Buttafly's Ode To Celeste.....

The arts must be at the heart of every child's learning experience if…they are to have a chance to dream and to create, to have beliefs, to carry a sense of cultural identity.
---James D Wolfensohn, former chairman of The Kennedy Center

This post is dedicated to the youth who inspire arts education. We kick off this dedication with a special Ode to Celeste! Celeste, an amazing, inspirational ,creative, fourteen year old whose talents are only measured by the Hello Kitty stickers that cover up the front of her composition notebook. After Generation X, came Generation Ipod and Generation Myspace. With this generation, Celeste was raised, nourished, and guided. Celeste, who has amassed a friends arsenal of eight-hundred plus on her myspace, a collection of favorite photographs on photobucket, and a blog that expounds on the daily triumphs and grunts of a teen who sports pink Nikes with fat white and black laces.

Interview with Celeste aka Cece

Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite Shoes: Jordans

Favorite Song: Stay In Love by Mariah Carey

Favorite Subject : Reading

Philosophy : Live ya life to the fullest!

Favorite saying: Shut up Doodie

Whatcha wanna be when yur grow up: A lawyer

Current Hustle- Vice President of Online Marketing, Web Page Design, and Correspondence for Buttafly Communications

Where yer like ta hang:

River Park Towers is a fun place to be. We call River Park Towers R.P.T for short. I have mad fun over there in the R.P.T neighborhood. My bestie is Vanessa. Me and Vanessa have a great friendship. We have mad fun when I’m there....We get live over there in the R.P.T Getting live means dancing. When I go over at R.P.T, I gets live . I am the livest person over at R.P.T

Getting Live in NYC !

Check out this video as Bizzy B and Smoove battle to see who is the best at getting live in NYC!

Goin home

by T. Semakula

I am goin home to no museums, cafes, bookstores, or creative outlets.

only to walls painted with tags by invisible spray paint artists

only to those who hip hop habitate

only to the sermons of the Baptist reverends, who whoop inside

swaying churches

only to the young folk who "get live" on the neighborhood sidewalks

their limbs, swaying against the tide

What's on Cece's Blackberry Pearl?

16 @ War by Karina

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTjHZueHiMg

Cece's Bookshelf

Celeste the Eclectic!

Buttafly pays homage to those eclectic students who follow their own paths via a workshop we call, The Eclectic Writer's Workshop.

The Eclectic Writer’s Workshop- Get your students ideas on the page! Be it narrative... expository...creative... In this workshop, students will float through various genres, allowing the writing process to set the foundation for their compositions. In the end, they’ll have an established portfolio that they can do with as they please. To schedule or inquire about this workshop please click here.

Cece's Side Hustles

Cece's Blog

http://cecebreezy.blogspot.com/

Cece's Artwork

Title: The View Outside My Window/ Highbridge, Bronx

Medium- Pencil Sketch/Microsoft Drawing Tools

Cece's Photobucket Photogs

Opportunities

Merriam Webster defines opportunity as... a good chance for advancement or progress.

Opportunity is what most folk strive for. At least that 's what I strive for. I strive for the opportunity to dream, give, and live. ...ts

Buttafly's Call For Workshop Proposals Spring/Winter 2009

http://www.buttafly.4t.com/box_widget.html

The Opportunity to Dream

Martin Luther King had a dream, and if I summarize it correctly ...it was for all of us to live together, peacefully.

Buttafly offers a wonderful workshop titled Project Martin,that allows students to create their own discourse about Civil Rights.

Project Martin- (Exhibition Component)-Students will be engaged with a modern day Civil Rights Movement. This project will allow students to develop their own speeches about civil rights utilizing Martin Luther King's policy of non-violence. Students will create a Civil Rights gallery complete with artistic and written works. (This is a good project to do during Black History Month). To inquire about or schedule this workshop click here.

The Dream Curriculum

The D.R.E.A.M. Curriculum is an educational program, that clearly lays out the road map for youth to set their own goals and take action to achieve them. It's easy to follow and easy to remember with its 5 Step/10 Lesson curriculum. D.R.E.A.M. uses a two-pronged approach, having the students set both a Community Dream as well as a Personal Dream, in order to show that the D.R.E.A.M. approach can be applied to any situation... Michael Davis & Fabian Koss Co-Founders, Reach Your Peak (The Dream Curriculum)

Learn more about the Dream Curriculum

The Opportunity To Give

The Nata Village Blog is a wonderful example of how a blog can serve as a catalyst for giving and social change.

Community Educators at work. Educating the residents of Nata Village about the issue of HIV/AIDS.

The Opportunity To Live

The Life Skills Curriculum

"National Urban Technology Center"

In our society, teens routinely witness shootings on the evening news and see their heroes and celebrities, like Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., being gunned down. They often think that violence is the only way that people can handle disputes. This module aims to stem the rising tide of aggression by providing awareness and tools to resolve conflicts non-violently.

Access the "Life Skills Curriculum"

Live Yah Life!!!!

Listen To Rihanna and T.I.'s Live Yah Life

Come check out T.Semakula at the following Open Mic

Sweetwater's Open Mic hosted by Michael Ralph and Dedee
at Sweetwater's Bar & Grill
Sunday Afternoon from 2:30PM-5:00PM 2576 Third Ave (at 139th St), Bronx

November 23

A supportive venue for developing artists of music and the spoken word. Dare to be yourself!
#6 Train to 138th & 3rd Ave
FREE DRINK TO THE FIRST 10 PERFORMERS TO SIGN UP!

Lessons

“There are no mistakes or failures, only lessons.”...Dennis Waitley....American motivational Speaker and Author

Teaching, for me, has been more of a calling, then a vocation. For me, teaching represents ministry-work that deals with the soul and its push/desire for progress. Sure, as an English teacher,I had to deal with the basics like grammar, essay writing, nouns and verbs, and such. However, I started to realize that teaching was the ultimate vocation. You are in charge of others. You are in charge of what they learn, how they learn, and to a certain extent, what they do with what they learn. I could go and on and wax poetic about what makes a good teacher, however I believe that poem could never be written, as new ways of learning and being are being sought and discovered, every second. I will say this, for me, the best teachers have been those who have been able to give the best of themselves. The best of who they are and what they represent.... melds into their creative curriculum. Peace. T. Semakula

Lessons about FREEDOM

Popular "Misogyny" classroom scene in the movie Freedom Writers

Hands down, Buttafly picks the movie, Freedom Writers as on of the best movies about teaching and learning. This teacher was so brilliant. She was able to tap into her student's own personal experiences and she utilized it to catapult their potential. She allowed the curriculum to be developed via their personal struggles and triumphs. Their lives created beauty for ashes.

The book, The Freedom Writers Diary, inspired the movie. Erin Gruwell, the teacher who developed Freedom Writers has created a whole curriculum that revolves around the theme of Freedom. She has a foundation called The Freedom Writers Foundation. Check out the Freedom Writers website.

Lessons about TOLERANCE

Teaching Tolerance is a wonderful organization based in Milwaukee that is determined to influence the lives of today's youth. They have a wonderful initiative called Mix It Up that encourages youth to mingle with someone of another race, culture, etc, during their lunch hour. It's an amazing initiative that many schools are starting to become a part of. This is what Martin Luther King and others who fought for Civil Rights were trying to address. Let's come together folks.

Mix It Up!

Lessons about CHANGE

Buttafly teaches a wonderful workshop ABOUT CHANGE called Project SOS (Save Our School).

Project SOS (Save our School) - is your school challenged by gang crime, low achievement, or an environment not conducive to learning? This radical project involves the student body, school officials, and the surrounding community. Students will be engaged in utilizing their social capital to promote change within their schools. This project involves community organizing via proposals, letters to city government, and the creation of an SOS action plan. To schedule or inquire about this workshop, click here.

Buttafly's Call For Workshop Proposals Winter/Spring 2009
http://www.buttafly.4t.com/box_widget.html

Buttafly's Out and About

Come check out T. SEMAKULA at Sam's Soul Food on

November 23, 2008

HEY EVERYONE JUST A REMINDER TO COME ON DOWN TO SAM'S SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT & BAR - LOCATED ON
150/151 GRAND CONCOURSE IN THE BOOGIE DOWN BRONX FOR OPEN MIC FOR ALL POETS, SINGERS, DANCERS,
MUSICIANS WHO NEED A PLACE TO DO THEIR THING.

HOSTED BY APRIL M. JONES & MARILYN THOMAS-KING
FEATURE: THE DYNAMIC DUO HOBO BOB & OBISIDAN
FROM: 5 - 8pm

COME HOLLER @ US AND ENJOY!

SEE U THERE... MTK

Word!!

Buttafly prides itself in creating a climate of power via the avenue of words, lessons, and opportunities. This post has an emphasis on words. From the hollers of the spoken word artists to the manuscript of a first grader, words have always symbolized the way in which we communicate. The better we are at words, per se, the better we are at reaching the masses, finding our way, and obtaining influence and power.

For those of you in love with word collages, there is a wonderful website called Wordle that allows you to make wonderful word collages to post to your blogs, websites, etc.

This is a wonderful curriculum for teachers who would like to teach on the power of words. As we all know, words can cut like a knife or they can soothe like a soft pillow and a warm blanket. This is a wonderful curriculum. To access it click here.

Buttafly teaches a wonderful workshop that involves text journals based on the topic of words.

*The Color Of My Words

(Lower/Middle Grades) This is a wonderful class text (fiction) that focuses on the importance of communication. Students will create text journals in response to the book that will contain info about the author, the setting, the text’s vocabulary, comprehensive activities that get at the book’s main idea, and the reader’s book review. * The classroom teacher can select an alternative text, however the text has to be purchased by the school. For more info about this workshop click here

For a review of this wonderful book by Lynn Joseph, click here

Buttafly's Call For Workshop Proposals Winter/Spring 2009

http://www.buttafly.4t.com/box_widget.html

Of course, we have to pay homage to our spoken word artists. The is a group of tireless cafe warriors, who pound the pavement , conquering open mics with their provocative use of language, lyrical machismo, and the unrelenting quality of speaking truth to power.

Wikipedia defines spoken word as... a form of literary art or artistic performance in which lyrics, poetry, or stories are spoken rather than sung. Spoken-word is often done with a musical background, but emphasis is kept on the speaker.

NOVEMBER 19th
STARK!! OPEN MIKE for Poets/Musicians/Spoken Word/Wild Comics/Performance Arts/Actors
6:30 pm SIGN UP!!! PLEASE BE ON TIME!!
Located: WHERE EAGLES DARE 347 W. 36th St. - 13th Floor (between 8th & 9th Ave.)
New York City
Info: (917) 292- 2683
Featuring!!
APRIL JONES, Poet and Spoken Word Artist
DEMETRIUS DANIEL, Poet/Musician/Teacher
TARSHA SEMAKULA Poet/Singer/Writer
LYRIC, Poet and singer
RAFAEL PEREZ, Poet/Singer/Musician
JOEY SLADE, Comic/Singer
GORDON GILBERT, JR. The Romance Poet of STARK!!!
MICHAEL RALPH, Musical Director
Hosted by Viviana
Poets/Musicians/Actors Performance Artists/Comics An Open Mike for the Wild Mind!!
"If you're not close to the edge, you're taking up too much space!!
PLUS THE ZOO!! OPEN MIKE CHAOS ARE US!!!
PLUS DANCE!! to DJ VIV'S ROCK/SOUL/MOTOWN/DISCO& TECHNO/HIP HOP

Faith, Hope, and Charity

Faith

The center

We revolve around

If we...believe

Hope

That ridiculous

Notion

That it...might happen

Charity

What we

Give to others

When we...are empty

by T. Semakula

One of Buttafly's Favorite Poets/Jessica Care Moore

Read Her Bio as well as a pretty damn good poem by her

http://aalbc.com/authors/jessica.htm

The Alphabet Versus The Ghetto by Jessica Care Moore/ A good book for anyone interested in arts/hip hop education..a must read

Listen to Jessica spit some real poetry on her myspace!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=313278101

Buttafly Communications and MTK Entertainment

presents

Sister of Da Soul Open Mic Series

September 30, 2009

7:30-10:00 p.m.

Featured Poet and Activist- Steve Bloom

@ La Pregunta Arts Cafe

1528 Amsterdam Ave (135th St.)

New York, NY

(sign-up at 7:30 sharp for the open mic)

Hosted by Marilyn-Thomas King

Contact Info/347-431-7616/502-526578-

By Any Means Neccessary!

Whatever it takes. As long as it gets done. I see that this blog is leaning more toward the inspirational side of things. Here is a wonderful link to an article about embracing success and how, utlimately, failure is the number one key to success. Peace and God Bless ...t.s.

http://www.odemagazine.com/doc/57/in-praise-of-failure/

New!!!! Outside/ Studio Workshops

Me Mask Essays- This is a wonderful workshop that will allow students to compose essays in response to their personal artwork. In addition, it's an opportunity for students to dabble in the arena of personal narrative via the process of art making. The masks will pose as a visual representation of each individual student's personality, beliefs, values, experiences, and culture. Ages 7 and up-Homeschooled Students

Location- Times Square Arts Center, 300 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036Rm- 401B, 5th floor

Date/Time- November 19, 2008- December 17, 2008- 2-4 p.m./ Meets every Wednesday, except November 26th.

Total Workshop Cost- 160.00 USDTrains: B, D, N, W, A to 42nd Street

Driving Directions http://www.mapquest.com/

Registration

To register for an outside/studio workshop/class- email us at buttafly100@yahoo.com and provide the following information: Full name, email address, name/date of workshop. Or you can fax the registration info to 1-866-713-1173 , Attn: Buttafly Communications or you can mail it (well in advance) to: Buttafly Communications 136 West 170th Street, Suite E1 Bronx, NY 10452.

Payment

Once you have sent your registration via email, you will be sent an invoice to your email address via PayPal. Once payment has been received, you will receive a confirmation email/invoice and you will be all set to start! If you choose not to use PayPal you may mail a check or money order to the above business address (well in advance of the workshop date).

Buttafly's call for Spring/Winter Workshop Proposals 2009
www.buttafly.4t.com/box_widget.html

Passione

Passione.

During his first foray into Making The Band, Puff Daddy made a group of hip hop wannabes walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to cop him a piece of cheesecake. I thought to myself, that is stank, and if it was me who had to put my dogs to the pavement for the mogul, I would have quit right there. But years later, as I look back on the moment, I finally get the picture. How far are we willing to go to realize our dreams? After awhile, a dream has to pop into reality or otherwise it just fizzes out into the nothingsphere.

New!!!! Outside/ Studio Workshops

Me Mask Essays- This is a wonderful workshop that will allow students to compose essays in response to their personal artwork. In addition, it's an opportunity for students to dabble in the arena of personal narrative via the process of art making. The masks will pose as a visual representation of each individual student's personality, beliefs, values, experiences, and culture. Ages 7 and up-Homeschooled Students

Location- Times Square Arts Center, 300 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036Rm- 401B, 5th floor

Date/Time- November 19, 2008- December 17, 2008- 2-4 p.m./ Meets every Wednesday, except November 26th.

Total Workshop Cost- 160.00 USDTrains: B, D, N, W, A to 42nd StreetDriving Directions http://www.mapquest.com/

Registration

To register for an outside/studio workshop/class- email us at buttafly100@yahoo.com and provide the following information: Full name, email address, name/date of workshop. Or you can fax the registration info to 1-866-713-1173, Attn: Buttafly Communications or you can mail it (well in advance) to: Buttafly Communications 136 West 170th Street, Suite E1 Bronx, NY 10452.

Payment

Once you have sent your registration via email, you will be sent an invoice to your email address via PayPal. Once payment has been received, you will receive a confirmation email/invoice and you will be all set to start! If you choose not to use PayPal you may mail a check or money order to the above business address (well in advance of the workshop date).

T. Semakula featured poet and writer at Where Eagles Dare on November the 26th

Location: WHERE EAGLES DARE, 347 W. 36th St. - 13th Floor (between 8th & 9th Ave.)

New York City

Info: (917) 292- 2683

6-8 p.m.

Buttafly's call for Spring/Winter Workshop Proposals 2009

www.buttafly.4t.com/box_widget.html