In January of 2005, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office and the San Jacinto Police Department implemented the Riverside County District Attorney's Project Safe Neighborhood program based on recommendations from Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco. Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Gerry Lopez, Chairperson of PSN, coordinated resources and provided a focus on gang intervention to pilot the program. PSN calls for a multifaceted response involving county, city, school districts and community groups. The program focuses on prevention and intervention strategies such as parent, community and school staff education, service projects, mentoring, student extracurricular activities, and life skills classroom education.

According to Deputy District Attorney Gerry Lopez, "One of the most powerful and effective formulas to lead young people towards the path of success is to connect them with positive, inspiring adults, involve them in fun and rewarding activities, teach them to overcome their insecurities, and help them discover their talents and abilities. The Riverside Arts Council does masterful job of executing this formula. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office and participating school districts are very impressed with, and extremely grateful for the Riverside Arts Council's partnership with Project Safe Neighborhoods and their commitment towards helping at-risk youth."

Utilizing the California State Visual and Performing Arts Standards, the Riverside Arts Council fulfills the extracurricular activities component with its arts enrichment program. "Using the arts as an empowerment and skill-building tool, the project goal is to help at-risk youth to continue their education and gain respect for others and themselves," says Patrick Brien, the Riverside Arts Council's Executive Director. "In addition, the collaborative and communicative elements built into the specific disciplines selected for each unit offer the opportunity to teach workplace skills such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. The resulting sense of self-esteem will reduce the need to find a sense of belonging through gang activity."

Local artist and Riverside Arts Council artist-in-residence Joel Kolb has been working with the students at Auburndale, which is in the Corona-Norco Unified School District. He has a long list of visual arts and mural credits to go along with his teaching experience. Also, Auburndale art teacher, Paula Baker has be generously donating her time to be a part of the project. She and Kolb have been working together with students to develop the design and execution.

Over the past week, students have been stenciling, painting and learning basics and techniques of visual art. Recognition of students, Kolb and Baker is scheduled for June. Each component of the workshop helps to emphasize creative thinking, problem solving and self esteem.

"Michael Elderman's presence is felt throughout Riverside. On any given day, you can find him photographing an important happening somewhere in this community," says Patrick Brien, Executive Director of the Riverside Arts Council. "He is much more than a chronicler of this community, despite his seemingly omnipresent camera. Michael is part of the arts and cultural fabric of Riverside. For his dedication, his contributions and his collaborative spirit, we honor him."

Having both a B.A., and an M.A. in English and American Literature from Syracuse University and completed coursework for his PhD from UCR, brings a unique perspective to Michael's photographic interpretations. In his pieces, he expresses his unique appreciation for beauty, which he sees in people and things, and deep sense of sadness and a sense of humor. Michael has exhibited his pieces in over 27 group and solo shows. He first exhibited his work in 1978 at the Inland Empire Gallery near UCR. Other works have been featured at the Riverside Art Museum, Riverside Community Arts Association, Brandstater Gallery at La Sierra, the Coffee Depot, Back to the Grind and Division 9 Gallery, where he is also a partner. He is well-known for his documentation of New Orleans both before and after Hurricane Katrina, as well as Atlantic City. Yet Michael is most renowned for his pieces of important Riverside locations. His most recent works on the Fox Theatre deconstruction were on display at the Victor Miceli Law Library as part of its first foray into being a participant in Arts Walk. Each piece entails a beautiful portrait of the renovation of the theatre and the Riverside Renaissance.

The Arts Honoree of the Month Award was created to recognize the contribution that the arts make to the quality of life in the Riverside community, highlighting arts and cultural organizations and individuals that exhibit artistic excellence as well as service to the community. The presentation will be made at 6:30 p.m. at the Riverside City Council chambers located in City Hall and will be broadcast live on channel 32.

Date: April 25, 2008 - May, 2008
Reception: Friday, April 25, 2008 from 5:30 - 7:30pm
Location: Reflective Image Gallery, 221 E Columbine Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92707

Synopsis:

A shocking and informative behind the scenes look at the partisanship dividing our politics today, with candid discussions by citizens and some of the sharpest minds in our country. Split is the first documentary by writer/director/producer Kelly Nykx, who is also a successful actor. Festival premiere.

Riverside International Film Festival
April 11-20
Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16
3535 Central Ave., Riverside
For more information: www.riversidefilmfest.org or 951-682-4456
Riverside International Film Festival
April 11-20
Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16
3535 Central Ave., Riverside
For more information: www.riversidefilmfest.org or 951-682-4456
Saturday, April 19
11:00 - 1:00 TWO DOCUMENTARIES
JPAC: A Hero's Mission
Manila 1945: The Forgotten Atrocities
1:15 - 3:15 SHORTS: FOR THE MIND AND THE EYE
Dislandia
Tirol - Land of Water
Folly of Two
Glimpse
Outsource
4:15-6:00 Feast of the Assumption: The Otero Family Murders
6:15- 7:45 Split: A Divided America
8:00 - 11:00 Jhoda Akbar

CAFFEINATED CABARET!

April 20th @ 7:30 PM (doors open at 7)

$5.00 at the door.

The Coffee Depot
3204 Mission Inn Ave.
Riverside, CA. 92507

An evening of new and contemporary musical theatre featuring a talented cast of performers each month. This month's show will feature performances by Amy Bloom, Jill Burke, Zane Gerson, David Lamoureux, Cassandra Murphy, and Candice Oden.

Musical Director - Allen Everman
Hosted by Jordan Beck & Dustin Ceithamer

CAFFEINATED CABARET!

"The 3rd Sunday Night of Every Month"

If you have a myspace profile, add them to your friends at
www.myspace.com/caffeinatedcabaret

Banning, CA-Students at Nicolet Middle School, in collaboration with the Riverside County District Attorney's Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) program and the Riverside Arts Council, will present scenes from the new Broadway Musical "All Shook Up" on Friday April 18th. The Riverside Arts Council has provided a musical theatre workshop designed to give students training in acting, singing and dance. The performance will take place during a California State Testing (CST) motivational rally.

In January of 2005, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office and the San Jacinto Police Department implemented the Riverside County District Attorney's Project Safe Neighborhood program based on recommendations from Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco. Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Gerry Lopez, Chairperson of PSN, coordinated resources and provided a focus on gang intervention to pilot the program. PSN calls for a multifaceted response involving county, city, school districts and community groups. The program focuses on prevention and intervention strategies such as parent, community and school staff education, service projects, mentoring, student extracurricular activities, and life skills classroom education.

According to Deputy District Attorney Gerry Lopez, "One of the most powerful and effective formulas to lead young people towards the path of success is to connect them with positive, inspiring adults, involve them in fun and rewarding activities, teach them to overcome their insecurities, and help them discover their talents and abilities. The Riverside Arts Council does masterful job of executing this formula. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office and participating school districts are very impressed with, and extremely grateful for the Riverside Arts Council's partnership with Project Safe Neighborhoods and their commitment towards helping at-risk youth."

Utilizing the California State Visual and Performing Arts Standards, the Riverside Arts Council fulfills the extracurricular activities component with its arts enrichment program. "Using the arts as an empowerment and skill-building tool, the project goal is to help at-risk youth to continue their education and gain respect for others and themselves," says Patrick Brien, the Riverside Arts Council's Executive Director. "In addition, the collaborative and communicative elements built into the specific disciplines selected for each unit offer the opportunity to teach workplace skills such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. The resulting sense of self-esteem will reduce the need to find a sense of belonging through gang activity."

Local actress and Riverside Arts Council artist-in-residence Sarah Bermudez has been working with the students at Nicolet, which is in the Banning Unified School District. She has a long list of professional performing credits to go along with her teaching experience. This summer, Bermudez will star as Cosette in the Southern California regional theatre premiere of "Les Miserables" at the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista.

"The students are very grateful to have Sarah as the performing arts instructor" says Lana Magenheim, 7th Grade Counselor at Nicolet. "She is vivacious and has an outstanding rapport with the students. This has been a fantastic experience for our students and they have really enjoyed Sarah's enthusiasm and talents."

Over the past ten weeks, students have been learning and practicing the basics of music, dance and theatre. They will be performing a scene and two songs from the new Broadway Musical All Shook Up that is based on songs written by Elvis. Each component of the workshop helps to emphasize creative thinking, problem solving and self esteem.

"Most of these students have never performed in something like this," says Bermudez. "The prospect of having to dance, sing and act all at the same time is very scary to them. The experience helps not only strengthen their performing talent, but it also boosts their confidence. They've had to work together and listen to each other and use their creativity to come up with their own ideas as well."

In addition to the performance, Deputy District Attorney Gerry Lopez will be speaking about the importance of education, and the student band "Negative Generation" will perform original songs. Students of the PSN musical theatre workshop will present their scenes to parents, staff and the fellow students of Nicolet during the CST Assembly on April 18th. There will be two presentations from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. and 12:45 to 2:15 p.m.

Riverside International Film Festival

Synopsis:

A young boy living in 1987 Beirut, Lebanon, during the war becomes separated from his family and makes his way to Sweden for refuge. Zozo was Sweden's entry for Best Foreign film at the 2005 Academy Awards. Writer/Director Josef Fares was born in Lebanon in 1977 but moved to Sweden when he was 10, where he lives now.

April 11-20
Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16
3535 Central Ave., RiversideFor more information: www.riversidefilmfest.org or 951-682-4456
Wednesday, April 16
11:00 - 1:00 Vanaja
1:30 - 3:15 Zozo
3:30 - 11:00 A GROUP OF STUDENT SHORTS
3:30 Dark and Bloody Ground
4:45 Small Avalanches
5:15 Joburg
6:00 End of Magic, The
6:15 Underpass
Break 6:30
6:45 I Heart Veronica Martin
7:15 Long After...
7:45 The Big Production
8:15 The Life and Death Experiences of Young Beth Byrd
9:15 Incrimination

Passing Poston tells the moving and haunting story of four former internees of the Poston Relocation Center. Each person shadowed by a tragic past, each struggling in their own painful way to reconcile the trauma of their youth, each still searching and yearning during the last chapter of their lives, to find their rightful place in this country.

Riverside International Film Festival
April 11-20
Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16
3535 Central Ave., Riverside
For more information: www.riversidefilmfest.org or 951-682-4456
RIVERSIDE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2008

Tuesday, April 15
11-2:00 Mozlem
Beautiful Me(s)
2:15-4:00 H for Hunger
4:15 - 6:00 Beyond the Call
6:15 - 8:00 Passing Poston
8:15-10:55 - Chak De!

Synopsis: June is a shy, never-been-in-love, thirty-something who still lives at home, has a goldfish named Romeo and an addiction to romance novels. How could a simple trip to the library go so wrong? The New Zealand-born writer/director Andrew Hunt currently resides in New York, and this, his first film, was made on location in Scotland.

Riverside International Film Festival
April 11-20
Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16
3535 Central Ave., Riverside
For more information: www.riversidefilmfest.org or 951-682-4456
Monday, April 14
11-1:30 SHORTS: OBSESSIONS
The Accidental Activist
Absolute Zero
Jakob and the Angels
Jim & Jung
The Vaudevillian
1:45-3:15 The Devil's Miner
3:30- 5:00 Fantastic Parasuicides, a Korean omnibus of 3 shorts
Three People in the Dark
Fly Chicken
Happy Birthday
5:15 - 7:00 Under the Sun in the Town
7:15 - 9 Under the Snow
9:15-11:00 Fix

A coming of age story about a Navajo girl raised in the suburbs of Phoenix who would rather spend her summer abroad enjoying photography than on the reservation with her ailing grandmother. Filmed with an cast of all Navajos in Navajo roles and a crew 90% Navajo. This is writer/director Holt Hamilton's first feature.

Riverside International Film Festival
April 11-20
Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16
3535 Central Ave., Riverside
For more information: www.riversidefilmfest.org or 951-682-4456
Sunday, April 13
11:00 - 12:45 Amu
1:00 - 3:30 SHORTS: AGES AND STAGES
First Memories
Letting Go
Le Retour
Chiles
Parthenabe
Against the Wind
3:45 - 6:00 Flyboys
6:30 - 8:15 Turquoise Rose
8:30-11:00 Intentions of Murder

Limbo Lane
Short, 23 min.
USA

Synopsis: When a homeowner buries a St. Joseph statue in his backyard to sell his house, he fears he has summoned supernatural powers beyond his control. This comedy short was filmed in Idyllwild and is full of familiar Riverside faces. It is the first film by writer/producer/director Paul Hendry and co-director Ross Durand, who will be present for the Q&A after the film. Festival premiere.

Riverside International Film Festival
April 11-20
Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16
3535 Central Ave., Riverside
For more information: www.riversidefilmfest.org or 951-682-4456
Saturday, April 12
11:00 - 12:15 SHORTS: RIVERSIDE AND BEYOND
Limbo Lane
California Citrus State Historic Park
Postcards from the Future
12:30-2:15 My Mexican Shiva
2:30-4:45 Alondra Smiles
5:00 - 7:00 Taare Sameen Par
7:15 - 9:00 Red is the Color of...
9:15 - 11:00 Thicker Than Water

RIFF Day 1
Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16
3535 Central Ave., Riverside
951-682-4456
Friday, April 11
11:00-1:00 Stirring It Up: The New Dissenters
1:15-2:15 Rediscovering God in America
2:30-4 Bob Marley and Friends
6 p.m. - 8:15 Gala
8:30-10:15 Children of Glory