Multicultural Coalition Liaison Update

Dear OC Multicultural Coalition Members,

As of February 15, 2009, I'm no longer involved as a the coalition liaison with the Great Park. I am moving to London in March 2009 and will not be able to continue in my role coordinating with the Great Park Corporation and Design Studio. I wanted to thank everyone for their support over the last two years attending meetings, writing letters, contributing to newsletters, participating in the Walk for Unity, and in many other ways supporting the development of a Multicultural Center at the Orange County Great Park. I encourage you to stay involved!

The Great Park Corporation recently hired a new Manager of Programs to oversee the Feasibility Studies for potential park programs like the Multicultural Center. Issa Edah-Tally is working with him on next steps. Contact Issa Edah-Tally at issaet@gmail.com with questions. Also, please visit the Facebook Group for the OC Multicultural Coalition.

I will continue to support the effort from London virtually, and I'm available for questions. Please stay in touch via Facebook or via email at mdrouse5@gmail.com. Take care!

Sincerely,
Michelle Deniz Drouse

WALK FOR UNITY - Multicultural Center Fundraiser

Dear Multicultural Enthusiasts:

Please show your dedication to the development of a Multicultural Center at the Orange County Great Park by supporting the Walk for Unity on October 4, 2008 at the Irvine Global Village Festival at Colonel Bill Barber Park in Irvine, California.

The Orange County Multicultural Coalition supporting the Great Park Multicultural Center received formal direction from the Great Park Corporation to proceed with fundraising for a level-2 feasibility study for the Multicultural Center. Now, we need you to support the Multicultural Center to make it a reality!

We are very proud to announce our partnership with Humanity Unites, a non-profit organization in Irvine. For the last three years, Humanity Unites has organized the Walk for Unity to unite our community in support of global harmony, celebrate multiculturalism, and support developing a Multicultural Center at the Great Park.

Given your activism in the community, we wanted inform you of some volunteer and sponsorship opportunities to show community support for the Multicultural Center. Please indicate your areas of support and follow the directions below.

*PARTICIPATE in the Walk for Unity and pre-register now with a minimum $20 tax-deductible contribution and collect pledges for your walk. (We?re giving a prize to the person who can raise the most contributions in pledges!). Send your check with your contact information made payable to:

Walk For Unity c/o Humanity Unites

P.O. Box 14456 Irvine, CA 92623-4456

*SPONSOR the Walk for Unity at a variety of tax-deductible contribution levels from Bronze Sponsor at the $1,000 level to Presenting Sponsor at the $15,000+ level. You may also provide in-kind donations or pledge $20 to support someone else to walk. Email support@WalkForUnity.org for the sponsorship package.

*VOLUNTEER for the Walk for Unity and assist with event planning, execution, and clean-up. Email info@WalkForUnity.org.

*ADVOCATE and spread the word about the Walk for Unity to support the Multicultural Center! Email info@WalkForUnity.org.

We look forward to your support! Let's make the Multicultural Center a reality!

Sincerely,

Michelle Drouse & Issa Edah-Tally, OC Multicultural Coalition Liaisons

&

Sunny Zia, Humanity Unites/Walk for Unity Team

Walk for Unity Contact: www.walkforunity.org * info@WalkForUnity.org * (949) 933-0343

OC Multicultural Coalition Contact: www.ocmulticultural.blogspot.com * mdrouse5@yahoo.com * (949) 510-2742

Humanity Unites Contact: www.humanityunites.org * info@HumanityUnites.org * (949) 933-0343

Web Address http://preview.evite.com/event/WalkForUnity-MulticulturalCenter

OC Multicultural Coalition and Humanity Unites’ Walk for Unity Partnership & Request for Volunteers & Sponsors

July 30, 2008

Dear Orange County Multicultural Coalition,

We are proud to announce the Orange County Multicultural Coalition’s partnership with Humanity Unites’ Walk for Unity in an effort to unify the multicultural community to support the development of a Multicultural Center at the Orange County Great Park.

On June 19th, the Orange County Great Park Board directed staff to undertake the next phase of feasibility analysis subject to identification of potential funding partners for the Multicultural Center to be located in or adjacent to the Cultural Terrace District at the Great Park.

In response to the Board’s direction, Orange County Multicultural Coalition leaders solicited fundraising partners from our coalition. Humanity Unites, a registered non-profit organization with the City of Irvine and our coalition partner, recommended an outstanding fundraising opportunity through the Walk for Unity to be held on October 4th at the Irvine Global Village Festival. Proceeds raised for the Walk for Unity event will contribute to the next phase feasibility analysis for the Multicultural Center at the Great Park.

We need your help! Many of you volunteered to serve on one or more task committees to support the development of the Multicultural Center at the Great Park. The Walk for Unity is our first major fundraising opportunity where we need your involvement. We are now asking for your participation on task committees to support the Walk for Unity fundraiser. Please email mdrouse5@yahoo.com if you are interested in supporting any of the following tasks:

Walk for Unity Steering Committee
Lead staff for committee
Recruit committee members
Develop event budget
Write job descriptions, train, and manage volunteers
Manage donations through website paypal account
Recruit organizations/companies/vendors
Recruit team captains, train, provide materials, motivate

Walk for Unity Logistics
Manage event logistics
Coordinate printing & mailing
Set up & break down at event
Manage registration at event

Walk for Unity Sponsorships
Solicit sponsors
Purchase (and request donations) for registration gift items
Obtain donations of water, food, etc
Sell raffle tickets

Walk for Unity Public Relations
Design advertising & sponsorship material packets
Write and distribute press releases
Design t-shirt/registration gift items
Provide lists of 5 & 10k walks in area
Distribute materials at local 5 & 10k walks
Photographer
Distribute material to running stores, etc
Translate our materials for distribution

Also, if you or your organization is willing to sponsor Walk for Unity through monetary donations, please email info@walkforunity.org.

Please visit these websites for more information:

OC Multicultural Coalition: www.ocmulticultural.blogspot.com
Humanity Unites: www.humanityunites.org
Walk for Unity: www.walkforunity.org
Irvine Global Village Festival: www.irvinefestival.org
Orange County Great Park: www.ocgp.org

We look forward to your involvement to unite the multicultural community in support of a Multicultural Center at the Great Park!

Sincerely,

Michelle Deniz Drousé
OC Multicultural Coalition Liaison
mdrouse5@yahoo.com
949-510-2742

Sunny Zia
Humanity Unites Founder/Chair
Walk for Unity Founder/Chair
Sunny.Zia@gmail.com
949-933-0343

Announcement from Mayor Beth Krom

image from www.ocgp.org

Below is a list of three Great Park events taking place this week that we wanted to extend a personal invitation for you to attend. These events provide a wonderful opportunity for you to learn more about the Orange County Great Park . Please forward this information to your family, friends and associates.

Thursday, July 10^th

State of the Great Park Address

At the Irvine Civic Center

Presented by

Larry Agran, Chair

Orange County Great Park Corporation

Reception: 12:00 PM

State of the Great Park : 1:00 PM

Visit www.ocgp.org for more information

This presentation will be broadcast on ICTV Channel 30 as well, if you are unable to attend in person

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday, July 11^th

Jewel of Orange County Event

Presented by the

Great Park Conservancy

At Hangar 244 in the Orange County Great Park

6:30 PM

Featuring music of

The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive

Tickets are $250/person

Visit www.jeweloc.com for more information

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday, July 12^th

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Everyone is invited to the

Festival of Flight at the Orange County Great Park

And the dedication of the

First phase of the Preview Park

(Enter the Great Park off Sand Canyon and Marine Way )

Fun for the whole family!

Visit www.ocgp.org for more information

I hope to see you there!

Mayor Beth Krom

City of Irvine
P.O. Box 19575
Irvine, CA 92623-9575
(949) 724-6234
bkrom@ci.irvine.ca.us

Thank You Supporters & OCGP Board Update

Thank you to all OCGP Multicultural Center supporters! We had an outstanding showing of individuals supporting the Multicultural Center, including many letters that were presented at the hearing by Issa Edah-Tally and a variety of public comments. We appreciate your support.

The OCGP Board approved staff's recommendation to initiate Phase 2 of the Feasibility Study pending community funding support. The Board approved funding other programs such as the Art and Cultural Center and other programs in the Cultural Terrace without outside funding. Visit the June 19th OCGP Board Meeting Video Archive at: http://irvine.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=19.

We did not support this decision and requested the Board to prioritize fund the Multicultural Center Phase 2 Feasibility Study. However, we will move forward with a new strategy and approach.

Issa Edah-Tally and Michelle Drousé are coordinating with the Great Park Design Studio to determine how they will undertake the Cultural Terrace Feasibility Study. Below are our next steps:

• Explore opportunities for synergy with other programs in the Cultural Terrace.


• Determine the extent of fundraising required for the Multicultural Center Phase 2 Feasibility Study on its own, including timing.


• Explore the community's capabilities for fundraising to initiate the Phase 2 Feasibility Study. We look forward to hearing from you if you have this capability.

We encourage the multicultural community to support our vision of celebrating diversity and education.

We will continue to provide updates to the community. Please check this site often for updates. Contact issaet@gmail.com or mdrouse5@yahoo.com for more information.

PLEASE ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT MEETING: We Need You There!

*Cultural Terrace Image from www.ocgp.org

Be involved in the most important meeting for the Multicultural Center to date! The Great Park Board of Directors will hold a meeting to discuss the Multicultural Center's First Phase of the Feasibility Analysis. Please attend this meeting to be held at Irvine City Hall (Council Chambers) on Thursday 6/19/2008 at 10:00 am. Public testimonies will likely begin after 11 am.

• Meeting Details (including information regarding how to watch the event streaming online)
• Agenda
• Staff Report
• Attachment L - Multicultural Center Details Only Available via Hard Copy
  

OC Multicultural Coalition Liaison, Issa Edah-Tally will be representing our group's interest during the public comment period. If you are interested in writing a letter or speaking in support of the Multicultural Center, please email issaet@gmail.com and mdrouse5@yahoo.com. We are happy to provide you with an example of a public testimony and/or written comment that is similar to the one Issa is presenting. IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE WRITE A SUPPORT STATEMENT FOR THE MULTICULTURAL CENTER.

Please look for Issa in the audience during the meeting and sit together if possible. Issa will likely ask supporters of the effort to stand or list your names.

The OC Multicultural Coalition encourages the Board to initiate the Level 2 Feasibility Study at the meeting on Thursday, and we look forward to developing a Multicultural Center at the Great Park.

Below is an excerpt from the agenda and a sample support letter to send or present. We hope to see you there!


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AGENDA TITLE & DETAILS:
***********************************************************************************

PRIORITY PROGRAM FEASIBILITY STUDIES: FINDINGS FROM FIRST LEVEL ANALYSES; NEXT PHASE OF ANALYSES; AND IDENTIFICATION OF FUNDING PARTNERS

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Receive and file the first level analysis for the following Park Programs: Agriculture and Food; Amphitheater; Arts and Culture Exhibition Space; Aviation Museum; Botanic Garden; Center for Community Organizations; Demonstration Garden; Equestrian Center; fire Museum; Library; Multi-Cultural Center; National Archives; Orangewood Academy; Sports Park; Visitors Center; and Water Science Park.

2. Direct staff to execute change orders to the Design Studio Contract to undertake the next phase of feasibility analysis for the following Park Programs:

a) Agriculture and Food
b) Art and Culture Exhibition Space
c) Aviation Museum
d) Fire Museum
e) Visitor Center

3. Direct staff to execute a change order to the Design Studio Contract to undertake a new feasibility analysis for the Cultural Terrace District.

4. Direct staff to undertake the next phase of feasibility analysis subject to identification of potential funding partners for the following Park Programs in or adjacent to the Cultural Terrace District:

a) Amphitheater
b) Botanical Garden
c) Library
d) Multi-Cultural Center
e) National Archives

5. Direct staff to undertake the next phase of feasibility analysis, subject to negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the identified funding partner, for the following Park Programs:

a) Center for Community Organizations – Orange County Children and Family Commission
b) Demonstration Garden – Great Park Conservancy

6. Sports ParkDirect staff to execute a change order to the Design Studio Contract to undertake the next phase feasibility analysis for the Sports Park which focuses on:

a) Early delivery of public sports fields (18-24 months); and
b) Identification of public/private funding partners for other Sports Park features

7. Water Science ParkDirect staff to undertake the next phase of feasibility analysis for the Water Science Park, subject to identifying funding partners and negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each funding partner(s).

8. Equestrian CenterDefer further study of the Equestrian Center Program to a future time.

9. Orangewood AcademySuspend study of the Orangewood Academy Program as requested by the Orangewood Foundation.

10. Budget AdjustmentRecommend that the City Council approve a budget adjustment in the amount of $665,000 to complete the next phase feasibility studies for the Agriculture and Food, Art and Culture Exhibition Space, Fire Museum and Visitor Center; and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate the scopes of work and execute change orders to the Schematic Design Contract not-to-exceed $665,000

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SAMPLE SUPPORT LETTER/ORAL COMMENT
***********************************************************************************

Good afternoon Chairman Agran and Great Park Board members. My name is (insert name) and I'm from (insert your location) representing (affiliation/cultural background). I support the Orange County Multicultural Coalition's efforts to encourage the development of the Multicultural Center at the Great Park.

Our vision is for the Multicultural Center to celebrate diversity through collaboration, education, and global awareness by infusing multiculturalism into the heart of the Orange County community. It will be a place where all cultures will gather together to share their own cultural traditions with each other as well as to educate the community. The Multicultural Center will be a vibrant place with a regional draw.

I recommend that the Board initiate the Level 2 Feasibility Study now and I look forward to developing a Multicultural Center at the Great Park as a priority program.

Thank you.

Great Park Multicultural Center Updates

Multicultural Center Selected for Feasibility Analysis
On December 13, 2007, the Great Park Corporation Board of Directors directed the Great Park Design Studio to begin working on a Feasibility Analysis for the Multicultural Center. We appreciate George Faas and Issa Edah-Tally for representing the Coalition speaking in support of the Multicultural Center during the public comment period. This is an exciting time for the Orange County Multicultural Coalition! Please visit the following link for additional information regarding all programs that are being considered: http://ocgp.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=2832

Meeting with Design Studio
On December 19, 2007, Maya Dunne (Great Park Design Studio Consultant serving as the Multicultural Coalition champion) coordinated a meeting with representatives from the Multicultural Coalition to meet with Master Designer Ken Smith and the Great Park Design Studio team.

Michelle Deniz Drousé, George Faas, Issa Edah-Tally, and Misha Ma’Heo from the Multicultural Coalition made a strong presentation to the Design Studio to encourage the development of a Multicultural Center and establish a close working relationship with the Design Studio during the Feasibility Analysis phase. The presentation consisted of the following topics:

• To introduce the OC Multicultural Coalition to the Great Park Design Studio


• To explain the OC Multicultural Coalition’s capabilities


• To provide a broad draft vision for the Multicultural Center and Great Park multicultural expressions


• To determine a future direction and formalize our working relationship

Ken Smith, Great Park Master Designer, and Design Studio team members were very interested in this prospect and are considering many options for multicultural expressions at the Great Park. In addition to the Multicultural Center, some ideas include multicultural elements in the Botanical Gardens, the Bosque, and other districts in the park.

We appreciated the opportunity to meet with the designers and establish our relationship. Below were the “Next Steps” outlined at the end of the meeting:

• Communication: Maya Dunne will continue facilitating communication between the Great Park Design Studio staff and the Multicultural Coalition Liaisons Issa Edah-Tally and Michelle Deniz Drousé. The Multicultural Coalition will serve in an advisory capacity to the Design Studio and establish a series of meetings and events to Support Design Studio.


• Vision Survey: The Multicultural Coalition Liaisons will create a website to facilitate development a Vision and Priority List of Programming/Elements. The Survey has been created and can be accessed below. Please participate! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=HkmDhZD1FrpxzN8G91pDww_3d_3d


• Concept Mock-Up: The Design Studio plans to mock-up a concept of the Multicultural Center and will share it with the community.

The Design Studio is anticipated to present a preliminary Feasibility Report to the Great Park Board in June. For more information, email mdrouse5@yahoo.com.