design and advertising for their clients. They also rely on freelancers and interns from Drexel’s co-op program to provide the best services possible. With all that activity, it’s easy to understand their enthusiasm for their business.
Their vision for Maven Communications includes expanding the client roster and hiring more full-time employees. Account Supervisor Kerrie Owens was the first addition to what will hopefully be an expanding Maven group. Always, though, that personalized spirit will remain. Considering their drive, talent and what they’ve accomplished already, it’s not hard to imagine Maven Communications growing into one of the city’s premier firms.
Rebecca has three simple words for other potential entrepreneurs: “go for it.” In our wired society, it’s not necessary to spend money on office space. Women can work out of home offices. In fact, Jessica and Rebecca did so before moving to space in the Bell Atlantic Tower on Arch Street in Center City. They also advise not to burn bridges and to network, network, network—let people know your plans, because you never know who those people can put you in touch with. Jessica and Rebecca relied on contacts honed at Tierney to launch their venture.
They cite the sense of community in the relatively small public relations community of Philadelphia as a driving force behind their success. Friends and family have also been an integral part of their support system. “I don’t regret it for one minute,” says Rebecca. Hopefully, the can-do spirit of this maven, coupled with the firm’s succsess, will inspire other women to move forward with their career aspirations.
© Danielle Bullen 2008
Sew Right
This article originally appeared in MavenMag Philadelphia
“I have nothing to wear!” How often have you stood in front of your packed closet and said that? Or how many times have you spotted the perfect pair of pants at a store only to comb through the racks and find none in your size? Thanks to an entrepreneuring woman, some Philadelphians have found the way to have clothes that fit their bodies, their budget, and most of all, their personal sense of style.
Laurel Hoffmann worked in the fashion industry—first as a fit model and later as a production patternmaker. She learned sample making and became skilled at the technical side of fashion. Working in high-end couture, she learned all aspects of the business from first design to finished product.
Her ability to make her own clothes enabled Laurel to have anything she wanted. She soon learned however, that teaching oneself to make clothing can be a challenge. Information on how to sew garments is very poor,” she explains and existing home sewing books did not teach the same techniques professionals use. Laurel seized the opportunity and wrote two books, Drafting & Fitting Pants and Skirts and Sewing Pants and Skirts that made industry methods available to the do-it-yourself crowd.
A chance encounter with a professor at Philadelphia University who complemented her outfit let Laurel take her expertise to the next level. After learning about Laurel’s background, the professor invited her to evaluate her fashion design students. The students were impressed with Laurel’s feedback and wanted to learn more, so she created a continuing education program—Industrial Fashion Methods.
The seven course program is open to anyone who can sew two plies of fabric together on their home sewing machine. There are seven classes in the sequence. Throughout the program, students will learn how to make pants, skirts, shirts, and jackets that are customized to their bodies. Laurel is in the process of writing another book so people can teach the course at other locations
Industrial Fashion Methods deals with basic engineering. It teaches the technical side of sewing, so students can produce clothes that look professional and not homemade. Students learn how to adopt existing patterns for their own use and how to make new patterns. They can chose colors that make them look best and, as Laurel says, “everything will go with everything.”
“People who take the course are very intelligent,” she explains. Almost all of Laurel’s students are college graduates. Some are career women looking for a creative outlet. Others want to polish their sewing skills so they can start home-based careers and spend more time with their kids. If you’re looking to save a few bucks, the courses are well worth the initial investment. “Sewing is not supposed to be expensive,” says Laurel. She made herself a suit for $40—a total steal.
Besides the economic perks, there is the benefit of knowing exactly what you’re getting. If you make it yourself, you can have exactly what you want. As Laurel notes, “clothes I buy last a few years, clothes I make last twenty.”
Industrial Fashion Methods will be offered in the Philadelphia area again in the fall. Classes are on Saturdays. Please check Laurel Hoffmann’s website for specific details on dates and locations.
© Danielle Bullen 2008
New Coordinator has Bright Ideas for Student Activities Office
This article originally appeared in News@Haverford
“There is no typical day and that’s what I love most about this job,” says Jason McGraw, coordinator of the Student Activities Office (SAO). McGraw is the primary resource for the 146 student organizations on Haverford’s campus. Reserving rooms, answering hundreds of emails, advertising events, and meeting with students are all part of a day’s work.
As an undergrad at Salisbury University in Maryland, McGraw was heavily involved in student activities. That experience combined with his master’s degree in higher education administration from Syracuse University prompted him to seek a job in education. He was drawn to Haverford because of the students' dedication. “When Haverford says its students are extremely active, it’s true. That’s shocking and refreshing.”
Active may be an understatement. From sports like rugby and alternative frisbee, to cultural organizations like the Asian Students Association and the well known a cappella groups, to Fords Against Boredom (FAB) (who plan weekend events like scavenger hunts and midnight bowling), Haverfordians enjoy myriad clubs. Part event planner, part counselor, McGraw guides them through it all. “It’s a one-person office and trying to be a resource for so many organizations is definitely a struggle,” he says. “I’ve been learning how to give my undivided attention to each group.”
He has nothing but praise for the students he works with. “Student leaders run these organizations and plan these phenomenal events.” McGraw’s favorite Haverford traditions are Customs—“It’s amazing to see all the work they do to welcome new students”— and Pinwheel Day, a spring afternoon when an anonymous do-gooder covers Founders Green with colorful, spinning pinwheels.
He describes FIG, the inventors of the popular Go Boards, a one-stop center for on and off campus news, events, blogs and pics, as one of the more unique organizations. McGraw also gives kudos to the sound crew, noting that the audio and video for all events is handled strictly by students, a rarity among colleges, while praising the student-run coffee shop Lunt Café, another unique endeavor.
You would think overseeing close to 150 groups would fill anyone's day, but he has even bigger plans for the SAO. “I want to get the heads of organizations to come together,” he says. In this digital age, when email is the primary means of communication, McGraw believes in the value of face to face sit-downs for exchanging information.
“I want to inspire students to think about what’s missing from their Haverford experience.” He would like to see what’s happening with student life at other colleges and transfer some ideas to Haverford. A non-Ford himself, McGraw brings an outsider’s perspective. To encourage students to look beyond the “Haver-bubble,” in the future he would like to subsidize off-campus day trips. So that students can experience firsthand all that the greater Philadelphia area has to offer.
A more ambitious endeavor is the newly minted leadership development program. The concept grew out of recurring requests to learn about effective leadership in various student surveys. Right now, it is an experimental college program. A small group of students meet once a week for a non-credit course that focuses on the question, What makes a good leader? Conflict resolution, group dynamics and interpersonal communication are just some of the theories participants hope to apply to improve their leadership skills. To further hone those talents, McGraw would like to partner with alumni relations to bring accomplished alumni to campus to speak with student leaders. “I’m always open to new ideas,” notes McGraw. It seems as long as he’s at the helm of the Student Activities Office, new ideas won’t be hard to find.
© Danielle Bullen 2007
Rachel Nehmer and Ben Wendel:
These Fords Work with the Greatest of Ease
This article originally appeared in News@Haverford
After graduation, most Haverford biology majors follow a typical path. Some attend medical school, others do research, still others join the circus. The circus? For Rachel Nehmer ’04 and Ben Wendel ’04, those hours in the lab turned into unique careers as trapeze artists.
Nehmer’s passion for the aerial arts began as a teenager when she attended the French Woods Festival, a performing arts camp in New York. There, she was first introduced to static, or non-flying, and the more well-known flying trapeze styles. At Haverford, her lab partner, Wendel, shared the same love of circus performance. Says Nehmer, “Sitting in lab meeting, thinking about trapeze choreography instead of brain circuitry, it became clear that our passion is in circus.” So after graduation, they moved to Seattle to pursue that passion.
In Seattle, they studied and later taught at the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts. Nehmer also worked with the Aerialistas, an all-female troupe that performs at circuses and festivals in that area. “Working with the Aerialistas gave me the inspiration and experience to really dedicate myself to becoming a circus artist,” she says. Wendel and Nehmer later branched out and formed Curly Burly, a static doubles trapeze act. According to their website, “We combine our rare chemistry with strength, grace, and hair to create entertaining and original aerial performance.”
Performing as Curly Burly gives them the opportunity to travel the world. Along the way, they have become part of the close-knit community of circus artists, one of the rewards of their work. Circuses have cross-cultural appeal because they appeal to shared fantasies. Nehmer notes, “Circuses can be escapist on one hand, with bizarre characters enacting fantastical scenarios, while fundamentally human on the other, tapping into basic emotions.” For the past two centuries, trapeze artists have awed audiences with feats of the human body. Curly Burly is now a proud part of that heritage. Highlights of their recent nine-month world tour include studying with their mentors, the famous Russian trapeze artists Duo Artemiev, and training at the renowned Parisian Fratellini circus. On the Thailand-Myanmar border they combined circus and service, teaching acrobatics to spirited and talented refugee kids.
Currently, Curly Burly is based out of New Zealand. Adjusting to their new home has been easy. New Zealand culture is remarkably similar to the United States’ culture, with the added bonus of summer in January. They dazzle audiences at public festivals and circuses, as well as private engagements such as weddings and corporate parties. According to Nehmer, the biggest challenge of their profession is the lack of guaranteed work, but they keep plugging on. Their days are spent perfecting their craft through rehearsal and yoga, ballet and weight training, and learning other disciplines, like hand-walking and vertical rope. Nehmer and Wendel also teach at the Mixit Project, a performing arts workshop for African refugees in Auckland.
“The biggest reward has been creating something and being given the opportunity to perform,” says Nehmer. In March, Wendel and Nehmer return to Seattle for the Moisture Festival. They cite this international comedy and variety show, a throwback to the days of vaudeville, as one of their favorite places to perform. After, they will hone their skills and perform across North America and Europe. Through it all, they will continue to showcase their passion for the trapeze.
© Danielle Bullen 2007
One Ford's Green Outlook on Life
This article originally appeared in News@Haverford
As Americans realize we must take better care of our Earth, hybrid cars, alternative energy sources, even simple recycling programs have grown in popularity. For some, though, these standard means of activism are not enough. Cara Taussig ’87 and her husband, Marty Gawran are part of the cohousing movement in Vermont.
Cohousing, at its most basic, is “an old-fashioned neighborhood in a new way,” according to Taussig. Her neighbors are economically diverse and range in age from infants to ninety-one. The Champlain Valley Cohousing community is situated on one hundred and twenty-five acres. It is one of over one hundred such areas in the country. Twenty-six homes, each rated five-star for energy efficiency, and designed by their owners, are clustered on nine acres around a central green. The remaining space is part farm land (the community sustains and supports itself largely through agriculture) and part preserved wildlife sanctuary, with trails and open space for recreation.
Says Taussig, “We worked together to build the community and we work together to manage the land.” Much like Haverford, community is the driving force of cohousing. She reflects on her time at the college as providing her with the “invaluable experience of community.” Her junior year abroad in France taught her there are alternatives to mainstream American culture that can be satisfying, an attitude that is very true for the cohousing experience.
From the common kitchen and playroom, to the sharing of resources and services, to each member’s volunteer work to support the community at large, the group’s needs are put first. This philosophy was initially difficult for Taussig to adjust to, but without this camaraderie, the project would most likely not have been completed. She praises her fellow inhabitants: “I have never experienced the heart and dedication of a team like this before.”
Taussig’s passion for the ecology and community took off a few years ago during an extended camping trip. She had left the corporate culture of IBM and, along with Gawran, sought a change. She began thinking how people do not live within the limits of nature and the adverse effect that has on our Earth. “I wanted to reinvent my life to live a little lighter on the planet.” Champlain Valley Cohousing provided the opportunity.
At the Vermont Earth Institute, Taussig spreads this message of stewardship even further. The institute encourages reduced consumption and environmentally sustainable practices. Its main focus are discussion courses held in libraries, offices, churches and other gathering places. Topics include Voluntary Simplicity, Discovering a Sense of Place, and Healthy Children, Healthy Planet. Taussig serves as a discussion leader, moderating and directing the readings for each session. Participants examine attitudes towards the environment in a supportive, collegial atmosphere. Working at Vermont Earth Institute gives her the chance to get paid for work she would do for free, something only a few lucky people can claim.
While cohousing communities are not for everyone, there are steps we can take to make a positive impact. For example, Taussig touts the buy local movement. By purchasing locally grown produce and dairy products, not only do consumers support area growers, they lessen dependence on fossil fuels. Since the products have a shorter distance to travel from farm to marker, fewer emissions from the trucks carrying them clog the air.
Encouraging people to move from awareness to activism is the hallmark of the institute’s outreach program. In the two years she’s been involved with Vermont Earth Institute and Champlain Valley Cohousing, Taussig has made that her personal outlook as well. As the proverb goes, "I waited for someone to do something before I realized I was someone. She began “believing in myself to create positive change” and not relying on technology, government, or other outside forces to push her in the right direction. With this new lifestyle, she has reinvented herself in an ecologically aware, community-focused role and is proud of doing her part to leave the Earth a slightly better place.
© Danielle Bullen 2006
Eugena Machado Reflects on United World College Experience
This article originally appeared in News@Haverford
“It changed me one hundred percent and I’m very happy with the change,” Eugenia Machado ’10 enthusiastically says of her time at a United World College. She was one of nine students from her native Venezuela selected to attend one of the prestigious International Baccalaureate schools. The program counts Nelson Mandela and Queen Noor of Jordan among its presidents and spokespersons. Citing an interest in what happens outside of Caracas and a strong desire to learn from and about other cultures, Machado attended the school from 2004 to 2006 after she completed her secondary studies. (Some UWC students attend in lieu of high school, some after.) “Most people think the same,” she says of her native country. “No one challenges you.”
That’s definitely not the case at a UWC. Open-mindedness is the backbone of the program. Founded in 1962 and based on the philosophy of German educationalist Kurt Hahn, the UWC’s mission is to unite students from all over the globe with the goal of fostering peace and understanding. The program encourages personal responsibility, compassion, activism, environmentalism and mutual respect. It “makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future,” according to its Web site. A belief in the power of that mission statement propelled Machado to attend and still influences her outlook today.
Machado was placed in Hong Kong. The UWC national committee in Venezuela assigns placements. She never found out why she went to Hong Kong, but feels it was the perfect match. “Alive” is the word she uses to describe the islands that were her home for two years. They were an ideal mix of natural beauty and cosmopolitan wonder. The UWC gives its students the opportunity to travel and in addition to her time in Hong Kong, Machado saw eight other Asian countries.
At the 12 UWCs around the world, members echo Machado’s sentiment that “young people without prejudgment will change the world.” Students achieve this by fully immersing themselves in the world of their UWC. There are four components: service, creativity, campus support and sports. “Every day you learn something.” All activities are run by fellow students, giving them chances to learn from each other. Machado taught AIDS awareness and prevention at local Hong Kong schools, learned Chinese calligraphy, gave salsa dancing lessons and kayaked and rock climbed in China.
Her favorite experience though, were cultural evenings. Each region takes a turn decorating the dining hall, cooking cultural cuisine and performing native music and dances. Guests dress in the host region’s garb, so students from Spain would be clad in traditional African dress. On those nights, with the celebration of differences and national pride, Machado was struck by the fact that “we’re all young people having fun.”
These pursuits came on top of the rigorous IB course of study. Students in Hong Kong consistently have the highest grades of the UWC, a standard that smoothed the way for her transition to Haverford. (Currently, she is one of three UWC alums at the College.) Besides the academic parallel, Machado sees other connections between the institutions. Representatives from colleges and universities came to speak to the UWC students. She was intrigued by the notion of Haverford’s honor code, calling it “another way to make myself more holistic.” This ambitious student also recognizes that a Haverford education will give her even more knowledge she can take back and share in Venezuela.
She wishes more people would apply to a UWC because despite its benefits, the program remains relatively unknown. “People seem intimidated when you have a high ideal.” Students like Machado believe they can change the world and the UWC encourages them to pursue that dream. Machado, who wants to study biology, plans to continue her international studies with a junior year abroad in Africa. She says, “There’s always another point of view.” Her time in Hong Kong certainly proved her right.
© Danielle Bullen 2006
Watson Fellow Ethan Rowland to Travel the World in Search of Apples
This article originally appeared in News@Haverford
“The Watson Fellowship is the most fantastic thing you can do after college,” says Haverford senior Ethan Roland, one of 50 recipients nationally of this year’s award. Created in 1968 by the Thomas J. Watson Foundation, this prestigious fellowship “gives college graduates of unusual promise the freedom to engage in a year of independent study and travel abroad,” according to the foundation’s website. Unlike typical academic work, a Watson Fellow’s project is completely self-run. They must conceive of and carry out their research independently.
For Roland, the award is more than an opportunity to engage in his academic interests. It is a chance to carry out his family legacy. Roland’s mother, a 1976 graduate of Swarthmore, was also a Watson Fellow, making him the first second-generation recipient. All throughout his childhood, he heard stories of his mother’s global travel. Adds Roland, “My mom definitely persuaded me to apply for a Watson.”
Roland will study the genetic diversity of apples around the world. A genetic trait known as extreme heterozygosity has allowed apples to thrive in diverse climates. Heterozygosity is the possession of multiple versions of a single gene. This diversity allows the apple to match itself to ecosystems around the world. His project will take him to Sweden, Kazakhstan, Japan, New Zealand, and Chile. Says Roland, “Kazakhstan is really the heart of my project.” An apple tree forest there is believed to be the origin of the domesticated apple.
“This topic came out of a couple of things,” Roland states. He cites The Botany of Desire, a book by Michael Pollan that retells the story of Johnny Appleseed. “It changed how I thought about apples. Roland, a biology major with a special interest in computer science, adds, “I wanted to include hard science in my Fellowship.” He believes the emphasis on genetics distinguished him from other applicants and helped him secure the Fellowship. Last summer, he worked alongside food experts at UC Davis, which increased his interest in biodiversity, organic farming, and sustainability.
Besides studying their genetic components, Roland will also work with apples as a food and as a source of income internationally. “I will get to know the people who work with apples everyday.” These include scientists, independent growers, and small orchard owners, and mass producers. He credits his father, a former restaurant owner, for his role in inspiring this aspect of his research. “In terms of getting me to think about food, my father was influential.”
When he returns, Roland will plant the apple seeds he gathered on his journey in his home in upstate New York to see if they thrive. He also plans to collect his travel journals into a publication. However, Roland is most excited about a website for apple researchers he intends to design. The site will include international research, along with the recipes he obtained during his travels. It will connect people who study apples around the globe, because, “there is not as much communication between countries as there could be,” Roland says. He anticipates the challenges of adjusting to foreign cultures and attempting to communicate with the local populations. He also recognizes, “This experience will shape me more than my career.”