The 4mamaearth team is continuing our series of girls’ workshops at the Women’s Care Cottage (a program of Volunteers of America) in North Hollywood with the intention to have fun and share ways to inspire, shift attitudes, create confidence, and cultivate a sense of empowerment and creativity. We took a virtual journey around the world with our dear friend, world-traveler and jewelry designer, Liza Vosbigian. It seemed only natural to have Liza facillitate our 3rd workshop with the girls of Womens Care Cottage, Girls Inc and L.E.A.D. since she is an excellent example of someone who has used her heartfelt passions and artistic talents to carve out an incredible life for herself traveling around the world, importing art, jewelry and textiles from places like Bali, Brazil, Morocco and continuing to design and create her own jewelry. Liza began painting in day care, doing bead work in elementary school and working with silver and stones in high school….and she has never stopped! She attended Art Center college of design in Pasadena and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She learned henna tattooing from friends and studied books and photos of the designs of many different cultures before working with party planners and doing festivals. Her henna art has graced the likes of Alannis Morissette and Carmit Bachar (of the Pussycat Dolls).
 Brazil |
 Morocco |
 Liza painting (Bali) |
Our gratitude goes out to Liza for taking the time to share her life experience and help the young women in attendance open their focus to more of the world outside of their own immediate day-to-day realities and struggles. We really wanted to impress upon the girls the idea that we can all use our own gifts and talents to think outside the box and create not only livelihood and income but enthusiasm and passion for life. Not everyone was ready to share but as some of the group began to open up about their passions and talents, we discovered a painter, a poet, make-up artists, a photographer, a piano player and more in the group. We talked about saving a little bit of money to get a passport so that when an opportunity arises, you’re ready! (A perfect example: resident 4mamaearth papa & urban farmer, Eugene Cooke, who planted a garden with the girls at the last workshop, just returned from a trip to Jamaica installing edible gardens!)
Our gratitude also goes out to the many 4mamaearth supporters that donated to our recent IndieGoGo campaign. The money raised is helping us fund these workshops and provide art supplies and healthy snacks and lunches for the young women who are choosing to participate. We are looking forward to more gatherings with these young women who have faced some substantial challenges and are doing their best to better themselves and their lives.
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