Words You Can Use: The BAVC BLOG

by Alicia Schmidt, Marketing Strategist

Jennifer joins BAVC after spending the last two years earning her Master’s Degree from San Francisco State University in Women’s Studies with a focus on Performance. Prior to moving to San Francisco, she lived in San Antonio, Texas, where she attended the University of Texas. Wanting to take a break from academia, we’re thrilled that Jenn has decided to get her hands non-profit “dirty” here at BAVC. As the new Office Manager, she will be responsible for making all our office systems hum including facility and supply management, some human resource management, and a little bit of accounting thrown in for good measure. (more…)

by Alicia Schmidt, Marketing Strategist

BAVC is pleased to welcome Naomi Kawamura, our new Associate Director of Next Gen programs. Naomi will be working with the Next Gen Director to set strategic direction and priorities for Next Generation Programs, and manage the implementation of programs and program improvements. Noami has a Masters Degree in Education and nearly ten years of experience working with youth in diverse art and social service organizations. Most recently, Naomi was the Director of School Programs at the Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA) in Oakland. And prior to that, she served as the Director of Education and Community Programs at the Richmond Art Center. Oh, and she is a sculptor too with an undergrad degree in fine arts. Here comes the newbie hazing . . .

1. The story of your life starts out with which 10 words?
She was on Kawamura time and arrived later than expected.

2. Do you know your astrological sign? What is it?
Yup - I am a Taurus.

3. How do you take your coffee?
With a little bit of cream and a little bit of sugar.

4. Name two things you believe in.
Spirits in nature. My mama.

5. What’s the last song/movie you paid money for?
Bad Plus.

6. Who would play you in the BAVC movie and why?
Bruce Lee. Not a lot of Japanese-American actors out there. Might as well choose him.

7. Most embarrassing job?
House painter.

8. What snacks do you eat at the movies?
Sour Patch Kids.

9. What are you most likely to be doing at 9pm on a Thursday?
Jazz show.

10. What are you looking forward to most in your new job at BAVC?
Bringing my new pet dog to work!

by Alicia Schmidt, BAVC Marketing Strategist

Chris Runde has been working part-time with BAVC for the last few months, and recently started full-time as the Manager of our San Francisco based BUMP programs (part of our Next Gen programming). He’s a talented musician and music instructor who is responsible for helping to craft BAVC’s youth music curriculum and ensure the quality of our music program.

Here comes the Newbie hazing . . .

1. The story of your life starts out with which 10 words?
After 14 hours of labor I stopped torturing my mother.

2. Do you know your astrological sign? What is it?
Taurus (on the cusp with Gemini)

3. How do you take your coffee?
Blacker than Beelzebub’s soul.

4. Name two things you believe in.
Karma and caffeine.

5. What’s the last song/movie you paid money for?
“Calle Go Lem” by Go Lem System feat. Manu Chao

6. Who would play you in the BAVC movie and why?
This is a really hard question that I’ve thought a lot about. The closest I could come up with is The Count from Sesame Street. I don’t really like math though. I’m open to suggestions.

7. Most embarrassing job?
Making photocopies of academic journals for a guy who made his whole living by exploiting the U.C. library system.

8. What snacks do you eat at the movies?
Junior Mints.

9. What are you most likely to be doing at 9pm on a Thursday?
Barting/walking home to Oakland after teaching Digital Pathways.

10. What are you looking forward to most in your new job at BAVC?
Working with really talented and compassionate people in creating unique new opportunities for youth. And champagne at staff meetings.

by Alicia Schmidt, BAVC Marketing Strategist

Danielle Lawrence recently started at BAVC as our new Training & Resources Assistant. Working with the other members of the Training and Resource staff, Danielle will be working part-time, helping folks enroll in classes, find their classrooms on weekends, and generally help students navigate their BAVC experience. Danielle is a visual artist with varied experience teaching art to young people in San Francisco, Oakland, and Baja, Mexico! Our version of hazing includes answering the BAVC 10:

1. The story of your life starts out with which 10 words?
The story of my life starts with images not words.

2. Do you know your astrological sign? What is it?
I am a Virbra (1/2 Virgo 1/2 Libra)

3. How do you take your coffee?
Black when I make it. With cream if somebody else makes it.

4. Name two things you believe in.
The ocean and trees.

5. What’s the last song/movie you paid money for?
The last albums I bought were PJ Harvey, White Magic, Isis and Illmatic by Nas..sad but true I haven’t had time to go to a movie in quite some time.

6. Who would play you in the BAVC movie and why?
Lily Taylor. She’s got integrity, humility and soul.

7. Most embarrassing job?
The restaurant Boulevard . . . they made you wear a penguin suit (vest, tie etc). I quit after a week and started doing mural projects with kids in West Oakland instead . . . aaaahh, much better.

8. What snacks do you eat at the movies?
Chocolate

9. What are you most likely to be doing at 9pm on a Thursday?
Working on art in my studio.

10. What are you looking forward to most in your new job at BAVC?
Besides the lovely people everywhere. I look forward to learning new mediums of expression.