Monthly Archives: March 2014

Rubicon Programs: supporting and strengthening our local communities

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You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.
– Maya Angelou, American poet, memoirist, actress, and American Civil Rights Movement activist

Rubicon's headquarters in Richmond, CA.

Rubicon’s headquarters in Richmond, CA.

My friend Jane Fischberg, whom I’ve known for almost 22 years now, and I were discussing charitable giving over lunch back in January. While I knew Jane has been with Rubicon Programs (510.235.1516, 2500 Bissell, Richmond, CA 94804) for the last 17 years – she is president and executive director of the nonprofit provider of integrated housing, training, employment and mental health services – I didn’t know, but should have known, that raising funds is the “primary purpose,” as well as the most challenging aspect, of her job. Jane invited David and me to attend Rubicon Honors 2014, the nonprofit’s annual gala and fundraising event on April 5th at the Oakland Rotunda, which I accepted. When I brought up doing a profile on Jane and her work at Rubicon, we set aside time in March for me to meet her colleagues at their Richmond office. After being honored to hear their stories, I knew there were in fact three profiles to present – one of Jane (to be posted on April 4th) and two of Rubicon itself and the people who are the face of Rubicon (the second one to be posted April 1st).

More than 40 years of serving the community
Rubicon, founded in 1973 in Richmond, CA, was appropriately named, with its provenance being “a decision from which there is no turning back – the beginning of the journey to change.” The nonprofit’s mission is to “prepare very low-income people to achieve financial dependence and to partner with people with mental illness on their journey of recovery.” By offering a comprehensive set of services, which includes job placement, housing, legal services, and financial literacy, and offices in Antioch, Berkeley, Concord, Hayward, and Richmond, Rubicon is able to serve a significant number of people in the hardest-hit communities in the East Bay.

Rubicon was able to help many community members, including this client.

Rubicon was able to help many community members, including this client (photo credit: Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover).

Indeed, from the 2013 Annual Report, Rubicon served 3,400 people last year. After receiving help with interview preparation, resume building, and local employer connections, 657 people – out of 883 people seeking employment – were placed in jobs, earning a collective $17 million. What is even more impressive is that more than a third had been incarcerated at some point in their lives. Nationally recognized, Rubicon is one of only five organizations in the country awarded a special federal grant to help ensure that parents coming out of the criminal justice system can provide financial and emotional support for their children, while staying free of the criminal justice system.

More than 300 families were placed in housing in 2013, receiving help with budget planning, affordable housing connections, and rental application. Eight hundred low-income East Bay residents accessed legal services in the areas of eviction prevention, disability rights, education, and advocacy. Substance abuse recovery, counseling, and medication management services resulted in a decrease of nearly 70 percent of psychiatric crisis visits by Rubicon clients burdened with serious mental illness.

A Rubicon Programs client works with a staff member (photo credit: Pat Garvey).

A Rubicon Programs client works with a staff member (photo credit: Pat Garvey).

Rubicon’s success is due in part to its integrated services delivery model (the other major factor is the staff, but more on that later). People who come to Rubicon – and indeed many of the residents in disadvantaged communities – don’t need just one social service but oftentimes several services across the spectrum. Clients typically fall through the cracks when they’re being referred from one agency offering a single service such as legal services to another organization that only deals with housing, which creates a siloed and alienating experience. The various divisions within Rubicon – Economic Empowerment, Mental Health and Wellness, and Legal Services – work collaboratively, which enables them to work with their clients holistically through one entity and to develop personalized programs for the greatest success and sustainability.

Rickie, "living and loving life clean," at two years of being clean.

Rickie, “living and loving life clean,” at two years of being clean.

Rickie Harris: ‘Begin the journey to change’
Rubicon’s tagline, “Begin the journey to change,” could not be more appropriate for a woman I met who took up Jane’s offer to a conference room full of people at the end of a meeting to talk to me about their Rubicon experience. Rickie Harris, who serves as a substance abuse intern at Rubicon, stepped right up. Rickie had battled drugs and alcohol abuse for 23 years, going in and out of substance abuse treatment programs for two decades. She would stay clean for three years but then go back out, while her mother – whom she gives credit for supporting her though the years – took care of her six children, three boys and three girls, now ages 19 to 28. Rickie kept coming back because her children “were worth it,” but the addiction was overpowering. It wasn’t until she reached a point where she was suffering from the “mental part of the disease” – losing her mind and talking to inanimate objects – that she realized she had to finally get clean and stay clean. But she also realized that while her mother and her children wanted her to stay sober, she had to do it for herself. She was ready to “make the changes and achieve the good” that she saw for herself.

Rickie at 5 years of being clean.

Rickie at 5 years of being clean.

Rickie is painfully aware of the “awful” state of her community, but it also is the source of her determination. “I used to be a problem in the community, but now I’m working diligently to become a solution,” she explained. Sober for more than five and a half years, Rickie completed four of the required certificates for substance abuse case management and dual diagnosis screening from Contra Costa College, with two semesters to go before graduation. She has worked hard, and earning straight A’s and making the Dean’s List without fail since 2010 has kept her motivated. “My mind is still intact,” she said, with pride. “I want more and more.” She will attend the University of California at Berkeley in the fall of 2015 to earn her BA in social work, with bigger sights set on earning her masters and PhD degrees. Rickie vows that she will return to the city where she was born and raised, and make a “powerful impact” for her fellow women and her community.

Editor’s notes: Rubicon Programs Part II will be posted Tuesday, April 1.

If you would like to make a donation to Rubicon Programs, click here.

Rubicon Honors 2014, Rubicon Programs’ annual gala, is set for next Saturday, April 5th, 6pm to 10pm at the Oakland Rotunda, 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland. Last year, more than 2,000 children in the East Bay were positively impacted by the work Rubicon Programs did with their moms and dads. This year, Rubicon Programs has set a goal of raising $200,000 to change the lives of 2,100 children who are most in need in our shared community. At the gala, come enjoy live music, wine reception, butlered seasonal hors d’oeuvres, sit-down gourmet dinner and dessert, and the live and silent auction. Individual tickets are $225 and a table of 10 is $2,000. You can purchase your tickets here.

Celebrate: a pictorial of joy

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To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.
– Mark Twain, pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, American author and humorist

It’s spring. It’s the start of baseball season – MLB and my son’s travel ball team. The watsonias, calla lilies, and tulips are blooming. The dahlias are sprouting. The pink blossoms of the twin magnolia trees in our backyard have all dropped, replaced by shiny leaves slowly unfurling. Isabella has already had two flamenco performances in the past two months. It’s time to celebrate – with a pictorial of joy:

In their only win over the weekend in Fremont, CA, out of four games, the Hornets get shutout pitching the last two innings and in the bottom of their last inning, they score six runs to come from behind, 8-7. The joy, in an otherwise lackluster weekend, is palpable.

In their only win over the weekend in Fremont, CA, out of four games, the Hornets get shutout pitching the last two innings and in the bottom of their last inning, they score six runs to come from behind, 8-7. The joy, in an otherwise lackluster weekend, is palpable (photo credit: Robert Milton).

Spring colors of pink and green in our garden of tulips.

Harmonious spring colors of pink and green in our garden of tulips. Duplicate Nature with these colors in your outfits.

Isabella, aka Mini Me to flamenco mentor Tana Hakanson, at their March performance at the YWCA in Berkeley, CA.

Isabella, aka Mini Me to flamenco mentor and friend Tana Hakanson, at their March performance at the YWCA in Berkeley, CA.

Creamy tulip in a bed of green.

Creamy tulip in a bed of green.

Joy is a comfortable spring uniform: blazer abloom with flowers, jeans, and kitten-heel pointy pumps.

Joy is a comfortable spring uniform: blazer abloom with flowers, jeans, and kitten-heel pointy pumps.

Perfect J. Crew Art Deco-style necklace for this floral jacket, accompanied by Carmela Rose drop earrings (Jenny K, El Cerrito, CA), Kate Peterson Design stack of rings (El Cerrito), and Sundance cuff.

Perfect J. Crew Art Deco-style necklace for this floral jacket, accompanied by Carmela Rose drop earrings (Jenny K, El Cerrito, CA), Kate Peterson Design stack of rings (El Cerrito), and Sundance cuff.

Ensemble: Shiny nude patent pumps, dark-rinse jeans, floral jacket, and light lilac camisole.

Ensemble: Shiny nude patent pumps, dark-rinse jeans, floral jacket, and light lilac camisole.

Spring: appreciating the essence of ‘tulipness’

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Always it’s Spring)and everyone’s in love and flowers pick themselves.
– e.e. cummings, American poet, painter, essayist and playwright

The side yard abounds with tulips.

The side yard abounds with tulips.

It seemed like a few weeks ago that we were celebrating the New Year, and now a quarter of 2014 is almost over and spring has arrived. I have noticed over the last decade how the days, weeks, months, and seasons are flying. The best we can do with time like the wind is to enjoy our days, replenish ourselves in moments of peace and clarity, immerse ourselves in moments of surprise and delight, and be open to moments in which reminders of the past bring gratitude to our present.

In my latest spring cleaning mode, I was decluttering our jammed file cabinets and pulled out a fat hanging folder full of cards and letters and mementos I’ve saved through the years. I came across a letter from my former landlord, Mischa Schwartzman, who had since retired from managing apartments and then passed away in 2003, which greatly saddened me. He was a retired teacher when he was my landlord in the Marina district of San Francisco in the early 1990s. His mother had taken him from his homeland of Russia when he was a baby during political upheaval. He had aspirations of being a writer, recording and bringing to life his childhood and his larger-than-life mother, and in his 80s he began to write, which was such inspiration to me.

The inner beauty of a tulip.

The inner beauty of a tulip.

He was the one who insisted I had to fight my fear and get to my writing. He was the one who told me to put a jar on my desk next to my computer. When I sat down to write, I was to open the jar, put my fear in it, close the jar, and then I could write freely. Mischa spoke his mind and lived and loved as large as his heart. His voice was powerful and honest. He was a loving father and a loyal friend. He was vibrant and youthful and wise – what I hope to be when I am an octogenarian. He took up photography after I moved out and he moved to Corte Madera, north of San Francisco, and he won numerous awards at shows for his stunning color photography. (My photos are mere shadows of his photographs.)

Luminous lilac-colored tulips.

Luminous lilac-colored tulips.

We remained close as I moved again, on from my life in San Francisco and settled in the East Bay with David. Mischa came to our wedding in Napa. We visited one another when we could. One spring, he came to our home for brunch and took photographs of our tulips. His letter of June 10th, 1999, was a gift then, and a gift reopened and savored again last night:

Behold the tulip!

Behold the tulip!

Dear Patty and David,
At long last. Sorry it took so long. Interruptions and distractions galore. But I persevered, and here is my favorite of all the images I made in your backyard.

Capturing the 'essence of tulipness' in black and white, Mischa's print hangs in our kitchen today.

Capturing the ‘essence of tulipness’ in black and white, Mischa’s print hangs in our kitchen today.

I am again reminded, and am astonished at the impact black-and-white photography expresses. It’s powerful and dramatic. For years, I was enamored with color – gee. But your tulips, gorgeous as they are in their own colors, make a statement even more powerful in black and white. I realize that now I am looking at the essence of tulipness without the distraction of color: this is what a tulip is. No wonder it’s such a favorite worldwide.

Anyway, dear hearts, I had a most satisfying morning, breaking bread with you, and wandering the corners of your backyard and firing away. Thanks for the so many kindnesses you have shown me and accepting me as a friend. Consider both of you hugged and then, hugged again. Enjoy the enclosed print.

With love and affection,
Mischa

(P.S. from me to Mischa: We miss you a bunch.)

Burgundy polka dots, black and cream plaid, and Swiss dot black stockings.

Fit for a garden bursting with color: Burgundy polka dots, black and cream plaid, Swiss dot black stockings, and shiny black leather ruffled booties and handbag.

Featuring earrings and double-strand bracelet by Anja Hakoshima (El Cerrito, CA), architecturally inspired necklace (Wyler's, Portland, ME), fan ring (Eskell, Chicago), and Sundance stack of rings.

Featuring beautiful earrings and double-strand bracelet of smoky quartz and African beads by Anja Hakoshima (El Cerrito, CA), my Lunafest co-committee member, architecturally inspired necklace (Wyler’s, Portland, ME), fan ring (Eskell, Chicago), and Sundance stack of rings.

Close-up of ensemble mixing shapes in a playful way.

Close-up of ensemble mixing shapes in a playful way.

Close-up of silver accessories against dots and plaids.

Close-up of silver accessories against dots and plaids.

March is Women’s History Month

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Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.
– Maya Angelou, American poet, memoirist, actress, and American Civil Rights Movement activist

Worn-out leather and jeans who well with vegan cut-out blouse.

Worn-out leather and jeans mix well with vegan cut-out blouse.

The National Women’s History Project‘s theme this year for Women’s History Month is Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment. The Project honors 12 women whose lives and work serve as a source of inspiration for both girls and boys and women and men to make our world a more compassionate and more equitable place for everyone. In honoring these women and bringing their accomplishments to the forefront, the Project is making good on its goal of “writing women back into history.”

With that in mind, I thought a worthy exercise in honor of Women’s History Month would be to write a short essay on a woman in your life who exhibited character, courage, and commitment, and inspired you to do the same. For me, that’s easy – it would be my mother. Born in 1926 in the Philippines, she endured the occupation of her homeland by the Japanese in World War II, forced to witness such atrocities as the bayoneting of babies thrown into the air in the town square. “We looked away,” my mother had murmured when I asked her if the story my sister had told me was true. She worked to help put her brothers and sisters through school. She forsake true love and ended up marrying my father and coming to the States after the war. Instead of working to get her teaching credential here – she was a school teacher back home – she picked grapes in the summertime and packed oranges in the wintertime for decades, until she retired. She saved money like crazy, though she and my father didn’t make very much money, and we grew up never feeling poor, though we lived in a rural farming community. My mother instilled in my two sisters and me the importance of education, especially higher education, and being a good citizen. Those were the facts of her life, but there is so much more.

Boxy blouse, jeans, kitten-heel pumps, and clutch are an easy uniform to throw on.

Boxy blouse, jeans, kitten-heel pumps, and clutch are an easy uniform to throw on when mornings are hectic.

The day after my mother passed away on January 3, 2012, my old high school friend, Kimi, wrote about my mother in an e-mail to me in the early hours of the morning: “She was steel. Thin, lithe, wiry, graceful, resilient, unbreakable; tempered. She was beautiful, proud, determined, resolved, smart. If she had lived in a different time or place, if she’d had our opportunities, we can only imagine what she would have accomplished. But, she took the yoke and humble, coarse work that was available – and she lived her dreams through you. As an observer, and not the one grinding away to meet your mom’s expectations, it was always clear to me that she was very, very proud of you, Joyce and Heidi. She built the runway, you flew. She was happy. She felt accomplished. In the end, she achieved her dreams and she had a good life.”

I wrote Kimi back, accusing her of making me cry. What haunted me, what moved me the most of her words – If she had lived in a different time or place, if she’d had our opportunities, we can only imagine what she would have accomplished – still resonates with me as I think about Women’s History Month. My mother was at once meek and determined, dutiful and unrelenting, bearing burdens and yet strategizing for a better life for her family. Had she lived in a different time or place, had she been led to more windows and doors, she would have opened them and gone through. She would have built the runway and taken off herself.

Against a creamy cut-out blouse: Anthropologie statement earrings, stack of rings by Kate Peterson Designs (El Cerrito, CA), Alkemie scarab cuff made of recycled metal, and Laura Lombardi necklace (Eskell, Chicago).

Against a creamy cut-out blouse: Anthropologie statement earrings, stack of rings by Kate Peterson Designs (El Cerrito, CA), Alkemie scarab cuff made of recycled metal, and industrial Laura Lombardi necklace (Eskell, Chicago).

How many girls and women in the world today don’t even know that windows and doors exist? How many never realize they could entertain the crazy notion that they can build their own runway and take off or actually have a voice and the audacity to dream big and make good on them – as a result of the tyranny of governments and politics, religion, misogyny, and on and on? How do we as women, who are privileged and who have had our basic needs and more met, reach them?

When I think of all those questions and wonder where in those pockets and dark corners of the world those girls and women may be, I understand the desire to write women back into history, to use our voices, and shine the light on women’s accomplishments. These subversive acts  – which one day won’t be subversive, though we must always strive to be subversive when it comes to advancing girls and women – plant the seeds. And when we scatter them all around us, beautiful things will grow.

So what can we as individuals do? Nora Ephron entreats us to be the heroine of our lives. Do the small things in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our communities. Nurture and use your gifts for good deeds. Create windows and doors. Go through them, but make sure someone is behind you doing the same. Be compassionate. Be courageous. Be present. Be.

Mixing textures: weathered chambray, metal, nude patent, vegan cut-out, and faux snakeskin.

Mixing textures: weathered chambray, reclaimed metal, nude patent leather, vegan cut-out, and faux snake skin.

A Rainy March Sunday at the Alameda flea market

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I love going to flea markets, especially when I’m traveling, because I love seeing the stuff of other cultures, handicrafts and things with historical content.
– Anna Sui, American fashion designer

I had heard of the Alameda flea market for quite a while, but I had never been. My friend, Raissa, who has gone a number of times, and I made plans for the first Sunday in February. But after a glorious January with temps in the 70s, the rains came and we had to wait until the first Sunday in March. Well, it was misty on that day and then it started drizzling, with a chill rolling in like fog. We were chased out after only a couple of hours of methodically making our way to the entrance from the back. We obviously didn’t hit everything or have the opportunity to walk leisurely around. But it only means that we will be back when the sun is shining – perhaps with a flatbed in tow!

Beautiful antique ceiling tins and mirrors. Oh, to have a big old empty house to fill with antiques and vintage wares and furniture.

Beautiful antique ceiling tins and mirrors. Oh, to have a big old empty house to fill with antiques and vintage wares and furniture!

Despite the weather, while there weren’t as many vendors as there would have been in good weather, there were plenty of interesting wares to admire, even if we did zoom by as the mist turned heavy and into rain. We took business cards, made a note of where the vendors were on the grid, and committed to memory what particular things they handcrafted or were selling that we appreciated.

Lely Howard, "builders of repurposed reclaimed custom furniture," reminds me of Good Goods. You can reach him at 707.321.7005, sales@lelyhoward.com.

The work of Lely Howard, “builders of repurposed reclaimed custom furniture,” reminds me of Good Goods – industrial mixed with rustic. You can reach him at 707.321.7005, sales@lelyhoward.com.

Here are some of the moments I captured on my maiden voyage:

Wine country aesthetic of Lely Howard's goods.

Wine country aesthetic of Lely Howard’s goods.

More beautiful displays by Lely Howard.

A close-up of a beautiful display by Lely Howard.

Elsie Green (2954 Treat Blvd., Suite C-D, Concord, 866.575.4437, www.elsiegreen.com) had the most amazing displays! I got a lot of decorating tips from this green shop.

Elsie Green (2954 Treat Blvd., Suite C-D, Concord, 866.575.4437, www.elsiegreen.com) had the most amazing tabletop displays! I got a lot of decorating tips from this green shop.

Another amazing dining arrangement from Elsie Green.

Another beautiful dining arrangement from Elsie Green.

We had a great time trying on vintage and antique jewelry from "treasure hunter and stylist" Heather Tenaya, who travels the world in search of beautiful jewelry. You can see her goods at Vin.Jewels.com, GypsyRoadStudio.Etsy.com.

We had a great time trying on vintage and antique jewelry at the booth of “treasure hunter and stylist” Heather Tenaya, who travels the world over in search of beautiful jewelry. You can see her goods at Vin.Jewels.com and GypsyRoadStudio.Etsy.com.

Dramatic and stunning 1920s Czech glass drop earrings!

Dramatic and stunning 1920s Czech glass drop earrings!

1920s French onyx and sterling silver necklace.

1920s French marcasite, onyx, and sterling silver necklace, a la Great Gatsby.

 

Lunafest 2014 – at last

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Above all, be the heroine of your life. – Nora Ephron, American film director, producer, screenwriter, and novelist

Ready for the VIP reception before the screening.

Ready for the VIP reception before the screening!

Lunafest, presented by the East Bay Lunafest Committee this past Saturday, was a rousing success. The traveling film festival is now shown in approximately 150 cities across the U.S. and Canada, up from 125 cities last year. Here’s what makes this particular fundraiser for breast cancer awareness and prevention dear to my heart, given that there are many honorable organizations and events supporting breast cancer education, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, and/or research. Established in 2000 By LUNA, makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, Lunafest simultaneously promotes women filmmakers, raises awareness for women’s issues, supports local nonprofit organizations, brings communities together, and celebrates women’s creative spirits. Not to mention getting to know and working with the wonderful group of women, with diverse experiences and talents, who make up the committee.

VIP guests were entertained with jazz selections from this talented duo.

VIP guests were entertained with jazz selections from this talented duo.

Our VIP reception, which was held before the screening, featured a pianist and bassist duo, wonderful catered food and wine, and a cadre of eager and polite students from the IT Academy at El Cerrito High School (ECHS) who checked guests in, served food with a smile, and lit the way from the home of our committee chair where the VIP reception was held to the ECHS Performing Arts Center the next block over. We raised money through our raffle drawing, which included a GoPro camera, Kindle, Donkey & Goat wine set, Nikon camera, and more. Jeanne Rizzo, RN, president and CEO of the Breast Cancer Fund, couldn’t make it to our event, but she sent a heart-felt thank you via a recorded video message before the nine short films began.

Cupcakes and cookies were flying out of the Braxtons' Boxes' table, manned by Pamela Braxton and Zachary, her trusty helper and son.

Cupcakes and cookies were flying out of the Braxtons’ Boxes’ table, hosted by Pamela Braxton and Zachary, her son.

After drawing the winning tickets for the raffle prizes, attendees were treated to complimentary coffee (decaffeinated, of course) courtesy of Well Grounded Tea & Coffee Bar (6925 Stockton Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530, 510. 528.4709) and vegan, gluten-free ice cream sandwiches from Green Girl Bake Shop and cookies and cupcakes from Braxtons’ Boxes (510.708.7089). Two monitors in the lobby featured student films from the IT Academy, as well. It was great to see so many friends and acquaintances from the schools and community, and it was equally thrilling to see so many faces I didn’t know and to see the auditorium fill up. We ended up having nearly 300 people come to Lunafest this year.

Lisa Stoy of Green Girl Bake Shop sold out of her ice cream sandwiches.

Lisa Stoy of Green Girl Bake Shop sold out of her ice cream sandwiches.

And now for the movies: my mini reviews
The nine films chosen ranged from animation to documentary, from serious topics to lighthearted moments, to injecting lighthearted moments into serious subjects, from filmmakers from overseas – Norway, the Netherlands, Greece, and Australia – to the epicenter of filmmaking, New York. They also ranged in length from 21 minutes to under four minutes.

Here’s a brief summary of these award-winning films:
Granny’s Got Game by Angela Alford: “Seven fiercely competitive women in their 70s bond and play winning basketball, proving you are never too old to do what you love.” From the sound of the audience, this was a crowd favorite. How uplifting to cheer on these young-at-heart women who showed us how strong and spunky you can be when you don’t let barriers keep you on the sidelines, literally, and how that will to keep going feeds the fire.

Flying Anne by Catherine van Campen: “A young girl with Tourette’s syndrome takes ‘flight’ to navigate life with her tics.” This was the crowd favorite, according to our survey. I loved how the filmmaker put a face on Tourette’s syndrome. van Campen gave us all sides of Anne, making her multi-dimensional when many might only see the tics borne by this neurological disorder. I also appreciated watching her counselor play act with Anne to show her how to deal with people who don’t know about her condition. This led to her bravely explaining Tourette’s syndrome in an informal discussion with her classmates; she asked them to put their hands on their desks for several minutes and control their impulse to, for example, scratch their itchy heads. Hard, isn’t it, she asked them. I found two other scenes with her good friend Delano, who wanted to protect her and revealed soon afterward that he wanted to marry her, lovely and poignant – going in and out of industrial dumpsters in a field and holding one another as they went down a water slide in slow motion.

Sidewalk by Celia Bullwinkel: “A woman walks through life, confronts her changing body, and learns to love herself.” This fun animated short had many of my friends telling me after the screening that they were pegging where they were in their own lives in the depiction of a woman’s many stages of life as she walked down the sidewalk.

First Match by Olivia Newman: “A determined female wrestler prepares for her first coed high school match.” We got the chance to meet the young female wrestler, who now wrestles as a college student against young men, at the San Francisco premiere. She was impressive and her real-life determination was perfectly captured by filmmaker Olivia Newman.

Sound Shadows by Julie Engaas: “Enter a world where sound gives shape to space.” This short film creatively explored what sound looks like with the help of animation for a woman who is blind.

Maria of Many by Alexandra Liveris: “Meet Maria – Mexican immigrant, domestic worker, committed mom, and activist.” Liveris’ skill in this short film lies in being able to give us a glimpse of Maria’s multiple life roles in less than four minutes, but it’s a complete view, highlighted by scenes of her at work, with her two young children, and with the women’s cooperative that helped her to find her voice and courage in her adopted new country.

Running Dry by Dimitra Nikolopoulou: “A woman impacted by economic hardships journeys into contemporary Athens.” Although I had to run out for a few minutes and missed most of this short film, it was one of my favorites when I saw it at the San Francisco premiere because it revealed the largeness of the protagonist’s and community’s heart to forgive, to share, to bring laughter and joy amid trying times, and to persevere despite difficulties. And who didn’t have that zippy piano soundtrack running through their heads long after the film festival ended? In a good way, that is!

Date with Fate by Venetia Taylor: “When it comes to blind dating, some things are meant to be – whether you like it or not.” This short film, about a divorced couple who go to a matchmaking agency only to find out that they were matched to one another, had its laugh-out-loud moments.

Tiny Miny Magic by Danielle Lurie: “When Sam and her mailman exchange presents via her mailbox, an unexpected love connection blossoms.” I’m glad that the film festival ended with this selection because it was one of my favorites, if not my favorite. It captured Brooklyn so well, the premise was fun, and the actors – their facial expressions were spot on – were delightful. It is the type of ending to a film festival that leaves you buoyant, bouncing out of your seat and the theater – ready for your own tiny miny magic.

Luminous 1960s retro coat turned dress coat, which Laura Leventer of Personal Pizazz (Berkeley, CA) picked out for me. Thank you, Laura!

Luminous 1960s retro coat turned dress coat, which Laura Leventer of Personal Pizazz (Berkeley, CA) picked out for me. Thank you, Laura!

Perfect accessories to complement the vivid embroidery: Alkemie scarab cuff, Kate Peterson Designs stack of rings, and Lava 9 earrings (Berkeley, CA).

Perfect accessories to complement the vivid embroidery: Alkemie scarab cuff, Kate Peterson Designs stack of rings (El Cerrito, CA), and Lava 9 earrings (Berkeley, CA).

Underneath: lacy camisole and gleaming pleats.

Underneath: lacy camisole and gleaming, filmy pleated skirt.

Alternative viewing: With a vintage purse and creamy lace-up heels.

Alternative viewing: With a vintage purse and creamy lace-up heels.