13 minute read
COMMUNITY
Young Leader
High school sophomore honored by Boys & Girls Clubs of Venice
By Kamala Kirk
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Venice (BGCV) hosted their annual Youth of the Year Competition, which celebrates outstanding young individuals who have demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments, in addition to overcoming enormous odds. Nearly 50 of the Club’s friends and members came together recently for a virtual celebration where the 2022 Youth of the Year was announced. This year the honor went to Madyson Blueford, a sophomore at Venice High School who has been a Club member for four years. “Earning that achievement felt somewhat unreal and weeks of hard work had finally paid off,” Blueford said. “Receiving the title of Boys and Girls Clubs’ Youth of the Year was scary and a bit nerve-wracking. On paper I am an exceptional student, both in academics and extracurricular activities. However, when it came to writing my essays, I had to take a more
PHOTO COURTESY OF MADYSON BLUEFORD
Venice High School sophomore, Madyson Blueford, was selected as the 2022 Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Venice.
introspective look into who I was and the club’s meaning in my life, both as an influence and a source of empowerment.” Blueford joined BGCV in Summer 2021 as a junior staff member, which she said was a new experience to her as she had previously only been a regular Club member. She was put into the position to be a youth leader, advisor, mentor, and overall role model for younger club members. “Giving back has given me a sense of purpose and direction when I previously felt lost or confused,” Blueford said. “During the height of the pandemic I was able to join the Youth Advisory Council creating social media content regarding consent, body positivity and child exploitation. Going in, I didn’t have a clear motivation as to why I was there. Why is always the unknown variable; throughout that year-long term on the Youth Advisory Council, the why presented itself.” In addition to participating in BGCV, Blueford is a member of the Venice High School Mighty Gondolier Marching Band under the direction of Mr. David W. Lee, as well as a member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) Delphians Honors Society. She is also a bilingual Spanish speaker and a Girl Scout Senior. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, spending time with family and listening to music. “Being a member of the Club has opened my world,” Blueford said. “Immersing myself in experiences that, at the time, seemed unfathomable, was a stepping stone in realizing my potential. Being able to exist in a space that is curated towards everyone, the inclusivity, and sense of community.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Venice
2232 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice bgcv.org
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Reopening to the Public
By Kamala Kirk
After being closed for the past two years due to COVID-19, the Santa Monica History Museum (SMHM) will reopen its doors on April 1. It will feature a new collaborative exhibition with the Quinn Research Center (QRC), new hours of operation, and free admission for the first two months. The new exhibition, “Broadway to Freeway: Life and Times of a Vibrant Community,” will examine how residents that included African American, Mexican American and immigrant community members built Santa Monica’s Broadway neighborhood into a flourishing community – and how the Interstate 10 freeway destroyed it in the 1960s. During the mid-20th century, the community was a haven for those who were excluded from other parts of the city by racist and anti-immigrant policies. Featuring period photographs, ephemera, oral histories and a song, the exhibition draws on the wealth of archival material collected by the QRC, which is dedicated to preserving the history African American life in Santa Monica. “Through exhibitions like these, we acknowledge the legacy of history and inform people about its ongoing impact,” said SMHM archivist Sara Crown, who is also the exhibition’s curator. “The rare images and objects in the exhibition illustrate how Broadway’s former residents created a thriving community in the face of structural racism. These stories are ones every Santa Monica resident should know.” The museum’s new hours starting April 1 will be Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum will also welcome back the community by offering free admission for the first two months. “We are excited to partner with the Santa Monica History Museum on this important city history that is unknown to most people who live here,” said Carolyne Edwards of QRC. “The QRC is dedicated to promoting the study and research of Black family history and culture in the Santa Monica Bay Area, and this exhibition demonstrates we were and are a very important fabric in the rich history of our city.” Visitors will also be able to experience the museum’s new History Happened Here touch table (located in the main exhibition gallery) to learn more about specific locations featured in the Broadway exhibition and other sites throughout the city. The table will be continually updated by museum staff utilizing content from the museum’s rich collection of photos. Residents and visitors will also be able to learn more about specific city sites when they view and scan the History Happened Here decals at prominent locations throughout the community. Any decal at a featured location will display a QR code that a person can scan with their phone and will instantly learn about the site with content and images. Other new museum initiatives that were recently launched include a brand-new website with ease of use functionality and a new membership program that features new benefits with new levels. “Our new History Happened Here program will strengthen our relationship with stakeholders throughout the city and give users a unique learning experience at the location site they are visiting,” said executive director John Kearns. “This program, along with our new exhibition, are prime examples of our mission to continue to share the history and culture of Santa Monica.”
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PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN KIFFE
On April 1, the Santa Monica History Museum is reopening with new hours, a new exhibition and free admission for the first two months.
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Connection Is the Greatest Currency
Sacred Woman Collective connects and inspires women through travel, community and wellness
By Haley Beyer
Despite running a successful public relations agency in Los Angeles for 25 years, Mar Vista resident, Staci Levine, didn’t feel that it was her true passion. By chance, she got into yoga and fell in love with the wellness industry in, which ultimately led to her founding Sacred Woman Collective. “By nature, I’m a connector and enjoy building community,” Levine said. “So I began to network with some people and started taking chances.” Levine and her co-founder (who is no longer with the company but is still connected through their daughters) went to lunch in 2019 and bonded over the idea of hosting events and retreats. Levine knew she wanted to create elevated experiences for women in multiple ways, so she was trained in sound healing and breathwork. Though every event is different depending on who the company partners with, yoga, breathwork and sound healing are always on the itineraries. The first event was held in March 2019 in Palm Springs followed by a second event in Tulum in October. At first, Levine tried to accommodate both of her jobs, but yoga and the wellness industry called to her heart more than public relations. “I like to say that my calling called me, and I answered,” Levine said. Since that discovery of self, Levine has been busy planning events and retreats all year round. She hosts eight to 10 events per year, which include day retreats, weekend or week-long trips, and sunset circles. The price for each event varies depending on the length and location. Levine works hard to find perfect places to hold her events and retreats. “I am always looking for places that will be a nice location for an event,” Levine said. “I am constantly sourcing beautiful places that are aesthetically pleasing and add to the experience of elevation within the women. I love retreats especially because I get to do all my favorite things, all together. I benefit from the activities, but I also really love to travel.” Most, if not all events, are created with a partner to bring two companies together, which supports both businesses and creates a more enjoyable experience for everyone. “I really love collaboration, I want the company to be about partnerships and coming together,” Levine said. Council serves as the backbone of Sacred Woman Collective. There is a talking stick that is passed around and every woman has the chance to share. This, paired with regular meditation, sound baths and breathwork creates a calm, peaceful and warm atmosphere for everyone involved. There are many benefits to participating in a session, but the most important ones are forming a sense of community, feeling more grounded and calm, escaping normal day-to-day schedules, and an overall improvement in mental health. “I work hard to foster a sense of inclusion, which is why anybody is welcome at any of my events,” Levine said. “Connection is our greatest currency. I want women to know that life isn’t meant to do alone. We’re in this together. Somebody, somewhere, is going through the same things. We rise by lifting others. Let’s support each other. Let’s bring kindness to our world and accept one another. I want these women to show up as strangers and leave as sisters.” Sunset circles are regular events that Sacred Woman Collective holds once a month. They take place at Tower 26 on Santa Monica beach. “I love the ocean and I love sunsets, so I might as well put them together,” Levine said. “When you’re out in nature, all these beautiful things happen, and it’s so magical to have the waves crashing and the sun setting right there with all these wonderful women.” Levine also created a Sacred Woman Collective Business branch of the company. They host high-vibe inspirational events for women entrepreneurs with different themes relating to goals, providing networking and growth of their brands. “I love to teach women to not judge and compete with one another,” Levine said. “We’re here to support one another. Life is so much better when you live with that way of thinking in your heart.” Levine didn’t want any woman’s financial situation to prevent her from coming to an event or retreat, so she created the Sacred Woman Scholarship. The program allows women to be considered for a paid-for spot and Levine will pay the way for them when she is able. “I want to give people who might not have had the opportunity otherwise a chance to experience the love and growth that comes from our community,” Levine said. “I want my program to be as diverse as possible, any ethnicity, any walk of life, any financial level.” Levine is also hoping to partner soon with brands that can provide sponsorships so that they will be able to provide more free spots and give more women the chance to participate. “My favorite part of these experiences is meeting new women,” Levine said. “I know social media has a bad reputation, but I love social media because when I say good-bye after an event, it’s not actually good-bye. I get to stay in touch with everyone I connect with.” The next sunset circle will take place on April 13 at 5 pm. In honor of Mother’s Day, there will be “A Mother + Daughter Gathering” on May 7 that will deepen connections by teaching tools to communicate from the hearts. It will include a singalong with the Shanchoy, lessons on breathwork to relax the nervous system, a sound bath and guided meditation, and a plant-based dinner prepared by Dori of Empowered Wellness.
PHOTOS BY CHRIS MORTENSON
Mar Vista resident, Staci Levine, is the founder of Sacred Woman Collective, a collaborative retreat and gathering company that hosts events and retreats where women can come together.
Sacred Woman Collective
sacredwomancollective.com Instagram: @sacredwomancollective
