Sophie Gilbert's Digital Portfolio

2009-10-08T21:32:00.000-07:00

Hair Show Modeling

2009-06-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Shows and Features

2009-05-11T08:03:00.000-07:00

Senior Project Photography Show at Jefferson Community School during Gallery Walk - Port Townsend, May 2009

Photography feature on Olympus.net

Reference Letters

2008-12-21T21:47:00.000-08:00

December 16, 2008

To Whom it May Concern:

It is my great pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Sophie Gilbert. I have been her science and math teacher for the past two school years. I am also the college counselor here at Jefferson Community School.

Let me begin by saying that Sophie is one of the most creative students I have ever known. I served as faculty advisor for her independent study in photography. I am a photographer myself and have taught photography in the past. Sophie has an amazing gift with photography. She has a wonderfully astute eye for what makes a great picture. Her sense of light, composition, depth of field, contrast, etc. is remarkably advanced for someone her age…of any age! I have seen her entire portfolio and I am amazed by how many of her photographs catch my eye and move me.

Sophie has other gifts as well. First and foremost are her leadership skills. She is not afraid to speak out and say what she thinks. She is not afraid to lead a group of students with her words and with her actions. Recently, during an all student meeting that was clearly floundering, Sophie took charge, got the students organized, and helped them come up with and record their suggestions for making our school a better place.

Sophie has taken on the plight of the homeless in Port Townsend as her senior “capstone” project. She helped organize a food drive in our school and an outreach project in the downtown community. Sophie cares deeply about the problems of others and she is always looking for ways she can help her friends and the community as a whole.

Sophie has great insight into the great social problems that face us today. She reaches out to everyone, regardless of their racial or cultural background. Her willingness to do the things that it takes to effect change is beautiful to see. But what I like best about Sophie is her passion and motivation to pursue her photography, her acting, and her social action projects. I can recommend Sophie Gilbert to any educational institution without reservation!

Sincerely,

David M Miller
davenpie54@msn.com
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Matt Wallace
170 Mount Constance Way
Port Ludlow, WA 98365

December 16, 2008
Cornish College of the Arts
1000 Lenora Street
Seattle, WA 98121

To Whom It May Concern:

I write in praise of a remarkable young woman . . . Sophie Gilbert. I don’t use the word remarkable idly. It has been my privilege to know her and experience her passion, her enthusiasm, her thirst for knowledge, and her compassion for others. Sophie possesses all of this and more. She has an incredible sense of balance and fairness in all that she attempts.

My career in marketing and advertising allowed me the opportunity to work with and support many incredibly talented creative people. Now retired, I have seized an opportunity to expand my personal horizons with the participation in a local community video production group. I met Sophie when casting roles in our second feature length movie. We were delighted that Sophie committed to her role. Although the youngest cast member, her punctuality and preparation were without equal.

During the filming of the production we saw her love of photography, her quest to know more, and her desire to learn. Sophie’s innate understanding of composition and content will only improve with experience and education in her craft. You can bring this raw talent to its full potential with the extension of an opportunity for her to study, learn, train, and grow at your institution.

Sophie is a talent to be cherished and nurtured. I know that I, someday, will see her works in an exhibit of prominence. Cornish College is in the position of helping Sophie pursue her dreams. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Matt Wallace
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Jefferson Community School
280 Quincy Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368
360.385.0622

Cornish College of the Arts
1000 Lenora Street
Seattle, WA 98121
Attention: Office of Admission

December 10, 2008

To Whom It May Concern:

I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Sophie Gilbert, a bright, articulate young woman who has been a vital member of Jefferson Community School (JCS) since its inception.

Sophie is an excellent student, natural leader and outstanding public speaker who motivates others through her energy and enthusiasm. Passionate about social injustice, she uses her myriad skills to address these issues in on organized, focused manner. Her recent project citing poverty's impact on our local community includes an action plan involving all JCS students and provides a perfect venue for her many talents.

Sophie's potential is unlimited, as her art work indicates. Using photographs as her medium, she combines her creative skills with a keen understanding of her subjects in a unique, thoughtful manner. She is extremely serious about her art and has managed this semester's independent study photography project in a most professional, independent manner.

Cormish College of the Arts is an ideal environment for Sophie, who is constantly looking for a challenge that enables her to use her numerous assets in a meaningful, connected way. While Sophie's passion, talent, energy and commitment will be an asset to any creative environment, I believe Cornish and Sophie alike will be especially well-served by an academic partnership.

I encourage you to give every consideration to her request for admission. You can't go wrong!

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Maguire, Humanities Instructor
Jefferson Community School
jcs@olympus.net

Fashion

2008-11-23T23:06:00.000-08:00

Photography

2008-11-23T22:36:00.000-08:00

Essays

2008-11-18T21:38:00.001-08:00

Malcolm X
By Sophie Gilbert

One of the most influential leaders who fought for the rights of African Americans was Malcolm X (also known as Malcolm Little, and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz). Malcolm X was born May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm’s parents were Earl and Louise Little. Earl Little was a Baptist preacher who was a leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. He had three children from his first marriage, and seven from his second marriage, which included Malcolm.

Unfortunately, three of Earl’s brothers died because of acts of racism, which was soon to be his own cause of death. It was said that when Earl Little was run over by a streetcar in the town of Lansing, he had just slipped and fallen on the tracks. But his wife Louise knew otherwise.

This left Louise Little to take care of her children alone. Things were really tough because Louise was unemployed, and the insurance companies refused to give her the benefits she should have received, because the police had reported that Earl Little had committed suicide. Not too long after this, Louise had an emotional breakdown and was declared legally insane. All the children were sent to foster homes, and Louise was sent to a mental hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she stayed for 26 years.

Malcolm Little was very intelligent, but dropped out after one of his teachers told him that being a lawyer was “no realistic goal for a nigger.” Malcolm finally moved to Boston to live with his half-sister, Ella Little Collins.
In Boston Malcolm, who was now nick-named “Red”, worked as a shoe shiner at a place called the Lindy Hop Nightclub. There he was exposed to a whole world of jazz - he even met people such as Duke Ellington. He wore fine clothing, and like all the hip guys around, he smoothed his hair into a conk. He was living what he thought was a perfect life, dating girls, even once a white woman.

Finally, Malcolm decided that he needed to find a better job, and a way to New York. He ended up getting a job in the kitchen on a train of the New Haven Railroad. Malcolm soon fell in love with Harlem and moved to see what was in store for him there. He became embroiled in drug dealing, gambling, and robbery.
Later after Malcolm had returned to Boston, he was arrested for a burglary. He was charged with larceny and breaking and entering. His punishment was to serve eight to ten years in the Massachusetts State Prison. In prison Malcolm met a man named John Bembry who encouraged Malcolm to read as much as possible. He read mainly when the prison lights had been turned off for the night.

Eventually Malcolm began to hear about the Nation of Islam. He started to talk with Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Black Muslims. Thanks to Malcolm’s sister, he was transferred to another prison that had a much bigger library, where he began to read more and more. Finally he was released from prison.
Upon his release, Malcolm visited Elijah Muhammad. It was then that he changed his last name to X. He did this because his original last name was passed down from slave-masters. Malcolm was committed to teaching the beliefs of the Nation of Islam to others. He always started his speeches with the phrase “The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches us that...”.

Malcolm seemed to be teaching the world everything that Elijah Muhammad had told him. He taught that black people were the original people of the world and that white people were a bunch of devils. The Nation of Islam believed that black people were superior to the white. Malcolm was once asked about why he thought white people were devils and he said, “History proves the white man is a devil. Anybody who rapes, and plunders, and enslaves, and steals, and drops hell bombs on people, anybody who does these things is nothing but a devil.”

While people like Martin Luther King were trying to fight against racial segregation, Malcolm X was fighting for the separation of African Americans from white people. He wanted to do everything that was possible to keep the two apart. Finally after Malcolm left the Nation of Islam, he began to develop his own thoughts on racism. He began to believe that segregation was the wrong idea, but that African-Americans should stand strong for their rights to defend themselves against any whites who chose to continue their racist strong holds.

Malcolm went on a religious journey around Africa and the Middle East speaking on radio stations, and television shows, and meeting many white people who changed his thoughts and preconceived notions about all white people. Back at home he and his family had begun to be threatened by people under the orders of the Nation of Islam. They attempted to wire a bomb to his car, and called his home with death threats. He was married to Betty X (Betty Shabazz) and they had six children, so the threats were taken seriously.

One night, Malcolm was speaking in Manhattan at a Organization of Afro-American Unity meeting, when suddenly a man in the crowd of nearly 400 people shouted, “Nigga! Get your hand outta my pocket!”
Within seconds a man ran forward and shot Malcolm in the chest with a sawed off shotgun. Two other men ran at the stage and shot him 16 times with hand guns. Shortly after being taken to a hospital, Malcolm was pronounced dead. The suspects in the shooting were all members of the Nation of Islam.

At Malcolm’s funeral it is estimated that 14,000 to 30,000 people attended. The Church that held the service was filled to its full capacity of more than 1,000 people, and loudspeakers were put outside so that the crowds could listen. Among the people to respond to Malcolm X’s death was Martin Luther King, Jr. who sent a telegram to Betty Shabazz, that said “While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and the root of the problem. He was an eloquent spokesman for his point of view and no one can honestly doubt that Malcolm had a great concern for the problems we face as a race.”

I believe that the different backgrounds of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. played an instrumental role in their varied approaches to racism. Martin Luther King was born into a family, that was not as poor as Malcolm’s. They were middle class people who strongly believed in education. Martin Luther King had a positive outlook, he believed that change could happen through peaceful demonstrations and organizing. Martin Luther King believed in unity, he wanted to bring whites and blacks together.

Malcolm X wasn’t like Martin Luther King until much later in his life and career. Malcolm was born into a down trodden family. His family was oppressed, especially after the Ku Klux Klan burnt his house down and killed his father. Malcolm was never taught to value education, but later he knew it was important and taught himself many things. Malcolm did not want whites and blacks to be united in the ways of Martin Luther King. He wanted them to be separated.

No matter what, both men had a dream of a better America. They both worked hard to bring hope to all blacks, and even whites, around the world.
______________________________________________________________________

Homelessness
by Sophie Gilbert

homeless |ˈhōmlis|
adjective
(of a person) without a home, and therefore typically living on the streets : the plight of young homeless people |

Homelessness is a serious problem that occurs in every village, town, city, state, country, and continent on our planet. In America alone, it is estimated that 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless. While there is much being done to help these people get food, shelter, and other services, there is still much to be accomplished. By understanding the root causes of homelessness, perhaps our society can better correct this increasingly serious problem.

There are many reasons that people of all ages face life on the streets. Homelessness and poverty are closely linked. Impoverished people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, health care, and education. One of the primary causes today of homelessness is not having the resources to pay for housing.

To be poor means that you are lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society. In 2005, 38,231,521 people lived in poverty in the United States. Among these, there are more children and young teenagers represented than any other age group. For many families and individuals struggling to pay rent, living with a serious illness or disability can send them straight to the streets. Usually they start out by losing their job, using up savings, and eventually it results in homelessness.

Many women who are in poverty or homeless have had to make a choice between staying in an abusive relationship or being homeless. Domestic violence is another leading cause of homelessness in the United States. Approximately half of all women and children who are homeless are indeed escaping domestic violence situations.

Many individuals who are living on the streets are effected by mental illness. These people were often at one time in mental hospitals, but once they were discharged they had nowhere to go and no way of getting back on their feet. In the United States, it can be very hard to find assisted housing for people with special needs.

Another group of people living on our streets today are those who cannot support themselves due to severe drug or alcohol addiction. Addictions are one of the largest reasons for homelessness especially in older men. Many of these men begin drinking after being challenged by a long period of depression. They often spend all of their money on their addictions, therefore ending up moneyless and unable to acquire a stable home.

Sadly, every day homeless people face dangerous environments and situations. Many die from hunger, fights, beatings, and most awful, cold weather. Every winter in Seattle, homeless people are stuck sleeping on sidewalks in 30˚ temperatures accompanied with wind, rain, and even snow. Many of the women and children living on our country’s streets are beat and raped and some turn to prostitution in hopes of making some kind of money.

Homelessness is caused by an unsettling amount of conditions. It’s sad how easily these things could be avoided if more people stepped up in their own communities to help someone out. The best time to help these people is early on before the problems get too severe. Many people talk about the issues our world faces such as homelessness, they talk, and talk, about ideas and solutions to the problems, yet they never actually get up to do something about it.

I suppose the real reason that I have chosen to write about this is because I want to be one of those people who does get up to do something. I want to find out what it is that is keeping people from acting upon this issue.
I seem able to think of easy solutions for ending homelessness - solutions that are so obvious I am astounded we aren’t doing more to implement them. For example:

Establish jobs that pay enough for the average person to live.
Establish sound support for people who cannot work.
Ensure affordable housing for everyone.
See to it that people have access to affordable health care.

Not only do we have to keep people from becoming homeless, we also need to help people who are already living on the streets. Believe it or not, many of these people would rather be homeless because it is a life that they have become accustomed to. Keeping these factors in mind here are things we could do to help people get off the streets, and help people who choose to stay there.

Open up more food banks.
Open up more shelters that offer access to other services such as healthcare, job support, and food.
Educate the public about the horrors of homelessness, and show them what they can do to help.
Make it possible for people to make donations of blankets, clothing, food, and anything else all year round, not just seasonally.
Create a system of assisted housing that can pull people off the streets quickly and get them back where they left off.

I care greatly about helping solve problems related to homelessness. I hope that in the future I can do something in my life and in my career to make a real difference for those living in poverty, especially those who suffer on the streets of our nation.
______________________________________________________________________

Women in the Civil War
by Sophie Gilbert

There is so much information to know about what went on in the Civil War. One topic that I found interesting when I researched the Civil War was the role of women, who served during the War as spies, nurses, and even soldiers, and their experiences and relationships as the War started and ended. There were many different women whose involvement in the War was key to many of the things that went on.

Here are some descriptions of different women who gave up their normal routines to join the Civil War:

I would like to begin with Belle Boyd. Belle Boyd was a spy for the Confederacy of Woman Spies. Her main job in this was to carry letters and important documents to the enemies. Boyd was married to Captain Harding, a union navy officer. She started spying from her fathers hotel by passing on important information to General Ashby and Stonewall Jackson during 1862. Belle was arrested on July 19, 1862 after being exposed by her husband, Captain Harding.

One of the most well-known woman spies was Emeline Pigott. Emeline was a confederate spy. She started working in the war by gathering food, clothing, and other numerous supplies for Confederate troops, and was known for hiding these things around in the trees for soldiers to find. Emeline Pigott ended up finding ways to get large amounts of important information from the soldiers and never told anybody the things she knew.

Another interesting person I have found in my research that caught my interests was a woman by the name of Pauline Cushman. Pauline Cushman was an actress who decided to become a Union spy. She was born in 1833 in New Orleans, and moved with her family to Michigan. At age 18, she ran away to become an actress in New York, which was one of her biggest dreams.

While she was in Louisville, Kentucky acting in a show, two Confederate officers gave her a large amount of money to give to Jefferson Davis. Since she was so supportive of the Union, she asked one of the Union officials if that was okay for her to do. Eventually she became a Union spy, was fired by her acting manager, and removed from the Union. After that she chose to follow the confederate soldiers and told them that she was on the search for her brother. Through that lie, she was able to receive some very important information from the Confederates.

After some time, a man went through her papers which had large amounts of information about his headquarters in Shelbyville, Kentucky. She was tried, and found guilty. She was given a 10 day notice of a hanging, but lucky for her, the Union troops attacked Shelbyville before the 10 days was up and let her go. The things she had found out from the confederates helped out the Union troops in many ways. After all of this, she traveled the country doing speeches about what it was like for her to be a spy. When the war ended she continued acting, but committed suicide on December 2, 1893 because she had fallen ill and was addicted to opium.

So many women worked in both armies during the Civil War. Many of them had no idea they would end up as spies, but when they did, they were major contributors to how the war continued and eventually ended.

A Photo Analysis

2008-11-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

This is a picture by Mike Brodie (Polaroid Kid). I discovered Mike Brodie's photography not too long ago - and I was enamored. His use of brilliant rich colors and powerful subjects really draw me in.

I chose this picture because of its depth and mood. On the left, you see the dead bird opened to its full scale. On the right is a group of burgundy flowers. Observing the layout of the picture, you will notice that the arms are placed on opposite sides - one is high in the shot while the other is low.

The flowers are quite like the bird in the sense that they span out on the top while on the bottom their stems are thin. The bird is just like an upside down version of the flowers; its legs are like the stems and its body is like the flowers. It seems that the photographer planned this. I like how the colors in both seem to switch as well. The grass behind the bird seems to be close in color to that of the flowers. The grass behind the flowers seems to be the same for the bird. I really love this.

The message I draw from these photos is that in death there is still beauty. The bird is dead, but it is still gorgeous. Its feathers still have some life to them because of how bright they are. The flowers have been picked and will soon die, but they will still be beautiful and red before and after death. For me the hands symbolize that we all can hold onto the things we love even after they are dead.

Personal Statement

2008-11-18T20:22:00.000-08:00

My pursuit of photography started in seventh grade when I joined Jefferson County 4-H Video and Photography Club. I learned how to use different cameras and editing software for both video and photography, including Final Cut Pro and Adobe Photoshop. I enjoyed working with video, acting and producing short creative dramas and comedy pieces, however my heart was really in photography.

Not too long after joining 4-H, I took a trip to Thailand and my interest for photography flourished. The beautiful nature, warm people and freedom I experienced there inspired me to explore my photography further. This was when I learned that photography was something I was truly passionate about.

My love for people is what influences me the most when I am doing my art. I strive to connect with people - with or without my camera. I am attentive to details that make up a person, and I try to show that through my photos.

I live in a family of accomplished artists. Both of my parents were professional musicians in the Seattle Symphony, so as I grew up I was introduced to the arts. I'm not sure what I would like to do with my photography, however I have my heart set on two different areas of study - fashion photography and photo journalism.

I have had a strong interest in fashion since I was very young. I love nothing more than to buy a new Vogue magazine and turn to the back where the high fashion editorial photos are. For several years now I have tried my hand at constructing clothing, designing fashion sets and even modeling.

My interest in photo journalism is motivated by my deep concern for people and social justice. I want people to see the truth of what is going on in the world without sugar coating. For my Senior Project this year I am producing a collection of interviews and photos about homelessness in collaboration with a local shelter.

After going to the Cornish Summer Arts program this year I know that Cornish is a place that will help me discover what I am best at. I would enjoy the small student body because I like to work closely with people who share the same passions as me. The location of the school is ideal because I appreciate and love Seattle's ethnic diversity and creative arts communities. I also have a genuine attraction to Cornish because it supports artists - and that's what I want to become.

Resume

2008-11-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

Sophie Gilbert

sophiebeezy@gmail.com

Qualifications
My background includes extensive experience related to computer technologies, video production, photography and customer service work. I have strengths in working with diverse people, positive communication and team work.

Work-Related Experience

Store lead, Blue Moon Burgers (South Lake Union branch), Seattle, Washington; 2010-present - take orders from customers, inventory stock and place orders through Food Services of America and other companies, clean front of restaurant daily, serve food to customers, assist in training of new employees, keep restaurant organized, handle money for registers and deposits at the bank, assist in prep cooking in the kitchen, opening and closing duties.

On-call sales person for all ages bar, El Corazon (music venue), Seattle, Washington; 2009-present - sell snacks, water and soda to show goers, coat check, light cleaning duties of bar area, assist security during emergency situations involving show goers.

Shop helper, Under the Needle Tattoo, Seattle, Washington; 2009-2010 - place stock orders and assisted in inventory, clean every surface of shop daily, setup and break down before and after every tattoo, run errands, scrub tubes and manage disposal of biohazardous waste, assist customers, organize marketing events, assist in construction and building process of new business, provide online marketing through Facebook, website, etc.

Barista Volunteer, Boiler Room, Port Townsend, Washington; 2007-2008 - Greet customers, serve espresso orders, and clean.

Intern, Swains Decks and Rags, Port Townsend, Washington; September-February, 2005-2006 - Greet customers, assemble skateboards for sale, fix broken skateboards for customers, straighten clothing racks, clean, paint window displays, arrange mannequins, and work at the cash register.

Trail Builder, Quilcene Ranger Corps, Quilcene, Washington; June-August 2004 - Member of 8-person trail-building crew that rebuilt eroded trails in the Olympic Peninsula Federal Forests, move gravel from trail heads to needed areas, remove large rocks, prune tree limbs and bushes to expand the trail width, and grade the soil for maximum runoff.

Field Worker, Lost Mountain Tree Farm, Sequim, Washington; 1999-2009 - At my family tree farm I plant trees, prune trees, place mulch mats, attach deer protectors, and brush around the trees.

Special Education Assistant, Quilcene Middle School, Quilcene, Washington; 2003-2004 - As part of my school program I was chosen to perform duties daily as a one-on-one educational aide for an autistic elementary school student. Through this experience I learned more about how to connect and communicate with diverse people.

Education

High School Diploma, Jefferson Community School, 2008
Attended Cornish School of the Arts, 2009

Unique Educational Activities

Northwest Passage Expedition, member of 12-person school team that explored the history and culture of Northwest Washington Native American tribes, May 2008 - visited several Northwest Washington tribes, cultural experiences included the honor of sharing a sweat lodge.

Thailand Expedition, member of 15-person school team, January 2007 - Taught English in a small remote rural school in Northern Thailand, participated in Thai celebrations, and practiced conversational and written Thai.

Puerto Penasco, Environmental Learning Center in Mexico, member of a 10-person school team, January 2006 - conducted environmental surveys, including counts of sea lions off the coast of Mexico.

Urban Plunge, Member of 8-person school team, 2005 - Assisted homeless people in Seattle through hospice and Union Gospel Mission.

4-H Network News club- Computer and Camera Technology, Photographer/Videographer/Web Designer, 2002-2008 - I use traditional film and digital cameras to take photos for my portfolio; most of these photos consist of portraits, but also landscapes and architectural photos. My reporting for 4-H Network News allowed me to cover stories of local, regional and national interest related to youth, 4-H and WSU.

Special Skills

Final Cut Pro (video)
Photoshop
Excel
Word
Photography (digital and traditional)
Web design
Biohazard management

References

Charlie Olson
Owner
Blue Moon Burgers
Seattle, Washington
206-295-8534

Nils Peterson
Manager
Blue Moon Burgers
Seattle, Washington
206-498-3875

Jeff Houston
Owner and Tattooer
Under the Needle Tattoo
Seattle, Washington
425-530-1201

Krysten Dae
Tattooer
Apocalypse Tattoo
Seattle, Washington
206-434-7581

A Story

2008-11-18T01:50:00.001-08:00

The Cigars
Thump, thump! “Pedro, open the door!” said Tee-Tee. It was a surprisingly cold day in Mexico and there was a light breeze. Pedro opened his window. As it creaked, dozens of bluebirds perched on the saggy clothesline fluttered away. He took a big breath of fresh air and looked down into the street below. Many vendors were already putting out their merchandise and goods for the day’s sales.

Today was Monday and Pedro and his sister Tee-Tee were selling their handmade blankets in the market. Their bird, Cecil, chirped loudly from the other room, meaning it was precisely 7 am. Pedro opened his door just as Tee-Tee was about to pound on it once more. He caught her hand in his and lowered it down to her side. Tee-Tee smirked and limped into the kitchen. From the icebox she pulled out a metal container. Inside was a dirty wad of money, and a few cigars. She closed the box and they sluggishly left the house.

They walked slowly down the dirt sidewalk, avoiding the increasingly large crowds and children playing with marbles and other toys. At the end of the street stood their business. Pedro took count of all the blankets, making sure they were all there, and opened up. Tee-Tee unlocked the moneybox and removed the cigars. She placed them next to a sign that read, “The Best Cigars in the World. Only 100 pesos each.”

Their first customer was a man in his mid-thirties named Gonzales. He walked up to look at the blankets, but his eyes fell on the cigars. He examined them, smelled them, and decided to buy one. Tee-Tee took his money and gave him the change. He took the cigar, and after pondering about possibly buying a blanket, the man walked away.

Another man names Jesus was walking briskly by and happened to notice the cigars as well. He halted and came back to examine them. After seeing how fine they were, and noticing the surprisingly cheap price, he bought one. Tee-Tee said goodbye as the man walked away.

After selling blankets all day, Pedro started to count the money they had made, and Tee-Tee began closing up. They were just about to put the last cigar back into the box when an elderly man hobbled up. His name was Poppy. He was covered in hair and smelled strongly of whiskey and cigarettes. He could barely peer over the counter, but managed to see Pedro holding the cigar in his hand. Without hesitating to think, the man slapped some money down onto the counter. He said he wanted the cigar, so Pedro gave it to him and took his gritty coins. Pedro said goodnight to the hairy old man and he and Tee-Tee left for home.

On their way home they stopped by a merchant, who was selling cheap, but delectable food. They counted out 300 pesos, enough for three days of lentils and split peas. After purchasing their food, they unlocked their apartment door, and put their groceries away. Their bird was hungry, but they had nothing to feed it, nor the money to buy food for it, so they gave her some of their lentils.

The first man named Gonzales arrived home that night and lit up his cigar. He screamed at his children and wife as he peered out his window. Outside the birds were going to sleep, the sun was setting, and the crickets were chirping their last few notes of the evening. All of a sudden his doorbell rang and he answered it. A cat appeared and attacked him until he passed out and was taken to the hospital. He refused to touch a cigar ever again.

The second man named Jesus arrived home and had just come from the local bar. He began to smoke and thought his dog was a murderer and beat him. As he smoked, he suddenly stopped breathing and choked. His cigar fell to the ground, smoldering a part of the rug, but not doing too much harm. He managed to live and decided to never smoke a cigar again.

After purchasing his cigar, Poppy grunted his way home. When he got there, he kissed his wife on the cheek and helped her wash the clothing and hang it on the clothesline. His wife complained about the smell of his cigar and she was worried about his health. So he stopped smoking and lived a content life into old age.

Journal Entries

2008-11-18T01:01:00.000-08:00

We Saw You Old Man
Black and white. The blue sky frames the area as far as I can see. The kids on the bus are quiet. It's too early for the whoops and hollers that I can expect to hear on the way home after school. Winnie, the bus driver slows down to pick up the last kid, than shuts off the aisle lights and drives on. No cars on the road. The icy air comes through the cracks in the windows.   

As Winnie pulls around a bend in the road, blue and red lights blind us all. Everyone on the bus sits forward and stares through the windows. Men in uniform look cold and flustered, flagging us to stop. A car accident. A normal occurence, figuring we live along one of the most dangerous highways in Washington. But something was different about this one.   No ambulance was there. No fire fighters to use the jaws of life. And the only car with a dent has been pulled to the side of the road.

What we can't see, we can't wait to know about. A policeman motions Winnie to start up the bus and drive on through, and all the kids press their faces against the windows.   I take a deep breath, and cannot let it out. The mangled body I see on the ground is one I recognize. A purple bike folded in half, the tires flat and stripped. A pool of blood runs from a small pile of death, draining off into the grass on the side of the road. All the kids gasp as the bus picks up speed.

And Now There Is Starbucks
The Seattle Central District is where I'm from. Surrounded by Cherry Hill, Madrona, Leschi and Rainier Valley. The most racially and ethnically diverse place in Seattle. Once home to Jimi Hendrix, Quincy Jones, Sir Mix-a-lot, and Bruce Lee. And me. At a time walking down MLK Way was very dangerous. Everyone had a gun. Everyone was scared, and everyone was struggling financially. That was my time. I remember it all. Even if I was only 5 years old. I remember my neighbors, Frankie and her Cadillac. I still recall the smell of her house. It smelled of curling irons and old base board heaters.

I feel blessed to have started out in such a place. A place where happiness was still found in the middle of chaos. The police were corrupt, and the city ignored the crime that was slowly eating away at our small community. This forced my parents to move. Even though I was happy, they knew that wouldn't last much longer. So we moved to Beacon Hill. I remember feeling scared and concerned about this, because we spent so much time walking in and out of houses that were not ours, and I felt completely ripped away from everything I was used to.

I remember when the Church down the street was burnt down by the neighborhood gang in the middle of the night, and a flock of doves came bursting out of the roof just before it collapsed. Oh, I remember the big trees during the day flickering the sun all over the side walk where I drew with large pieces of pink chalk. I still see myself going next door and sitting on my friends porch in a one piece swimsuit and moccasins, biting my fingernails and laughing at anything and everything. These are my earliest memories, and my most cherished.

Poetry

2008-11-07T22:00:00.000-08:00

(Written in the style of Charles Bukowski)

it was on water street
a familiar man
stumbled
toward me
drunk
putrid
and waved
his arms all about my face
“i’ve been waiting aaaaall night for a woman like you!”
“where you headed baby?”
i exclaimed “to see my boyfriend!”
his breath was steaming my eyes
and i could see myself in his glasses
“well how about a second boyfriend baby!”
in my head i mulled
over the different choices i had
to cripple him
foot
nuts
face
wrist
i chose words
i told him he should talk
to my boyfriend
and i slowly backed off
to go see my fake lover.

Leadership

2008-07-18T23:28:00.000-07:00

Community Technology Bill signed!
Sophie Gilbert, 4-H Network News reporter, receives a pen from Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire, during the signing ceremony for Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6438. This bill represents 1.5 million dollars of funding for community technology programs across Washington State, especially those programs that serve people of color, those impacted by poverty, as well as the disabled.

Sophie Gilbert, Souhil Alazani and Tyrus Wilcox, all 4-H Network News reporters, were part of a research field study cohort interviewed by the University of Washington earlier this year. The data from this research helped document the positive impact of community technology programs across Washington State. Also interviewed were Pamela Roberts, 4-H Network News advisor and Jefferson County 4-H coordinator, and Robert Force, coordinator of the WSU Learning Center North Olympic Peninsula - in whose computer lab 4-H Network News youth often meet. The results appeared in the UW's Information School (UW iSchool) newsletter this fall, and tell a compelling story about technology in our state and the "digital divide" we have in Washington.

Out of 211 organizations identified in the study, 47 responded to the research team's telephone survey, and field studies were conducted at seven, including 4-H Network News. The research, coupled with individual organization's stories, was presented to the Washington State Legislature by a coalition of community technology providers organized through the Communities Connect Network.

The Communities Connect Network (CCN), of which 4-H Network News is a partner, is a statewide coalition of public and private organizations that provide community technology --public Internet access, skill training, content development, and online services--to underserved populations in Washington. CCN advocates "digital inclusion,"the movement to ensure that all individuals have equitable access to and the skills to use information technologies to unlock the education, job, health, and civic tools they need.

You can reach the Community Connects Network at their website:
www.communitiesconnect.org

Reporting

2008-07-18T05:32:00.001-07:00

Interview with Secretary Ed Schafer!
Sophie Gilbert, 4-H Network News reporter, interviews Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, regarding the exciting 4-H initiative: One Million New Scientists. One Million New Ideas. Sophie was in Washington D.C. during the roll out of the campaign to encourage increased training in the areas of Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) across the United States.

Interview with Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.
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Sophie Gilbert and Matthew Elmore interviewed Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur about the importance of the United States staying competitive in Science, Engineering and Technology.

4-H interview with
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio.
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Matthew and Sophie stand with John Deere Foundation representatives, Cheryl Salley and John Deere. The John Deere Foundation has been an active supporter of 4-H youth programs, including science and leadership programs, as well as 4-H Afterschool.

Sophie talks with members of a 4-H technology team from Mississippi. Pictured above are l. to r.: Thomas Keary, Kaylee Keith, Iver Vandiver and Sophie Gilbert.
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WSU in Seattle 2008: A Taste of WSU

WSU researchers and their community partners enjoyed an evening at Benaroya Hall, sharing the bounty of their research related to food, farming, crops, and more! Featured are 4-H Network News reporters, Jesaint Baril and Sophie Gilbert, as well as WSU President Elson Floyd. Luke Turner and Tyrus Wilcox, cameras. Click here to see the feature on WSU Extension's state website.

This video is dedicated to the memory of
Ed McMichael, "The Tuba Man," 1955-2008.

Watch A Taste of WSU 2008 in How to Videos | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com********************************************************************************
WSU at Pike Place Market
This video features Washington State University researchers and their community partners at the Pike Place Market for a special evening of food and conversation, exploring innovative food products, organic farming practices, environmentally friendly pest control and more.

Travels

2008-07-18T05:21:00.001-07:00

Jefferson Community School Visits Phapang, Thailand
In 2007 I traveled with a school group to teach English to elementary school students in Thailand. The movies below summarize some of my experiences there.

These movies were made from images and movie clips from my 3-week trip to Phapang, Thailand in January 2007. While there I helped teach English to the school children. Movie by Sophie Gilbert.

This trip was part of a service project that Jefferson Community School has established with the village. Movie produced by Sophie Gilbert and Hopi Jayne.

MySeattlePix Photo - I meet a big green village bug in Thailand.