What a Year It's Been! What a Year It Will Be!

Portrait by Annette Kerstin Patko of Bordeaux Studio

Hi Everyone,

This is the ONLY blog post I will publish in the month of December, which is totally illegal, I should never go radio silent for that long. BUT it's been a really busy year and I've got projects that have consumed me in fantastic ways.

As you know, I'm a gypsy by nature, lover of shiny keys and all things new, so I'm very aware of cities and what they offer - Evanston so far has offered me the moon and I'm so grateful.

When we moved here in 2011, I told my husband Dave Ford it would take us five years to rebuild our lives - financially, socially, etc. - after moving from El Paso, Texas. Summer of 2016 is our 5-year anniversary, stay tuned.

Here is what I managed to create in terms of "the life I wanted in Evanston" in 2015:

1. Evanston's annual Open Studio Artist Tour will celebrate its 3rd year anniversary and will get a new name so we can stop confusing the annual event with the non-profit Open Studio Project! Stay tuned.

2. My new role at Evanston Magazine as Editor-at-Large, requires great story ideas for each issue that help tell Evanston's unique story. Send ideas to lisa@jwcmedia.com

3. My new role as Engagement Director at Hackstudio, requires I help grow a successful new endeavor in this market and I'm so inspired to do so. Hackstudio's focus is to help people connect with who they are and connect who they are with the world! 

4. I'm proud to be the returning Evanston Arts Council Co-Chair with my colleague in the arts, Dino Robinson. Join us and get the arts funded and celebrated in Evanston!

Additionally, I will continue to work on raising smart and giving citizens of the world (Miles & Louie) and providing shelter for ONE angry bunny. 

Thank you for your continued support and love for all my endeavors. Let me know if we can work together in any of these buckets!

Happy New Year, y'all! 

Lisa 

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My first blog post from Monday, June 27, 2011 - We Have Arrived!

Truly Collaborating at Hackstudio

Collaborating with the team at Hackstudio has been an incredibly eye-opening experience. No two days have been the same; every mind that arrives is unique and compelling; every interest is pursued authentically. 

Our grand opening on Nov. 5, 6-9p.m., will feature a gallery-like exhibit of what kids are working on here. Learn more about this amazing new program for kids in Evanston at www.hackstudio.com

Hackstudio Open House!

You're Invited: Sept. 8 Hackstudio Open House 

Wondering what in the world is happening at Hackstudio at 2510 Green Bay Road in Evanston? Hackstudio is a studio where kids 8-18, can do ANYTHING they set their minds to.

You're invited to come see the space, meet the team and learn about this amazing program for kids launching this fall in Evanston. Join us anytime Tuesday, Sept. 8, 6:00 - 9:00 pm., for refreshments and a behind-the-scenes look at 16,000 square feet of creative space!

Click here to read more about Hackstudio 

Click here to read the Hackstudio newsletter

visit www.Hackstudio.com

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I'm totally the Engagement Director at Hackstudio, which is why it's all I seem to be talking about these days! 

Hackstudio Launches Fall 2015

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE OPEN HOUSE ON SEPT. 8

As many of you know, I’ve moved on to a fantastic new project working as Engagement Director for Hackstudio, a widely re-imagined after school program for kids in Evanston that launches Sept. 21. We’re located in a huge warehouse on Green Bay Ave, across from the Metra and CTA stations. (It's the old Domicile Building, and by huge I mean 16,000 sq ft)

I’m sharing this information so that you can either apply to work with us as mentor OR send your kids/friend’s kids/neighbor’s kids to our program.

The Hacky Life Blog Launches!

Meet the founders and learn about the mission of this great new program serving kids in the Northshore & Chicagoland. http://www.hackstudio.com/blog

We’re taking applications for Fall 2015!

If you're a kid (3rd grade to senior in high school) ready to be a contributing member of a supportive community and take advantage of the chance to really do what you really love, this is the place for you! “Hackstudio, a place where kids can go and check anything off of their bucket list.”  -Marin http://www.hackstudio.com/apply/

We’re hiring mentors!

Mentor groups of 6-8 kids, 4:30 - 10:30 p.m., weeknights. The job of a mentor is not to instruct, but to help kids discover the wealth of resources available to them - for developing their own skills, making their own discoveries and gaining experience and support around their own endeavors. This means the mentor’s principal skill is the ability to CONNECT. http://www.hackstudio.com/careers

Tell everyone in your network you think might be interested. Learn more about what we do at www.hackstudio.com

Press Release

Hackstudio launches in Evanston, taking applications for Fall 2015

July 21, 2015 - This September, Evanston will be home to “a wildly re-imagined program for kids” with the launch of Hackstudio at 2510 Green Bay Road. 

Founders Mike Meiners and Randy Blaugh have already begun to ignite kids’ imaginations through an innovative framework that allows kids to pursue any avenue they find meaningful as long as they’re willing to commit to getting it done. 

In June, Hackstudio finished an 18 week beta session where 20 kids completed self-defined projects ranging from building a bat house to hip-hop choreography to founding a fashion design company (with sales!). One graduate calls Hackstudio “a place where kids can go and check anything off their bucket list.”

The partners bought the old Domicile Furniture warehouse; 16,000 square feet of creative space designed to help kids “find out what they’re made of by doing what they love.” 

Hackstudio is a privately held company located next to the Central Avenue CTA and Metra stations. Sessions are open to kids Monday thru Friday, in two-hour slots, 4-9:30 p.m., over a quarter term with schedules matching the school calendar.

For more information on how to apply, visit www.hackstudio.com

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Contact: Lisa Degliantoni, lisa@hackstudio.com

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE OPEN HOUSE ON SEPT. 8

Say Yes!

In the last two months several exciting invitations have come from projects and people I am thrilled to have said "yes" to.

The Hackstudio partners invited me to join their team as the Engagement Director where I will help kids learn to success by being who they are. In celebration my husband make me a cake of the Hackstudio logo, see photo above. Visit the website to learn more www.hackstudio.com

 

Then the publisher of Evanston Magazine invited me to be the Editor-at-Large of their new magazine, tasking me with covering all there is to celebrate in Evanston. And readers of this blog will know I'm really good at that because I'm in LOVE with Evanston. Visit the website to learn more evanstonmagazine.com and get your copy at Chicago-Main Newsstand on Chicago & Main Ave.

For those of you who are following the Evanston Arts Tribe I am leading, don't worry, these new projects won't derail my work in the arts. Open Studios Evanston takes place on June 4, 2016. Send ideas for a new name to openstudiosevanston@gmail.com