Noise for the Needy

NEWS

Isis and Grahm Zilla from Thunderheist

NFTN Announces Thunderheist's last show at Chop Suey June 12, 2010.

NFTN is excited to announce that Montreal's Thunderheist will play their last show ever as part of the 2010 festival lineup. Come out and catch this amazing duo before they part ways and begin promising solo careers. Buy your tickets online now! This show is going to sell out! Thunderheist will take the stage at Chop Suey on June 12, 2010 and will be part of a whole night of amazing music all over Capitol Hill. Also performing that night at Chop Suey are The Tempers, Julavee and friends and Sap'N. Bring your booty and be prepared to shake it until you pass out in pile of exhaustion.

Slog related links: Internships | URS Interview | Transitional Resources Interview

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Email interview with Darcell Slovek-Walker, CEO of Transitional Resources

Date: January 19, 2010
We caught up with Darcell Slovek-Walker the director of Transitional Resources. We asked her some questions about how the 2009 NFTN donation effected their organization.

NFTN: Did you enjoy working with NFTN last year?

DARCELL: Working with NFTN was a great experience for Transitional Resources. The dedication of everyone associated with NFTN is inspiring and we truly enjoyed working with them. Although we know how hard everyone worked to make the five-day event a huge success, you could never tell it from their endless positive energy and enthusiasm for what they were doing.

NFTN: What was your favorite part of the 2009 festival?

DARCELL: All of our experiences with NFTN were positive, but one of the best things about the festival was the opportunity we were given to share information about mental illness with such a diverse audience. Because there is still so much stigma associated with mental illness, it is important to help people understand that mental illness isn’t anyone’s fault and that people can and do get better when they have treatment and a safe place to live. NFTN gave TR the opportunity to share our clients’ stories of recovery and to have a great time doing it.

NFTN: How did your organization use the NFTN donation?

DARCELL: The funds raised by NFTN went to keeping critical services and programs in place. With help from NFTN, we were able to continue serving the most vulnerable individuals living in our community, providing them with affordable housing and case management.

NFTN: What Challenges and/or Exciting projects for the upcoming year? What do you see as the challenges for all nonprofits in the Seattle area in the upcoming year(s)?

DARCELL: One of our exciting projects for 2010 is the upcoming groundbreaking for the agency’s sixteen-unit affordable housing project dedicated to homeless adults living with mental illness. This project will provide safe, permanent and affordable housing, as well as comprehensive mental health services, to individuals with long histories of homelessness. It is difficult for recovery to occur without a safe place to call home, so we are extremely excited about this project.

A challenge for Transitional Resources and for most nonprofit organizations is the need to find new and creative ways to meet the demands for our services with even fewer resources than before. This is especially challenging at a time when the need for services is greater than ever.

NFTN: Is TR hosting any upcoming events?

DARCELL: An upcoming event is Transitional Resources’ Garden Party in early June. It is a great opportunity to see TR’s organic garden, the smallest certified organic “farm” in the area and to learn more about mental illness. The produce grown in the garden by TR clients is donated to an area food bank providing our clients the chance to give back to the community and to experience the benefits of fresh produce themselves. For more information about our garden and the Garden Party, you can visit our website .

NFTN: What are some ways people can get involved?

DARCELL: People can get involved with Transitional Resources by donating household goods that will be used to furnish homes for formerly homeless people or by making contributions at our website by clicking the “Donate Now” button or clicking here. Volunteering is another way to get involved. We welcome small groups to help us do “done in a day” projects like painting, yard work, and other home maintenance tasks. The agency is also seeking volunteers to serve on our Board of Directors and to help with mailings and other office tasks.

NFTN: Is there a recent success story on one of the TR clients you would like to share?

DARCELL: Individuals with mental illness can lead meaningful, successful lives when given support and access to treatment. Elree’s story demonstrates that powerful changes can take place when people get the assistance they need. Only 23 years old, Elree has been through a lot in his short years. He has survived a kidney transplant, homelessness, and time in the juvenile justice system. After spending a year in TR’s residential program, Elree has recently moved into his own apartment for the first time ever. His future is looking bright and he appears to be thriving. When asked what he wanted others to know about mental illness, Elree stated “there is always hope for us. Everyone can learn from their mistakes and move on.” For more inspiring stories, click here.

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Date January 19, 2010

A Chat with Urban Rest Stop's Ronnie Gilboa
(Urban Rest Stop was NFTN's 2008 beneficiary)
In 2008 we were lucky enough to raise money for Urband Rest Stop. It was an honor for our staff. Recently, we chatted with the Ropgram Manager, Ronnie Gilboa. Below is an unabridged version of the interview.

NFTN: Did you enjoy working with NFTN in 2008?

GILIBOA: Absolutely! After the Urban Rest Stop staff all got over the shock of this wonderful gift and opportunity, we had a good time working with the NFTN gang. We appreciated the opportunity to participate in some of the organizational meetings as well as presenting the Urban Rest Stop at the concerts.

NFTN: What was your favorite part of the festival?

GILBOA: What amazed me was the overwhelmingly accepting and positive responses that the NFTN audiences gave to the Urban Rest Stop. Every audience that came out for NFTN shows - from tiny rock shows on Capitol Hill to a packed house for a hiphop show at the Showbox - listened to what we had to say and made donations above the price of the ticket. It took us ten years and a law suit to get the Urban Rest Stop open in Seattle. It took just three minutes to explain the Urban Rest Stop, its purposes and functions, to the NFTN audience. That experience continues to amaze me.

NFTN: How did your organization use the money NFTN raised?

GILBOA: The money raised by the NFTN concerts was used to buy hygiene supplies, pay our utility bills and get warm hats and gloves that we distribute to our patrons throughout the winter.

NFTN: Challenges and Exciting projects for the upcoming year? Challenges for all nonprofits in the Seattle area?

GILBOA: Since the NFTN concerts the Urban Rest Stop opened up our new public health room. A team of Public Health nurses comes to the URS two times a week. They are here every Monday and Thursday morning from 7:00 until noon, checking on our clients, providing basic care and first aid, and referring people to the local community clinic if their problems are serious. On the fourth Monday of every week a podiatrist comes to the Rest Stop and checks people's feet for free. The foot care problems for homeless people are tremendous. Al-Shifa, a group of medical students from the University of Washington, comes to the URS on Sundays to meet with our clients and provide health education plus needed medical supplies. We also have a new JVC volunteer who provides individual Information and Referral assistance daily. We also now have a volunteer hairdresser giving haircuts on Tuesdays. Of course we always have our hands full dealing with everyday crises. When the temperature in the city was over 90 degrees for weeks this summer, we used donations from donors to buy 250 cases of bottled water for clients who were in danger of sunburn, sunstroke, and simple over heating because of traveling with everything they owned on their backs. During the rainy months we give out knit caps and gloves. Since the start of the current recession in 2007, the Urban Rest Stop has experienced a 12% increase in the number of new patrons. The most alarming part of that statistic is that the biggest percentage increase has been among families with children. While the Urban Rest Stop has always provided services to families with children, our past experience was that we would see families in late spring or summer months. Most families with children try not to relocate while their children are enrolled in school. In 2009, the Urban Rest Stop experienced many new families with children utilizing our services between September and June. Despite all that, The URS still functions on the same budget as 2000. Our primary budget sources - city and federal contracts - have not increased significantly since we first opened our doors. The URS operates at a loss each year, with needed funds coming from our parent organization, the Low Income Housing Institute. Like most other non-profits who provide services for low-income people in our region and around the country, we're struggling with the effects of a down economy. For us, that means two things in particular - we're busier than ever helping people whose lives have changed for the worse, and we're never sure when our funding may be cut. It's not all bad news. The Urban Rest Stop is celebrating our 10th Birthday all year! Plans are underway for a Street Fair & Block Party in May, and we are following NFTN's lead and scheduling two benefit concerts for ourselves in springtime. We have a Facebook page now - so you can learn more about how we're doing and become an official fan of the URS - and you can always visit our website at www.urbanreststop.org. People in Seattle have been extremely generous with their time and money over the last few years. As long as organizations like NFTN and Strangercrombie help us get the word out about our work, we will survive.

NFTN: Ways for people to get involved?

GILBOA: The Urban Rest Stop is looking for all kinds of volunteer help over this 10th birthday year. We have work for anyone with website development skills, marketing skills, event organizing, graphic design, resource development, etc. And we're looking for bands to play at our benefit at the start of April! We are going to hold two concerts at LIHI's venue in Belltown, the Underground Events Center. One night will be hiphop and one will be rock and roll, and we still have room for more bands. Contact us! And we always have room for volunteers who can help us do things like organize sock and underwear drives, stock supplies, and help with data entry. 6. Donations? Donations of cash, supplies or in-kind services are always appreciated. You can donate on-line by visiting the Urban Rest Stop website, www.urbanreststop.org. and click on the DONATE button. In the winter months there is a great need for gloves, coats, ponchos and warm hats. In addition the Urban Rest Stop is always in need of: Books, magazines and comic books; Socks; Hygiene supplies such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, wash cloths; Toilet paper; and Laundry Soap.

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Date: January 19, 2010
NFTN Internship posts for Production, Design and Booking

NFTN Production Internship:

Assist the Noise for Needy Director with festival production
Assist Director with preparation and management of green rooms during festival
Assist Director with multiple festival guest lists
Troubleshoot production issues
Assist Director with implementation of sponsorship details during festival

This opportunity includes:

Flexible schedule
Show production experience
Opportunity to work with major music venues in town

Skills and requirements for position:

Attention to detail
Professionalism and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Excel, Word and web-based applications
Ability to communicate well
Knowledge of the Seattle local music scene (national expertise a plus)
Ability to work individually and in a team environment
An interest in local music and non profit fundraising
5 hours maximum per week, approximately three-month position.
Hours to increase to 10 hours a week in the final two months of production
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NFTN Design Internship:
(Please submit a link to your portfolio with resume if applying for the Design Internship)

Assist the Noise for Needy Artistic Director in festival design and management tasks
Assist in design and creation of print media
Assist in proofreading/copy editing of web and print media
Develop relationships with local nonprofits, vendors, and other local designers
Assist the Artistic Director in managing show poster project

This opportunity includes:

Flexible schedule
Capitol Hill location
Exposure to local businesses and musicians
Design Experience
Multiple opportunities to use creativity in problem solving
Design exposure in many local publications and on the web.

Skills and requirements for position:

Attention to detail
Professionalism and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
Moderate to advanced skills in Adobe Design Suite, Print & Web
Comfort with professional design aesthetics
Ability to communicate well
Ability to develop and adhere to a brand
Multi-tasking
Ability to work in a team environment
An interest in local music and nonprofit fundraising
5 hours maximum per week, approximately four-month position.
Hours to increase to 10 hours a week in the final two months of production

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NFTN Booking Internship:

Assist the Noise for Needy booking agent with all aspects of booking the artists for the
festival-this includes communication with all artists and maintaining a contact
spreadsheet of all the bands invited to play the festival.
Keeping track of artist performance contracts.
During the festival, be available to work with the booker and bands on final arrangements for the actual performances.

This opportunity includes:

Flexible schedule
Capitol Hill location
Exposure to both local and national bands

Skills and requirements for position:

Attention to detail
Professionalism and ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Excel and Word
Ability to communicate well
Knowledge of the Seattle local music scene (national expertise a plus)
Ability to work in a team environment
An interest in local music and nonprofit fundraising
5 hours maximum per week, approximately three-month position.

If you are interested in any of these positions, submit a cover letter and resume to internship at noisefortheneedy.org.