The Living Well Media Press Kit - 2014-15

L iv ing WellThe

A Center for Social & Economic Vibrancy | 2014-2015 Media Press Kit

Live well. Be more.

2 | LIVE WELL. BE MORE.

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTORPAGE 4

ABOUT USPAGE 6

OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT AT A GLANCEPAGE 8

Contents

LIVE WELL. BE MORE. | 3

ABOUT USPAGE 4

OUR SPACEPAGE 16

Contact UsThe Living Well 2443 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 Telephone: 410.212.5953

Email: [email protected] Instagram: livewellbemoreTwitter: @TheLivingWell1Facebook: TheLivingWellPinterest: www.pinterest.com/thelivingwell

OUR RECURRING CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIESPAGE 10

OUR CHANGE MAKING ACTIVITIES AND SERVICESPAGE 14

PHOTO CREDITS:

Stan Marrow

Jason Harris

Jennifer White-Johnson

Saddi Khali

Reuben Greene

Michael King

Tafari Melisizwe

Dominic Nell

Zizwe Alllette


W hen I hear people talk about The

Living Well, they often describe

how they have experienced the space.

Some may say it’s a yoga studio, others

an exhibit space, and many a banquet

hall ideal for baby showers or workshops

and retreats. We provide all of these

opportunities and more. We are a Center

for Social & Economic Vibrancy and have

been described as a place where dreams

thrive. Our motto is “Live Well. Be More.”

Our central location in the Old Goucher

neighborhood of Charles Village provides

us with a large reach of consumers that

represent the business and residential

sector. Our programs and services

are driven by what the community

supports and desires. As the needs of

our community members and patrons

evolve, so does our role in the community.

Our urban oasis houses a network

of community practitioners, social

change agents, entrepreneurs, artists,

and community stakeholders who use

our studio for a variety of events and

activities. We value diversity and support

individuals and organizations in their

efforts to turn their ideas into action.

In a society where our personal and

Friends,

A Letter FromTHE DIRECTOR


Maurissa Stone Bass Director

THE LIVING WELL STAFF

MAURISSA STONE BASS Director

[email protected]

JANELLE WILLIAMS Director of Communications

[email protected]

UKANA MCPHERSON Facilities Manager

[email protected]

JASON HARRIS Director of Creative Services, Sound and Lighting Engineering [email protected]

MENES YAHUDA Director of Musicology [email protected]

MICHELLE STAFFORD Director of Fitness/Wellness

[email protected]

professional relationships hold great value,

the leveraging of relationships translates

into what we know as social capital.

The Living Well provides a platform

for building individual and collective

social networks. Through a variety of

the networks we’ve created, individuals

and organizations gain access to skills,

services, and customers that may not have

been previously within reach. Through

us, they can maximize social capital and

economic opportunities.

At the Living Well, we view creativity

and social capital as economies that can

be used to build powerful and enriching

social and professional connections. Our

facility can be used to build individual

brands, businesses, and resumes via non-

linear approaches to education and career

development. We also welcome applied

learning internships.

We hope to share our space and partner

with you as you plan your next endeavor. If

you have an idea or need space to host an

event or activity, please give us a call.


About Us

WHAT IS THE LIVING WELL?

We are a community development entity that uses art as a vehicle

for individual and community change and empowerment.

We subscribe to a Vibrant Community model using creative space-

making tactics and strategies.

We focus on building social capital while using business principles

to create economic outcomes.

We believe that using vibrant approaches to community building

creates a distinct culture of engagement.

WHAT IS OUR MISSION?

To build diverse communities and develop social capital.

To use a creative space approach to bring people together for a

variety of events, classes, and initiatives.

To remain dedicated to individual and community change by way of

conscious expansion, soulful expression, and optimal wellness.

Vibrant HAVING OR SHOWING GREAT LIFE, ACTIVITY,

AND ENERGY; VERY BRIGHT AND STRONG.


CONSCIOUS EXPANSION

Any forum, event or activity that increases

knowledge, conscious thought and action

towards positive change; a process by

which community dialogue circles/sessions,

workshops, and activities are used to impact

the human spirit and energy.

SOULFUL EXPRESSION

Any forum, event or activity that uses

movement, visual esthetics, yoga, dance

and or music as a vehicle for personal and

community enlightenment, physical and

emotional wellness and change. A process

by which yoga, dance, movement, music

classes and workshops are designed to create

opportunities to release stress and achieve

fitness and wellness goals.

OPTIMAL WELLNESS

Traditional and non-traditional methods

of increasing the human spirit, health and

energy. Any forum event or activity focused

on developing organization and community

wellness.

HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR

ORGANIZATION?

Our centrally located and open-space studio

design provides the perfect place to host

events meetings, workshops, and exhibits.

Everyone from instructors, facilitators, and

coaches/counselors to business owners,

organizations, and individuals can rent

space on a monthly, hourly and/or daily

basis. We also welcome partnerships with

social entrepreneurs and social enterprise

organizations using a cooperative business

model that promotes opportunities to build

social capital, organizational capacity and

the development of civic and personal

leadership.

Vibrant HAVING OR SHOWING GREAT LIFE, ACTIVITY,

AND ENERGY; VERY BRIGHT AND STRONG.


Our Community Impact at a Glance

W e understand that one drop in the bucket can cause a wave of

change, and that real change always starts at the community

level. Since joining the Old Goucher neighborhood in 2008, The

Living Well has served as an impetus for positive change. We want to

continue to increase the number of visitors to this rich community,

which has one of the most diverse social, racial and economic

demographics in the city of Baltimore.


Our location on Charles Street is at the center

of one of Baltimore’s most-traveled arteries.

Our neighbors, including major retail chains

and education institutions such as Safeway

Food Stores, CVS Pharmacy, PNC Bank, Johns

Hopkins University and various social welfare

organizations, provide a diverse stream

of business and residential traffic by our

storefront.

We also have had a direct impact on the

community by hosting a multitude of events,

classes, music forums, exhibits, community

meetings, etc. Find a snapshot below.

WE HAVE:

Incubated cultural arts, social enterprise

and wellness entities—3 martial arts, 5

yoga instructors, 30 dance instructors, and 1

vegan chef

Touched youth in Baltimore city

neighborhoods through youth leadership

development programs and workshops

Hosted financial wellness and professional

development classes using local financial,

marketing and business coaches

Supported emerging artists through

exhibitions, artisan markets, and pop-up

shops

Featured international and local performers

through our Living Room Concert series,

album release parties, and live music forums

Helped make impactful connections

between social entrepreneurs

Hosted retreats using interactive and

creative methods such as arts, music and

dance

Hosted community milestone events,

including retirement parties and baby

showers

Created an institute for the study of dance

and music of the African Diaspora

AUDIENCE:

Our platform represents diverse gender, ethnic

and racial backgrounds.

Average age: 28 yr. – 54 yr. old

Average salary: 38k – 72k

SOCIAL MEDIA:

6,500 followers across various social media

platforms, including Facebook and Twitter.

TAMARACKAN INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

VIBRANT COMMUNITIES ACTIVELY PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING

OF THEIR MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

“


THE LIVING ROOM CONCERT SERIES

The Living Well Concert series offers an

intimate, comfortable, affordable, and

convenient setting. It brings top-notch

musical performances to the neighborhood

and provides an opportunity for authentic

exchange with the audience and the artist.

URBAN FOLI

Urban Foli is a musical theater

performance group that expresses

traditional African drumming and dance

bridged with contemporary sound and

movements.

The focus is to cultivate a mixture of West

African and African American percussion

and culture. Under ancient tradition, each

ethnic group or percussionist develops

their own sound; Urban Foli encourages

its members to combine ancient teachings

with the evolution of R&B and hip-hop

culture.

The goal is not only to preserve traditional

music and history, but to continue the

legacy of percussion and movement that

has been passed down in the Americas.

The group’s mission is to expose as many

as possible to a Neo-traditional sound.

Urban Foli provides workshops for men,

women and children on topics including:

Dance of the African Diaspora

History of African drum and

dance

Drum construction and care

Hand techniques

Poly rhythmic assignments

Rhythms and African ethnic/

region origin

Summer day camp workshops and school

break sessions are available for individuals

and groups. Drum rentals, repairs and sales

are also available.

EMERGING ARTISTS EXHIBITS

The Living Well features photography,

visual art, applied design exhibits and

events throughout the year. We host an

annual Handmade Holiday event during the

winter season that allows artisans to sell

products as vendors. Our space also serves

as a gallery for emerging photographers,

visual artists, and applied designers. We

regularly feature the work of artists and

designers in an ideally located window

display on Charles Street.

Our Recurring Calendar of EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES


organizations and communities. Iona Concepts

provides the following change management

services:

Strategic Planning

Community Development/

Organizing

Non-profit Board Development

Career/Life Coaching

Retreat Planning/Facilitation

Motivational Speaking

Organizational Development Training

Iona Circles*

COMMUNITY FORUMS

The Living Well has hosted several community

forums aimed at increasing awareness

surrounding community issues, supporting

community initiatives, and other topics that

impact the community. Our community forums

often feature keynote speeches by experts in

the field and by representatives from the city

EMPOWERMENT RETREATS

We support and host retreats and workshops on

various topics, and can provide our expertise from

program design to implementation. The Living Well’s

Studio Director, Maurissa Stone Bass, is founder

of Iona Concepts, Inc., a Training and Change

Management Consulting organization and the

umbrella for The Living Well studio. Iona Concepts’

mission is to facilitate planned change in systems,


and state government. We have hosted forums

related to the following topics:

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Eliminating Institutional Racism

Social Entrepreneurship

Resilience in the New Economy

Developing Healthy Relationships

Preventing Sexual Harassment

Domestic Violence

Breast Cancer Awareness

THE LIVING VILLAGE

The Living Village is a new Conscious Expansion

initiative for Baltimore City Public School

System (BCPS) middle and elementary students.

Workshops are designed to teach and reinforce

respect for leadership and authority and are

held during scheduled BCPS school closings.

Students participate in focused interactive

play and instruction surrounding Art and

Community. Exercises and discussions regarding

communication and self-expression will help

students to build effective communication and

team building skills. Each session addresses

a different aspect of citizenship as a student,

community and family member.


Our Change Making

ACTIVITIES and SERVICES

Our studio space can be used to host a variety of events.

We’ve provided just a snapshot here.

• Retreats• Yoga• Youth Leadership

Development Programs and Workshops

• Financial Wellness and Professional Development Classes

• Multimedia Art Exhibitions • Artisan Markets and

Workshops

• Pop-up shops• Album Release Parties• Live Music Forums• Djembe Drumming• Dance• Wellness Events• Baby Showers• Birthday Parties• Retirement Parties• Educational Empowerment

Forums and Dinners

• Community Rallies and Vigils• Fashion Shows• Comedy Shows• Social Entrepreneurship Hour• Sewing and Applied Design

Workshops• Strategy Sessions• Domestic Violence and

Relationship Management Workshops

• Artist Exchange Meetings

CREATING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

The Living Well has partnered with the following

agencies, institutes and organizations.

St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center

University of Maryland Carey School

of Law

St. Vincent de Paul

Speakerbox Magazine

Terra Café

Capoeira Luanda

MICA

Yelp

Grindhouse Juice Bar

Baltimore Rhythm Festival

Redlines Publishing

Just Advice Law Clinics

University of Baltimore

Dubscience Photography

Our business neighbors have been a direct

beneficiary of our success. Many of our

customers leave The Living Well and enjoy dining

at local establishments and our community

partners such as:

The Terra Café – Our community partner the Terra

Café provides food and technical assistance for our

events, meetings and classes. As a result many

of our customers in turn use the Terra Café as a

convenient, affordable and great place to dine.

Grindhouse Juice Bar –The Grind House Juice bar

expanded their Beet Trip series to our location.

Local young music makers had a place to expand

their artistic footprint and created a safe an artistic

space to come together around a common cause

and interest.


St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center – This center

serves as our community liaison for services

such as financial counseling, home buying,

legal services.

Reflection Eternal – Reflection Eternal provides

facility oversight and management has direct

access to facilitate community gatherings

and lectures regarding issue that impact the

African American male.

Sankofa World Bazaar – This retail provider has

partnered with us to provide education and

artifacts from the African Diaspora.

Equity Matters – An organization founded in

Baltimore that has created partnerships and

currently houses the Dismantling Institutional

Rascism potluck meetings.

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) – This local

college partners with The Living Well to help

students earn internship credits and to provide

workshop resources from local artist.

TELL US YOUR VISION, AND WE’LL HELP CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE YOU NEED!

PARTNER WITH USAre you interested in partnering with us? Email

us at [email protected] or call us

at 410.212.5953 to schedule a time to discuss

how we can work together. We would love

learn about you and the work you are doing to

empower individuals and communities.


CREATING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Whether you are hosting a small meeting,

milestone celebration or a fitness class, The

Living Well’s open-space studio is the perfect

place to host events under 100 people. The Living

Well provides access to our large storefront

windows located on the North Charles Street

artery of Charles Village and is less than 6

minutes from Baltimore’s Penn Station.

Pedestrians from John Hopkins University,

motorists traveling North on Charles, and

community residents have daily visual access to

products, classes, and events that are marketed

and held at The Living Well.

Our customer service standards mandate that

all guests are provided the highest quality

of services and professionalism. Attendees

should be treated as honored guests at all

times during the registration and learning

process. We will collaborate with you to

achieve your vision of success.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Our open space design accommodates 80 people

comfortably with room to spare.

Tables and chairs are included in rental prices

and will be set-up upon arrival with prior set-up

requirements. Our inventory of tables and chairs

include:

1 - 6ft rectangle table

1 - 9ft rectangle table

3 – 84 inch round tables

60 assorted chairs (35 black hard back)

1 glass desk

Accommodations for audio visual systems,

public address systems, and flipcharts are also

available, upon request.

Renters also have access to the kitchenette.

Alcohol: You can NEVER sell alcohol, however

you can serve it. Renters can obtain a temporary

liquor license by contacting the Baltimore City

Liquor License Board. Renters must ensure

patrons are over the age of 18.

RENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION

We welcome you to host your next special event

at The Living Well! We rent our studio space

on a first- come, first-served basis. We will do

everything in our power to honor your request.

PAYMENT AND DEPOSITS

Hourly Rate: $95

Facility fee: $40

Security fee: $50

A 50% deposit of your total rental is due to

reserve the space. Your total deposit includes

your $40.00 Facility Fee and $50.00 security

deposit, in addition to your hourly rental

cost. Your Security Deposit is returned upon

Our Space

Simple | F l ex ible | Affordable


inspection of the facility and will be returned

within 7 days after your rental. Trash and food

debris must be removed and the floor should be

broom swept. Patrons loitering out front with

open containers will forfeit their security deposit.

Music must be kept to a level that does not create

a disruption of peace for our neighbors. Music/

bass volume must be turned down at 12:00 am.

*Staff support: $15.00 per hour (by request only)

LIABILITY

The Living Well does not provide the renters

with liability insurance/coverage. All renters

must have liability coverage and provide class

participants with liability waiver forms. The

Living Well parent company Iona Concepts must

be named as an additional insurer on all liability

policies.

OUR VISIBILITY AND MARKETING REQUIREMENTS

Event hosts are responsible for self-marketing.

The Living Well logo must be included on all

marketing materials. Rentals that are booked

for public events must use a jpeg version of our

logo on marketing materials (un-amended). We

request a final approval on flyer designs before

flyers are reproduced and distributed. Flyer

designs scaled for 11x17 can be produced into a

poster for display in our front window. Flyers

should be submitted 30 days prior to event to

[email protected].

FOOD

We have a kitchenette for limited storage and

prep. We request that food be ready to go. The

Living Well strongly encourages renters to

purchase liability insurance and to use caterers

who are licensed and practice sanitary methods

for food preparation, storage and delivery.

CANCELLATIONS

Cancellations must be requested in writing 10

calendar days prior to the event to receive an

80% refund of the down payment and deposit.

Deposits are forfeited if cancellation is made

less than 10 calendar days before date identified

on the renter’s Space Rental Agreement. NO

EXCEPTIONS.


FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact The Living Well at admin@livewellbemore.

com or at 410-212-5953 for more information about

long-term rental agreements. Complete a booking

application on-line at www.livewellbemore.com.


Live well. Be more.

The Living Well Media Press Kit - 2014-15

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Transcript of The Living Well Media Press Kit - 2014-15