Lily Gardner Jonsek is the Shreveport-Bossier coordinator for host families.
I work primarily with exchange scholarship programs administered by the Department of State, says Jonsek, with the explicit focus of combating xenophobia on both sides of the exchange. I'm passionate about this, and I want these programs to have a greater presence in our area. Of course, when the students are active in the community and people get the chance to meet them, that will increase interest. To get them here, we have to have host families first.
I remember the tension of the Cold War. I was born on a military base during the Vietnam War. The international scene wasn’t exactly rosy during my childhood, yet there was still an innocence that served to buffer us. I’m not sure my son will have that benefit. It’s a different world now. It’s harder to hide atrocities, but it’s harder to protect against danger as well. For my son’s sake, I feel an urgency to act, to reach out and form those bonds of common humanity that will bridge the gap between where we are and the world that he, and all other children across our globe, deserves.
I answer that call by bringing exchange students into our home and community. I work with scholarship programs that offer the life-changing opportunity to spend a year in the United States to teens in countries where opportunities are limited and the potential for conflict between our countries is all too real.
I believe these programs benefit our community. We become more grateful for the rights and privileges we, unlike millions around the world, enjoy every day. We become more aware of and compassionate about the challenges so many face. We come to know ourselves in a deeper way, and find new solutions to our own problems in the process.
We also have lots of fun, discovering the same old places through the eyes of a youngster newly arrived on our shores. We gain brothers and sisters, sons and daughters.
We need more people to join our ranks and become host families. There are teens who have won scholarships but are waiting to hear from a family willing to take them in before the end of June deadline. New friends are waiting to be made.
For more information, please contact me at 415-359-6833 or studentexchangelily@gmail.com.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Host families needed for exchange students; end of June deadline, says coordinator Lily Gardner Jonsek
Lily Gardner Jonsek is the Shreveport-Bossier coordinator for host families.
I work primarily with exchange scholarship programs administered by the Department of State, says Jonsek, with the explicit focus of combating xenophobia on both sides of the exchange. I'm passionate about this, and I want these programs to have a greater presence in our area. Of course, when the students are active in the community and people get the chance to meet them, that will increase interest. To get them here, we have to have host families first.
I remember the tension of the Cold War. I was born on a military base during the Vietnam War. The international scene wasn’t exactly rosy during my childhood, yet there was still an innocence that served to buffer us. I’m not sure my son will have that benefit. It’s a different world now. It’s harder to hide atrocities, but it’s harder to protect against danger as well. For my son’s sake, I feel an urgency to act, to reach out and form those bonds of common humanity that will bridge the gap between where we are and the world that he, and all other children across our globe, deserves.
I answer that call by bringing exchange students into our home and community. I work with scholarship programs that offer the life-changing opportunity to spend a year in the United States to teens in countries where opportunities are limited and the potential for conflict between our countries is all too real.
I believe these programs benefit our community. We become more grateful for the rights and privileges we, unlike millions around the world, enjoy every day. We become more aware of and compassionate about the challenges so many face. We come to know ourselves in a deeper way, and find new solutions to our own problems in the process.
We also have lots of fun, discovering the same old places through the eyes of a youngster newly arrived on our shores. We gain brothers and sisters, sons and daughters.
We need more people to join our ranks and become host families. There are teens who have won scholarships but are waiting to hear from a family willing to take them in before the end of June deadline. New friends are waiting to be made.
For more information, please contact me at 415-359-6833 or studentexchangelily@gmail.com.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Experimental film by Kate McCabe at minicine?, 846 Texas Ave, Sat, Ap 23, 8 pm
Shadowy filmmaker Kate McCabe edits for vibe and uses time lapse and image superimposition in her experimental films. Part of the Kidnap Yourself art collective, McCabe has been been in and out of Joshua Tree, California, since the 90's. On Sat, Ap 23, she lands at minicine?, 846 Texas Ave, with film to be rolled.
Her 90's work with the psychedelic musician Brant Bjork reached for an understanding of life in the desert. Called "Sabbia" (sand), it used Bork's sinuous guitar and bass lines and McCabe's sense of the rocks, girls and beers of the Mojave to evoke that particular life.
Does it occur to film lovers that Shreveport has no less than a steady diet of indie work to be consumed? From the straight independent work seen at Robinson Film Center and in the shorts associated with the Louisiana Film Prize, to the offbeat films aired by the Centenary Film Society and the idiosyncratic work shown at minicine? this is a city where you can study or simply enjoy the world away from Hollywood.
Doors @ 8pm. Films roll @ 8:30.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Seratones In Wash, DC, on Tiny Desk Concert at NPR.org
"Seratones singer-guitarist A.J. Haynes takes gospel into the garage," says Bob Boilen of NPR Music, "and what comes out is fiery rock 'n' roll. The Shreveport, La., band is a joy to see and hear, and this Tiny Desk concert provides a fiery peek at what you'll soon hear on the group's debut album, Get Gone."
That's Connor Davis on lead, Jesse Gabriel on drums and Adam Davis on bass. Raised in Shreveport, the guys all went to Caddo Magnet HS. AJ Haynes graduated from CE Byrd.
Will the Seratones be able to extend their media success with the arrival of the new songs, "Get Gone"? This Tiny Desk Concert augurs well.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Rest in peace Shreveport personality Clarence "Cat Daddy" Spurs, age 58
Saddened to hear of the death of Clarence "Cat Daddy" Spurs, a radio personality, restaurant owner, car lot owner and the unofficial mayor of Mooretown.
He was 58 and died of a heart attack, says KSLA.
Cat Daddy will be missed. Check him out in this 2009 profile.
Poetry and piano pounding at Shreveport House Concert Series Sun, Ap 17, 7 pm: Alan Dyson, Erich Avinger, Juliann Banks
“Stray Dogs by the Highway” is a fresh recording featuring lyrics by poet David Love Lewis, piano and vocals by composer/songwriter Alan Dyson, and perfect accents by jazz guitarist/ producer Erich Avinger.
Dyson's piano and vocals reminds me of Billy Joel or Randy Newman. Erich Avinger is a sizzling accompanist. The House concert also features journeywoman singer-musician Juliann Banks. She, too, has a new album.
"Lewis, Dyson and Avinger are Southern artists motivated by the hypnotic Om of the cicada, the hum of road, and the mantra of familiar hymns permeating the piney woods of East Texas and Northwest Louisiana," says Dyson.
Catch their musical wordplay on Sun, Ap 17, 7 pm, at 1508 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport.
$20
(318) 670-3567
Sunday, April 10, 2016
"I Saw the Light:" a thoughtful, elegant story of Hank Williams currently at Robinson Film Center
"I Saw the Light," a movie made on location in and around Shreveport, is an elegant, personal inquiry into the life of singer-songwriter Hank Williams. It is a slow movie, and deliciously so, since the golden light captured by Dante Spinotte helps tell the story. British actor Tom Hiddleston sings and inhabits the Hank skin capably.
It is not an exciting story. It reflects upon the rotten roles played by men and women in the 1950's. It muses on the mystery of Hank's gifts, explains his back pain (spina bifida, long before anyone knew the ailment as such) and confronts his alcoholism.
"I Saw the Light" humanizes the legendary figure. Interestingly, critics from coast to coast have jumped upon the movie, written and directed by Hollywood veteran Marc Abraham. Rottentomatoes.com says, "it boasts a terrifically talented cast, but their performances aren't enough to enliven an unfocused biopic that never comes close to capturing its subject's timeless appeal."
I disagree.
I believe this movie will find its audiences in Europe, Asia and in independent movie houses, such as Robinson Film Center - which is where it is currently airing.
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Exploring Regional Broadband for North Louisiana
Exploring Regional Broadband for North Louisiana
Date: December 19, 2015
Time: 10am
Place: CoHab, 500 Clyde Fant Pkwy #200, Shreveport, LA 71101
The Louisiana Coalition for Broadband Now, CoHab and State Representative Elect Cedric Glover will sponsor a three session event to discuss the benefits of community broadband fiber networks for north Louisiana. Communities across America have sought to attract, partner for, or develop their own fiber networks, and a rapidly growing number of public and private service providers have
embraced gigabit connectivity as the minimum standard for next-generation
networks.
Session 1: Focus on the enhanced education and economic potential of
fiber communities- It’s working - There are many paths to fiber to the home
deployment for a communities. Michael Harold and Keith Hanson will discuss the
economic and educational potential of fiber communities and how they will effect
potential growth in north Louisiana.
Session 2: The current regulatory environment in Louisiana -led by Tom
Arceneaux; providing an overview of the legal environment faced by community
driven broadband fiber initiatives.
Session 3: Keynote speaker Mayor Joey Durel from Lafayette Louisiana Mayor Durel of Lafayette Louisiana will be speaking on how he made broadband a reality in the heart of Cajun Country resulting in reliable and affordable broadband services to its citizens.
Chit and Chat: Light refreshments will be provided.
Keynote Speaker Mayor Joey Durel- Elected in 2003, he became only the second Republican mayor of his city and the second person elected as "City-Parish president" of the combined City of Lafayette and Lafayette Parish government. Self described as a “progressive” Republican; Mayor Durel led his city to positive impact by building an ultra-fast broadband network responsible in part to Lafayette’s growing economy. The success of the LUS Fiber system is reason businesses continue to choose Lafayette. Four high-tech companies have recently announced bringing a total of 1100 direct new jobs to their community with total new wages exceeding $65 million per year. Mayor Durel will be sharing how he led Lafayette to create their own fiber system.
Panelists include:
Tom Arceneaux- Practicing law for over 35 years, Mr. Arceneaux has run the
gamut of the law practice experience, from United States District Court law clerk
to associate at a large Houston law firm (Vinson & Elkins) to small partnership
practice to in-house counsel to solo practice. His practice is primarily commercial
law, with emphasis on commercial transactions and commercial litigation, but he
also has a substantial practice in state and local government law. From 1982-
1990, Tom served as a member of the Shreveport City Council, including holding
office as Chairman and Vice Chairman of that body.
Michael Harold-Systems architect and inventor in five global markets: Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), Last-mile Computing, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Information Archiving (EIA) and the Mobile Internet of Things. Founder of four technology startups. Inventor with patents and patents pending in encryption, compression, last mile computing, cloud computing and mobile computing. Michael is the founder of Little Big which uses smart phones to control and communicate with out-of-home digital signage applications.
Keith Hanson- Cofounder, CEO and developer of Twin Engine Labs, a software engineering firm that specializes in turning “blue sky” entrepreneurial ideas into profitable products. Specialties include, Mobile Monetization, Ideation, Resource Management, Mobile API, and Scalable Server Architectures. win Engine Labs has also worked with brands large and small, working with Cisco Networks, American Songwriter Magazine, Symantec, and many others. Keith fosters a quickly growing local alliance of technology companies and has been recognized with the Rising Star of the Year award by the Governor of Louisiana.
Moderator
Cedric Glover: - Two term former Shreveport Mayor and State Representative Elect jumped started the region's cultural economy by building in Ledbetter Heights the $14 million Millennium Studios and Worldwide FX complex, initiating the Central ArtStation, the LA Film Prize, laying out the vision for the Shreveport Common and securing city ownership and control of the previously failed Red River District. As a staffing industry professional, Cedric understands the benefit of providing opportunity to thousands of our youth in the Mayor's Summer Jobs and Internships initiative. Representative Elect Glover is known for his technology savoir-faire, communicating with citizens over Twitter and other social media, making himself available to the public.
Media on Lafayette, Louisiana’s fiber system
Bill Moyer – “Bringing High Speed Internet to Cajun Country”
**Attendees will be eligible for a free drawing for gift cards for Star Wars- The Force Awakens**
For more information please contact:
Deborah Allen- Louisiana Coalition for Broadband Now-
lacobroadnow@gmail.com
Find us on
Facebook
Twitter
RSVP here
Date: December 19, 2015
Time: 10am
Place: CoHab, 500 Clyde Fant Pkwy #200, Shreveport, LA 71101
The Louisiana Coalition for Broadband Now, CoHab and State Representative Elect Cedric Glover will sponsor a three session event to discuss the benefits of community broadband fiber networks for north Louisiana. Communities across America have sought to attract, partner for, or develop their own fiber networks, and a rapidly growing number of public and private service providers have
embraced gigabit connectivity as the minimum standard for next-generation
networks.
Session 1: Focus on the enhanced education and economic potential of
fiber communities- It’s working - There are many paths to fiber to the home
deployment for a communities. Michael Harold and Keith Hanson will discuss the
economic and educational potential of fiber communities and how they will effect
potential growth in north Louisiana.
Session 2: The current regulatory environment in Louisiana -led by Tom
Arceneaux; providing an overview of the legal environment faced by community
driven broadband fiber initiatives.
Session 3: Keynote speaker Mayor Joey Durel from Lafayette Louisiana Mayor Durel of Lafayette Louisiana will be speaking on how he made broadband a reality in the heart of Cajun Country resulting in reliable and affordable broadband services to its citizens.
Chit and Chat: Light refreshments will be provided.
Keynote Speaker Mayor Joey Durel- Elected in 2003, he became only the second Republican mayor of his city and the second person elected as "City-Parish president" of the combined City of Lafayette and Lafayette Parish government. Self described as a “progressive” Republican; Mayor Durel led his city to positive impact by building an ultra-fast broadband network responsible in part to Lafayette’s growing economy. The success of the LUS Fiber system is reason businesses continue to choose Lafayette. Four high-tech companies have recently announced bringing a total of 1100 direct new jobs to their community with total new wages exceeding $65 million per year. Mayor Durel will be sharing how he led Lafayette to create their own fiber system.
Panelists include:
Tom Arceneaux- Practicing law for over 35 years, Mr. Arceneaux has run the
gamut of the law practice experience, from United States District Court law clerk
to associate at a large Houston law firm (Vinson & Elkins) to small partnership
practice to in-house counsel to solo practice. His practice is primarily commercial
law, with emphasis on commercial transactions and commercial litigation, but he
also has a substantial practice in state and local government law. From 1982-
1990, Tom served as a member of the Shreveport City Council, including holding
office as Chairman and Vice Chairman of that body.
Michael Harold-Systems architect and inventor in five global markets: Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), Last-mile Computing, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Information Archiving (EIA) and the Mobile Internet of Things. Founder of four technology startups. Inventor with patents and patents pending in encryption, compression, last mile computing, cloud computing and mobile computing. Michael is the founder of Little Big which uses smart phones to control and communicate with out-of-home digital signage applications.
Keith Hanson- Cofounder, CEO and developer of Twin Engine Labs, a software engineering firm that specializes in turning “blue sky” entrepreneurial ideas into profitable products. Specialties include, Mobile Monetization, Ideation, Resource Management, Mobile API, and Scalable Server Architectures. win Engine Labs has also worked with brands large and small, working with Cisco Networks, American Songwriter Magazine, Symantec, and many others. Keith fosters a quickly growing local alliance of technology companies and has been recognized with the Rising Star of the Year award by the Governor of Louisiana.
Moderator
Cedric Glover: - Two term former Shreveport Mayor and State Representative Elect jumped started the region's cultural economy by building in Ledbetter Heights the $14 million Millennium Studios and Worldwide FX complex, initiating the Central ArtStation, the LA Film Prize, laying out the vision for the Shreveport Common and securing city ownership and control of the previously failed Red River District. As a staffing industry professional, Cedric understands the benefit of providing opportunity to thousands of our youth in the Mayor's Summer Jobs and Internships initiative. Representative Elect Glover is known for his technology savoir-faire, communicating with citizens over Twitter and other social media, making himself available to the public.
Media on Lafayette, Louisiana’s fiber system
Bill Moyer – “Bringing High Speed Internet to Cajun Country”
**Attendees will be eligible for a free drawing for gift cards for Star Wars- The Force Awakens**
For more information please contact:
Deborah Allen- Louisiana Coalition for Broadband Now-
lacobroadnow@gmail.com
Find us on
RSVP here
Sunday, November 01, 2015
Shreveport Blog transitioning from Blogger to Facebook - after 10 years on Blogger
Shreveport Blog is transitioning to a Shreveport Blog on Facebook in order to re-direct and focus. My ambition is to add more personal insight into the events at hand, write more reviews and see whether the blog can grow.
Please join me.
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