Hi Guys
First off, I want to thank you for the way you’ve responded to the death of Brittany Maxwell. Thank you for your prayers and kind words. We have heard from many of her friends and are hoping to connect with her family very soon.
We leave Tuesday night for Nashville. Stop the Bleeding begins Wednesday at Rocketown. I’ve always wanted to go to Nashville so I’m really looking forward to it. You may have noticed a new friend in our top spot. Stop the Bleeding has it’s own MySpace (a music page!), so [url]http://www.myspace.com/stopthebleedingtour[/url] will serve as home base for this tour, future shows, booking, etc. Also, you’ll be able to listen to songs (and a poem) from some of the bands we’re taking on the road. I’ve posted an intro blog there, along with our first press release – hope you’ll check it out.
TEAM / STAFF / PEOPLE / etc… I am so proud and excited to announce that two of our volunteers, Lauren Ranzino and Jake Dockter, will now be working part-time for TWLOHA. Trisha Ivy will be going to full-time in NYC in January, and Michelle Moore has joined us as a volunteer counselor. Michelle’s husband Aaron is also a full-time Mental Health & Addictions therapist in Orlando, and has become a tremendous resource and friend to TWLOHA.
A bit about each… I can’t say enough good things about Lauren. Many of you have written back and forth with her. She is on the MySpace all the time, working hard to answer the hardest questions and situations that come our way. Lauren will be focusing on all things counseling, everything from Myspace messages to adding resources to our “Find Help” section to building relationships with other organizations. [email protected]
Last Thursday night, we were reminded why we do what we do. Lauren rec’d a message from a girl who said she would be ending her life. It was a painful, uncertain moment for all of us, especially Lauren. Thankfully, the girl is alive and recovering in a California hospital, and Lauren spent two hours on the phone with her last night.
Back in July at Cornerstone, we met a Portland man called Jake Dockter. Jake spent his summer on the road working with Tooth & Nail. Jake has been getting things rolling for TWLOHA in the west ever since. Many of you have met him over the last couple months as he’s been on the road with Bradley Hathaway. Jake is humble and kind, he may be the most low-maintenance person I’ve ever met. He is a dreamer and has an incredible heart for hurting people. Jake will be working on all things west, especially street team and events. He is [email protected]
My pastor friend Jon says that God loves people, so God must really love New York. Jon believed that so much that he sold his house in Florida and moved his family there to start a church. New York City has long been a city of contrast – rich and poor, dreams and pain, blinding lights and big ideas. This past week, two blocks from Times Square, Trisha Ivy led our first volunteer meeting. New York City is the most influential city in the world and we want to have a presence there. We want posters above the sidewalks, stickers in the subways and conversations in the clubs. We want to partner with people meeting needs in this important place.
Trisha will be focusing on all things NYC. She’s recently connected with Teen Challenge Brooklyn and Hope For New York. If you’re in the NYC area and would like to get involved, you can write to [email protected] She’s on the MySpace a lot as well, and will be helping with pretty much everything.
Two NYC plugs: My friend Kory and I recently wandered into a boutique called Love Brigade in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It was like finding TWLOHA’s long-lost friend. If you find yourself in Brooklyn, go say hello to our new friend Alyssa at LB. We’re sending some shirts her way, and the store will be home to TWLOHA flyer cards very soon.
Plug #2: Ra Ra Riot is a band from Syracuse that is blowing up in NYC at the moment. They were all over CMJ, playing seven different times and earning the title (from CMJ) of “the Arcade Fire of 2006”. You can find them in our Top 8, which is actually 20.
Finally, we’ve just learned about the MySpace Impact Awards. MySpace is recognizing the best of MySpace, folks and organizations meeting needs and doing it here. One of the very unique elements, one of the things I’m most proud of, is that TWLOHA began on MySpace. We had a MySpace before we had twloha.com and our MySpace continues to be home base. You can vote for TWLOHA in two different categories – Health & Safety and Community Building. Be sure to call it “To Write Love on Her Arms” as they won’t understand “TWLOHA”.
You can vote for TWLOHA at: [url]http://www.myspace.com/impactawards[/url]
Wow, this is long. Thanks for reading. You guys rule.
jamie
PS: We’ve just added New Era hats and two Don Miller books to the online store. Trisha makes fun of me about the New Eras, but it’s all you see in NYC, and how’s this – New Era is selling so many that you have to be approved to buy them. I’ve heard of multimillion dollar clothing companies being turned down… but we got approved : )
PSS: Switchfoot’s in town tomorrow. I’m meeting Jon sometime ridiculously late tonight and we’re gonna try to go surfing in the morning.
PS3: Just got contact info for David Bazaan’s manager. David was Pedro the Lion (they just broke up) and I’m really hoping he’ll read the story. The first three words are “Pedro the Lion”…
PS4: Check out the lovely Kate Earl, from Los Angeles by way of Alaska, in our Top 20. She is a TWLOHA supporter making beautiful music. If you see her, say hello.