While Hollywood Arts is more of a humanitarian organization that educates homeless and foster care young adults, there are a few of us greenies that get the opportunity to teach at the center.  The classes they offer at the center are Film, Fashion, Music and the Arts.

I want to mention Hollywood Arts, because like the students at Hollywood Arts, Dylan Kendal took a chance on me and has let me teach a sewing/repurposing class for over a year now.  It’s amazing to see the students work hard and create from what they have and what is given to them…including movie T-shirts from Warner Bros., skateware from VANS, and fabric swatches donated from Interior Design showrooms.

The Dream Awards are held once a year to recognize teachers, sponsors, and students involved at Hollywood Arts.  Jesse Carmichael from Maroon 5 was awarded this year for his amazing efforts to teach music to the students.  (I’d also met Jesse once before at the EMA (Environmental Media Association) Awards where Maroon 5 was awarded for their environmental stewardship.) I loved the part of Dylan’s speech where she explained that the first time Jesse arrived at the center, there was a huge crowd and everyone wanted to meet Jesse.  By the second and third times he arrived, the celebrity was lost and the students just wanted to learn whatever they could from him.

(: Special side not – so happy to get involved with HM&A through the Warner Bros. Emerging Professionals group.  While Maroon 5 was playing at the awards, he gave a shout out to the Warner Bros. table for being the most fun table at the event.

Vans was also awarded for their involvement with the students.  And personally I can’t thank them enough for supplying my class with clothes to work with as well as boosting the student’s self-esteem just by giving them new shoes.  I also had the opportunity to speak with one of the Vans peeps and found out they do indeed have some organic clothes in their line. Yayaya!

But my most favorite part of the night was when Terry and “Q” were awarded Students of the Year.  It was my first time meeting Terry, and he was so appreciative and fun to watch when he graciously thanked everyone including “Q” for their help and efforts.  But most importantly, I’ve really seen what HM&A can do by watching the progression of “Q” from being a soft-spoken, timid, somewhat damaged young boy…turning into a professional, strong and articulate young man who is now interning at Comcast and has an apartment.  He owned the stage and you could feel his power and presence from a mile away.  I feel bad for the man sitting in front of me because I screamed and cheered so loud for “Q”.

And to my surprise, one last shameles plug, both Dylan and I were both wear things that I’d done a little custom redesigning on.  Dylan was wearing a fabulously fashionable leopard print bustier…and I’d gotten my floor lengthen Cinderella ball gown from a previous HM&A fundraiser and used it as a demo in one of my classes to teach the students how to make a bubble tutu dress.