Heads Up : Lancaster

Celebrate Lancaster! 2009

2010-07-02T07:42:00.000-04:00

Best Buy 2nd Saturdays!

2010-04-19T20:46:00.001-04:00

So - we had our first Best Buy Second Saturday Urban Arts day! Junkyard Drumming was a huge success... we will post a video soon. It was awesome! Thanks to all who came out...and thanks for keeping the beat on the buckets Tim Riggs. See you 2nd Saturday in May for Urban Photography!

35 Seconds

2010-04-19T20:45:00.001-04:00

Come here! I heard him say, while I visited the carribean nation
I was captivated. I sat. I listened through tears to the young Haitian.
“Tell her,” he says, with conviction and without reservation.
“Tell her that her 35 seconds that shook us planted seeds for a new creation!”

(and he gave me this…)

Dear 35 seconds, I wanted to write, you came on my birthday
Since January 12, I’ve been thinking about what I’d say
It’s true you ravished Haiti and the world felt your vibrations
Some watched you, but I felt you as you violated our nation.

Some people, like Evan Muncie, survived 27 days in the rubble.
Found thanks to those armed with faith and a shovel.
Many people responded to your moment of terror:
Sweat. Tears. Money. Solemn moments of prayer

Some people were left without father or mother,
Me? Personally, I lost both sister and brother.
Brothers. Sisters. Fathers. Mothers.
The world saw devastation, not races or colors.

You thought you destroyed my family, but I just redefined the word:
Family isn’t a noun, in my dictionary it’s a verb.
Defined as action, to instill hope, in spirit or deed
See, you opened the earth and we chose to plant a new seed.

You thought you destroyed hope, but look around, it’s still here!
Young faces, old faces… sure, there’s still some worry and fear.
With faith being the substance of what we hope for and more -
Like beds, water, medicine. These are things i pray for.

You thought you swallowed peace, but mine is still holding strong
You thought you shattered joy, but I still have a song.
So, 35 seconds, you had your moment and you took.
But before you claim victory, please take another look.

You tried to steal happy, you tried to put laughter away!
You tried unsuccessfully, new hope rises with each day!
See the world, with her hands open, putting history aside.
See the love that pours out as fellow man swallows pride.

See me, less two siblings, like the sun sure to rise.
Saying “Yes, 35 seconds, you may have claimed lives…
But eternity will testify that hope never dies!”

Thanks to generous businesses

2010-02-17T08:55:00.007-05:00

Wow... in just a few short weeks, we have had great conversations with FIG Lancaster, Barnstormers and Best Buy about what our partnerships could yield for our community. Check out our latest video about our in-school programs... what a cool partnership to offer urban arts programs in schools!

If you'd like to be contacted about upcoming Heads Up events, workshops and classes, let us know via email at justin@headsuplancaster.org

CONGRATS JIM SPONAUGLE! Thanks BEST BUY!

2010-01-16T21:13:00.004-05:00

Jim Sponaugle - whose named I butchered on New Years Eve in front of a few thousand people - won the $10,000 PRS Electric Guitar. Ticket number #0209! congrats Jim!

All other prizes have been allocated and winners notified... what a great joy to notify people of their prizes!

ALSO - without spoiling the whole surprise... Best Buy has officially partnered with Heads Up this year and let's just say that your shopping experience will soon never be the same! We are completely humbled and thankful for the hearts behind Best Buy Lancaster. Manager Steve and the crew there are awesome people who are going to knock your socks off with what's coming from our partnership.... more news coming soon!

New Years Countdown!

2009-12-27T22:00:00.002-05:00

So - the numerous businesses that have so generously donated their services are about to be a huge blessing to Heads Up.

New Years Eve is the big drawing for prizes www.HeadsUpLancaster.org/win.html

It is only $10 for a ticket and you can win $10,000 Custom 22 Electric Guitar autographed by Paul Reed Smith!

See you Jan. 1 and what an exciting year we have ahead! Programs are in full swing and our wings are spreading.

December 1, here we come!

2009-11-07T15:29:00.002-05:00

Wahoo! LIFE programs start December 1 so we are ramping up to go! Raffle tickets are on sale online... the discounts and perks and prizes are amazing!

Heidi has a new website www.maeworld.org which is awesome.

Let's keep a good thing rollin!

Raffle Tickets are now available ONLINE!

2009-10-31T15:47:00.002-04:00

Hey urban arts family and friends. Our raffle has officially begun!!! Besides winning amazing prizes www.headsuplancaster.org/win.html you can now use your ticket for AMAZING DISCOUNTS!

5% off local coffee shops EVERY TIME you show your stub till new years.
buy 1, get 1 free at the New Holland Ave dominos... yep... every time!
plus lots more...

It's only $10 for a ticket for your support to heads up and a chance to win great prizes!

Visit our site, fan us on facebook and support heads up's efforts to release vision among our youth!

Heidi also has a sweet webpage too so you can keep up with Kids Capoeira.

Raffle to begin! Prizes rolling in!

2009-09-19T20:19:00.004-04:00

So - our raffle tickets will be here next week! Wow - we have a $10,000 guitar to give away... plus photography sessions, dance lessons, artwork, photographs, entertainment services, wild reptile stuffed prizes, restaurant coupons for free meals and more!

All for only $10/ ticket! It will be an amazing time sharing this fun fundraising opp with people...
Send them to www.HeadsUpLancaster.org/win.html

The final drawing will be NEW YEARS EVE in Downtown Lancaster at the official "Countdown Lancaster" event! If you can get co-workers to team up with us - or if you have something to donate for us to give away, give us a call!

Let the games begin!

Heads Up's First All - Staff Meeting

2009-08-30T12:48:00.002-04:00

Tonight we'll collect nearly twenty of our artist mentors in one room! We are about to kick off our new year of programs and we are very excited to get everyone on the same page. We are blessed with some new Artist Mentors joining us from out of town and many coming with a wealth of prior experience working with youth, running their own organizations and successful businesses.

It is sure to be a great 2009-2010!

PRS Electric Guitar Giveaway!

2009-07-24T20:09:00.002-04:00

So, we were given a PRS (Paul Reed Smith) Custom Autographed Electric Guitar - valued over $8000! - to give away!

That means that you could win it!

Everyone who attended our Urban Arts Festival received a free ticket... we are only selling 1,000 tickets and then drawing one lucky winner! Proceeds to will towards expanding Heads Up programs into neighboring communities!

Tickets are $10 each. Businesses are welcome to purchase as many as they'd like... there is no limit per individual or business.

Soon you'll be able to purchase online - let us know how many you want ahead of time and we will reserve them!

Urban Marketplace - Speechless & Amazing

2009-07-16T22:35:00.002-04:00

We just wrapped up Urban Marketplace 2009 in partnership with First Presbyterian Church on Orange Street. I am not sure if there was a single ingredient that made it amazing and left us all speechless with gratitude.

Maybe it was the kids enthusiasm and creativity in the workshops - break dance, junkyard drumming, capoeira, t-shirt printing, rhythm stix, recycled fashion, sacred dance and caricatures...

Maybe it was the cardboard city-scape of downtown lancaster.

Maybe it was the original drama about the lives of a cafe owner, a gallery owner and a grocier in downtown lancaster as the week unfolded - causing genuine tears of emotion and joy.

Maybe it was the collaboration between a long standing church and a birthing arts organization.

Maybe it was the overwhelming reality of the love of the community, parents, families and behind the scenes volunteers that made it all happen.

Maybe it was encountering Jesus on the streets of Lancaster in 2009.

Whatever it was, it was impossible to describe with words and left us speechless with gratitude.

"Our City" - by Justin Rule

2009-06-28T21:10:00.000-04:00

My city has a pulse.

It lives and thrives on passion

Expressed through perspectives of people

Whose pride resides in the creativity

That permeates the previously parched pavement of potential.

My city has a soul.

It captivates the curious

On the corners where the coffeeshops

And cobblestone streets meet

The audible imprints of independents

Sewing musical flavors into the atmosphere

Saturating the canvas of human experience

With the colors of the Creator.

My city lives.

It inhales the spirit of things spoken to be

And exhales the fruition of the visions we see.

This is not my city.

This is our city.

Celebrate Lancaster! 2009

2009-06-26T23:11:00.004-04:00

The first city-wide exposure to Heads Up was an amazing success. Youth break dancers, hip hop dancers, rappers, mural artists and Capoeira afro-Brazillian martial artists brought smiles and cheers from a packed Binns Park.

Heads Up's Artist Mentor Eli Weaver, who was hit by a car earlier in the day and in the ER, even made it down to honor her students who made a huge 10x12 foot mural entitled "Hope" that served as a backdrop throughout the evenings entertainment!

Over 50 of the city's youth showcased their talents and passions alongside local urban art professionals. Heads Up featured numerous of its artists such as co-founders Chris Torchia, Shannon Reed and Heidi Wert and their students who brought the crowd to their feet with break dance moves, lyrical and hip hop dance steps and Capoeira twists and turns respectively. Thanks to partnerships with the Boys and Girls Clubs and MOOSE, students were able to train through the early summer months to prepare for the event.

The Mayor said he was very impressed and thought it was a great hit. Heads Up is hosting a free Urban Arts Festival downtown July 6-9 and is also partnering with First Pres. Church July 12-17 to hold workshops at their Urban Marketplace Bible School.

Although the past two days were filled with amazing opportunities for us... it is just the beginning of a great summer! We are so grateful for the doors of opportunity.

PLCM Event at Convention Center

2009-06-25T19:48:00.002-04:00

Bottom Line...amazing.

20 youth and professional break dancers just stole the show ... the first entertainment show featured Heads Up youth who had worked with the Boys and Girls Clubs support to prepare for the 45 min showcase! There were many others who supported us to make it possible - breakers and dancers from the community. Wow. Mayors and judges and others were loving the kids and the showcase.

Ironically, Michael Jackson died tonight and we were dancing to his tunes. Hmm... well, I am very grateful for the city's support and I am very proud of the youth. Now - tomorrow's big Celebrate Lancaster event! Check back soon for videos of the event! Oh yeah - the convention center is pretty sweet too...

Summer is... AMAZING

2009-06-04T23:23:00.002-04:00

So many doors have opened up for us this summer, it's hard to express our gratitude for the opportunities ahead of us.

June 22 - Kids at the French Creek Kids Kamp will get to hang out with H:UP break dance instructor Chris Torchia and learn some new moves.

June 23 - Kids in the Manor Kids Camp will learn break dance and Capoeira thanks to workshops by Heidi Wert and Chris Torchia.

June 25 - H:UP break dancers will perform for the PA Council of City Mayors in the new Convention Center

June 26 - H:UP Urban Arts Showcase will headline the "Celebrate Lancaster" Binns Park July 4th celebration thanks to the Mayor's Office of Special Events. Be one of the 10,000 in attendance! 7:30-8:15pm

July 6-9 - H:UP will host Lancaster's First Urban Arts Festival downtown in the newly renovated Lancaster Square. Each night will feature a different urban arts focus with artists holding workshops every hour between 5-8pm free for the public.

July 12-16 - H:UP artists will facilitate workshops at First Presbyterians "Urban Marketplace" bible school. Pretty innovative and awesome partnership with one of our first supporters.

What's that? You wanted to help us out financially? That is awesome. We are a 501c3 so we welcome your support.

Heads Up : Up Date!

2009-02-27T19:52:00.000-05:00

God has really been blessings the small steps we have been taking over the past year.

We have grown from a few instructors to nearly 20.
We offer twice as many programs as we did a year ago.
We have more than doubled our service hours.
We have connected with more youth than in the previous years.
We have connected with more local artists and businesses thanks to some great press (thanks!).
Our mentoring artists have found Heads Up has been a good "connector" for them to the community.

God has also really been helping us grow internally - developing vision, traveling a sometimes-bumpy road and our childlike qualities are being weeded out and woven into a stronger organization.

This summer we will host our first "day camp" and we are excited for the simple opportunity to walk in obedience to the gifts and callings and "good works that have been prepared in advance for us" by our Creator and Father, Jesus Christ.

What a privilege it is to serve others.