Trash Mash-Up Wishes you the Best in the New Year

Dear Friends,
As 2009 comes to a close, we would like to thank you for your support over the past four years. 2009 brought many amazing gifts and opportunities for Trash Mash-Up. TMU continued its fun and educational programs serving children in San Francisco’s most undeserved neighborhoods with 30 workshops, 10 exhibits and events, and 8 Mash-Up Bashes. We wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the highlights.

TMU’s “Maskostumes” were on display at the California Public Utilities Commission offices across from San Francisco City Hall. We tabled for their Environmental Awareness Day, working with 500 students in take home projects. Bridget led students from John Muir Elementary in a Mash-Up Bash that they had rehearsed in workshops she conducted.

Trash Mash-Up established new partnerships with Support for Families, Opportunity Impact, and the Whitney Young Child Development Center. Over the summer, TMU offered workshops and summer time fun for these programs.

Trash Mash-Up was thrilled to be featured at the San Francisco Green Festival. The SF Green Festival, the nation’s largest green consumer living event, is joint project of Global Exchange and Green America. The San Francisco Green Festival had more than 40,000 participants who mingled with 125 visionary speakers amidst over 350 green exhibits.

The Green Festival was just one of many extraordinary events that Trash Mash-Up participated in this fall. TMU exhibited at the Tides Momentum Leadership Conference, Independent Artists' Week Go Green Event , 10th Anniversary Expo of Independent Arts, Arts Providers Alliance of SF Arts Education Resource Fair; hosted a Mash-Up Bash at the Live Debris event in Portland, OR and the Opening of Yubisumo!; and offered workshops at the Woodstock West Festival and CommunityGrows! Halloween Bash and Christmas Celebration.

Trash Mash-Up’s very own, Bridget McCracken, was awarded the first ever, San Francisco State University Institute for Civic and Community Engagement Staff Community Engagement Award. This award was presented to Bridget, as a civic leader, to acknowledge her work with TMU.

Trash Mash-Up has also been in press lately. Associated Press picked up the TMU story in the Morning Sun and was featured in papers like the Chicago Tribune and USA Today. Fake Plastic Fish and Everyday Trash, two environmental bloggers have posted about us. We are thrilled to have such great supporters who continue to spread the good word about TMU.

We look forward to continuing our urban tradition where others are inspired to see each other and our environment in a new way. We are so pleased with the success of Trash Mash-Up. Each year we strengthen our mission to enrich our community by developing creative connections through workshops and performances. We hope that through our actions people are inspired to not only use less and reuse more but to also find their own way to become engaged in their community. Thank you for your support.

Best Wishes and Happy New Year!!
Bridget & Jessie McCracken

TMU at SF Green Fest

Dear Friends,

Trash Mash-Up is excited to be featured at the San Francisco Green Festival this weekend. TMU will be offering a workshop in the Kids Zone from 12 to 2pm on Friday—Sunday, November 13-15. The SF Green Festival, the nation’s largest green consumer living event, is at the San Francisco Conference Center. A joint project of Global Exchange and Green America (formerly Co-op America), Green Festival is a forum to explore and build sustainable solutions that will equally benefit communities and the environment. The San Francisco Green Festival expects more than 40,000 participants to mingle with 125 visionary speakers amidst over 350 green exhibits. Check out the website for the full schedule of event, http://www.greenfestivals.org/san-francisco/


The Green Festival is just one of many extraordinary events that Trash Mash-Up has participated in this fall. TMU exhibited at the Tides Momentum Leadership Conference, Independent Artists' Week Go Green Event , 10th Anniversary Expo of Independent Arts, Arts Providers Alliance of SF Arts Education Resource Fair; hosted a Mash-Up Bash at the Live Debris event in Portland, OR and the Opening of Yubisumo!; and offered workshops at the Woodstock West Festival and CommunityGrows! Halloween Bash.

Trash Mash-Up has also been in press lately. Fake Plastic Fish and Everyday Trash, two environmental bloggers have posted about us. We are thrilled to have such great supporters who continue to spread the good word about TMU. Check out the postings at: http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/11/three-trashy-women/ and http://everydaytrash.com/2009/10/31/trash-mash-up/

Thanks for your continued support!
Best--
Bridget and Jessie McCracken

Summertime fun with Trash Mash-Up

Summertime Greetings from your friends at Trash Mash-Up!

Trash Mash-Up is pleased to announce the culmination of two new partnerships with Opportunity Impact and the Whitney Young Child Development Center. This summer TMU has offered workshops and summer time fun for these programs. As a community art project, a critical part of our mission is to create connections within a community. Because of this, we are able to support the amazing work that is happening in District 5. This is truly a dynamic community. There is a great need for services but there is also a fantastic network of community members that are working to support our local youth.

Trash Mash-Up with the Whitney Young Child Development Center students will be featured at the District 5 Youth Art Showcase at Koret Auditorium at the Main Branch of the San Francisco Main Library on Friday, July 31 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. This event showcases the children and youth of District 5 and is hosted by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and Mayor Newsom.

Trash Mash-Up will be exhibiting masks completed through workshops with Opportunity Impact at the Mo' MAGIC Youth Art Show. The opening event is on Friday, July 31 from 5:00-8:00pm at the African American Arts and Culture Complex located at 762 Fulton Street, 2nd floor, San Francisco, California. The exhibit is open Monday -- Saturday from 12:00--5:00pm through the end of August. Opportunity Impact offers life skills and case management services to the at-rick youth living in public housing. Opportunity Impact provides at-risk youth living in public housing with the support, resources and skills they need to create new opportunities and realize a brighter future.

Trash Mash-Up will be parading at the Sixth Annual Western Addition National Night Out. The goals of this event include increasing crime awareness, generating support for anti-crime programs, strengthening police-community partnerships, and sending a message that there are many positive activities in the community. The Night Out is sponsored by Community Partners United, Supervisor Mirkarimi, the Mayor's Office, Hayes Valley Playground, Northern Station, Mo' Magic, and Safety Network. The Eight Annual Western Addition National Night Out is on Tuesday, August 7th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Hayes Valley Playground at 699 Hayes Street.

We are so pleased with the success of Trash Mash-Up. Each year we strengthen our mission to enrich our community with creative connections through workshops and performances. We hope that through our actions people are inspired to not only use less and reuse more but to also find their own way to become engaged in their community.

Thank you for your continuing support!Best--Bridget and Jessie McCracken

PS--Be a Fan of Trash Mash-Up on Facebook!! Follow us on Twitter!!!

TMU is looking for volunteers!!

Hello Trash Mash-Up Supporter!

Trash Mash-Up workshop season will be culminating this summer with Mash-Up Bashes and Carnaval SF events. TMU will transform city streets with a visual spectacle made of music, movement, and “Maskostumes”. Maskostumes are original masks and costumes inspired by traditions from around the world created from disposable materials. With plastic bag boas and bottle-cap chain mail, Trash Mash-Up builds creative connections and raises environmental awareness as a new urban tradition is fostered.

Trash Mash-Up will hosting a Mash-Up Bash at The California Public Utilities Environmental Awareness Day on Friday, April 3, 200 from 9:00am to 1:00pm at the CPUC Headquarters Courtyard, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102 .

Trash Mash-Up is going to be featured that 31st Carnaval SF this year. The theme of Carnaval this year is "Roots of Revival, Seeds of Change".

We would love to have you join us! We are looking for adults and kids to be apart of the Trash Mash-Up contingency at all of these events. Please reply to this email if you would like to join in on the fun!

Looking forward to it all!
Best--
Bridget and Jessie McCracken

What: California Public Utilities Commission 10th Annual Environmental Awareness Day When: Friday, April 3, 2009, TBA
**This event is produced by California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) Allies for Education Partnership. Nearly 1,000 children, teachers, and parents will attend. TMU will host a Mash-Up Bash which will include 15 students from the John Muir Elementary School. TMU will also have Maskostumes on exhibit at the CPUC. TMU may have a booth. Will need volunteers for both the Mash-Up Bash and for possible booth.**

What: Carnaval SF at Giants Game When: Wednesday, April 29, game at 7:15, parade at 6:00pm, volunteers at 5:30pm
**parade around the bases at AT&T park and then see the Giants vs. the Dodgers for free, if you would like**

What: Carnaval SF Mayor’s Reception When: Wednesday, May 6 from 6:00—8:00pm, volunteers at 5:30pm
**parade down the grand stair case of City Hall and schmooze with City officials and other Carnaval Contingents**

What: Carnaval SF Grand Parade When: Sunday, May 24, TBA (approx. 10:00am—2:00pm)
**One of the city's most spectacular traditions, Carnaval San Francisco showcases the very best of Latin American and Caribbean cultures and traditions with a diverse array of music, dance and artistry, including works created by the talented community of Mission District residents and Bay Area artists**

From more information, go toTrash Mash-Up, go to: http://trashmashup.googlepages.com
And California Public Utilities Commission, go to http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC
And Carnaval SF, go to: http://www.carnavalsf.com

Happy New Year from Trash Mash-Up

As 2008 comes to a close, Jessie and I would like to thank you for your support over the past three years. 2008 brought many amazing gifts and opportunities for Trash Mash-Up. TMU continued its fun and educational workshops serving children in San Francisco’s most underserved neighborhoods. We have also created new international relationships. We wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the highlights.

--TMU performed in the 30th Annual San Francisco Carnaval Parade, celebrating world cultures with over 80 participating organizations and witnessed by over 80, 000 people.
--TMU hosted over 16 workshops, was a part of 7 parades, and exhibited in 6 galleries and expositions.
--TMU was featured as a City CarShare “Members Making a Difference!” Bridget and Jessie have been members since 2002 and often use City CarShare cars to travel to workshop, parades and conferences.

--COSTA RICA. August 2008, TMU collaborates with SF State and PRETOMA, a sea turtle conservation organization, in Costa Rica providing a month of art and ecology projects.

--FRANCE. TMU was profiled by EcoCitizens of the World in their project sponsored by the United Nations, UNESCO, the French State and Terre d’Humanite. We were one of three organizations representing the United States.

--AUSTRALIA. TMU participated in the Million Puppet Project as a part of UNIMA Congress and the World Puppetry Festival in Australia. 12 trash puppets were submitted to help break the Guinness World Record for World’s Largest Puppet Display (now at 18, 585 puppets).

There are many ways in which you can support the work of Trash Mash-Up. Each gift is important and makes a difference in our success.

TMU is always in need of volunteers. Individuals who are interested in participating in workshops and parades should contact us by email at trashmashup@gmail.com

Don’t know what to do with all that left over holiday wrapping paper and decorations? TMU would love to receive your festive decorations. Check out TMU’s website at Get Involved for more information on how to donate unrecycled items.

Purchase a one-of-a-kind TMU T-shirt, originally designed and silk screened by Jessie McCracken! TMU’s boutique is full of colorful, gently used T-shirts of all sizes. The T-shirts are $15-$20, sliding scale plus shipping and handling. Email trashmashup@gmail.com to order.


We look forward to continuing our urban tradition where others are inspired to see each other and our environment in a new way. We truly believe that together we can use less and reuse more. Thank you for your support.

Best Wishes and Happy New Year!!
Bridget & Jessie McCracken