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Rob Thomas Performance in Georgia

By: Tiffany Lempesis

Rob Thomas performed in Atlanta last Sunday for participants of the Dow Live Earth Run for Water to help raise money and awareness for the global water crisis.

The worldwide initiative took place Sunday, April 18 in more than 100 cities in 50 countries. Its purpose was to promote awareness and raise money to combat the water crisis, according to a press release by Dow Live Earth on March 9.

Live Earth is a for-profit company that pairs entertainment with critical environmental issues so that the importance of these issues may reach a large audience in a way that impacts them to take action. The company claims that it can “ignite a global movement” by “[leveraging] the power of entertainment through integrated events, media and the live experience,” as defined in Live Earth’s press release.

Multi-platinum three-time GRAMMY Award winner Rob Thomas, along with two-time GRAMMY Award winner Melissa Etheridge are slated to perform in Los Angeles and Atlanta, respectively, doing their part in endorsing an end to the water crisis, stated Live Earth in their press release.

The two performances are the only events in the United States. Rob Thomas will conduct his show following the race for participants and volunteers of the event.

The Run for Water in Atlanta will take place at Pemberton Place at 8:45 a.m.

Registration for the race is $30 before April 1^st and $35 from April 2^nd through April 15^th. Participants of the race can run and/or walk the 6K and are encouraged to be a part of the worldwide initiative for battling the global water crisis.

Proceeds from the races will go directly to the Global Water Challenge. For the Atlanta race specifically—a portion of the fees will go to the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR).

The Global Water Challenge is a coalition of leading organizations that “provide creative and sustainable solutions for universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation,” as defined in Live Earth’s press release. The UCR is a nonprofit environmental advocacy group “whose mission is to protect and preserve the Chattahoochee River… for the people, fish and wildlife that depend upon it,” according to their website and Live Earth’s press release.

For more information about the race, readers can go to Live Earth’s website: http://liveearth.org. To learn more about the Global Water Challenge and the UCR, readers are encouraged to visit their websites: http://www.globalwaterchallenge.org and http://www.chattahoochee.org, respectively.

[Image] Copyright 2010, Live Earth, http://liveearth.org/en/press/photos

Sidebar: Students Protest Dow at Sunday's Race in Atlanta, Ga.

TV Story

Teaser: In a moment…find out how three-time GRAMMY Award winner Rob Thomas got involved with Live Earth’s Run for Water here in Atlanta.

(***Anchor: John***)
(***Reporter: Tiffany Lempesis***)

Haiti still needs your help. One dollar was donated for every participant who registered for Dow Live Earth’s Run for Water event held this morning.

Reporter Tiffany Lempesis joins us now from Pemberton Place where Rob Thomas performed for race participants today. Tiffany?

(***Live Shot-Tiffany OC***)

Yes, thank you, John. I am here. I am just outside the World of Coca-Cola where Rob Thomas finished a show for those who participated in Dow Live Earth’s Run for Water.

It was a fantastic turn-out with more than 3000 runners and walkers who showed up this morning to show their support. After the race, both athletes and volunteers gathered behind me for the show.

Rob performed eight songs including: “Her Diamonds,” “Ever the Same,” and a mash up of songs from Matchbox Twenty.

None of the athletes or volunteers seemed to mind being here at eight this morning. It was a very good day for a race, back to you John.

(***Return to anchor***)

The Atlanta Track Club announced musician Rob Thomas would perform following Dow Live Earth’s Run for Water in March.

Here is a clip from an interview with Rob Thomas after the show this morning. He explains how important Run for Water is to him and his band and what he hopes to accomplish being a part of the Global Water Challenge.

(***SOT: Musician Rob Thomas***)

(***Return to anchor***)

Proceeds from Run for Water benefited the Global Water Challenge in the fight against the global water crisis. The company is using the donations to raise awareness about the crisis, as well as to find solutions for clean and safe drinking water. For Atlanta runners, a portion of their registration fees went directly to the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper nonprofit organization so they may continue to clean up the Chattahoochee River.

Officials from the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper say, the Chattahoochee provides drinking water for more than 3-million people and is one of the most threatened rivers in the United Sates.

Dow Live Earth’s Run for Water was a great opportunity for members of the community to be involved with the worldwide initiative to combat the global water crisis. Atlanta was one of one-hundred cities across 50 countries participating in the Run for Water to benefit the Global Water Challenge.

(***Kicker***)

Live Earth says, drinking unsanitary water leads to birth defects for pregnant mothers, miscarriages and illness. Haiti, along with parts of Africa, Asia and other countries across the globe are affected by unsanitary drinking water.

For more information about how you can get involved, log onto our website at: www.cnn.com keyword: Live Earth.

Online Story

Global Water Challenge comes to Georgia

By: Tiffany Lempesis

Worldwide initiative Global Water Challenge (GWC) unites music sensationalist Rob Thomas with Dow Live Earth’s Run for Water to raise awareness about the global water crisis.

Live Earth says on its website that in countries like Haiti, and in regions such as Central America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, millions of people are drinking contaminated water. Live Earth claims that by the year 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population will not have access to clean drinking water.

Dow Live Earth is conducting a Run for Water event on Sunday, April 18. There will be 100 cities across 50 countries participating in the initiative to promote awareness on the water crisis.

In Los Angeles, two-time GRAMMY Award winner Melissa Etheridge is scheduled to perform after the race in Exposition Park; Atlanta is set to have three-time GRAMMY Award winner Rob Thomas perform. Los Angeles and Atlanta are the only cities in the United States that are doing the 6K event; however, other cities across the country such as New York City and Charlotte, N.C. are holding events to provide awareness and raise money.

The Atlanta race is set to kick off at 8:45 a.m. at Pemberton Place and go through nearby neighborhoods. An image of the course participants will run in Atlanta is shown here.

Cities across the country are participating in this global movement with a variety of events. If you are interested in taking part in a run or just want to learn more, readers are encouraged to check out Live Earth’s website at http://www.liveearth.org to find an event near you.

[IMAGE] By: John Michael Maas, Copyright 2010, Global Water Challenge, http://liveearth.org/en/press/photos

Broadcast Radio Feature Story

By: Tiffany Lempesis

Dekalb, GA—Dekalb County police are looking for the mother of a baby girl found at a Dekalb County park Tuesday.

During their morning rounds, Bouldercrest Park maintenance workers discovered an infant inside a backpack left abandoned on a picnic table.

The infant was rushed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston immediately following the sighting. Hospital officials say the baby did not suffer any serious injuries and was most likely born the same day she was found.

The newborn girl did not appear to have been left in the cold for very long and is expected to make a full recovery, says a hospital official.

Dekalb County police suspect the mother of the child is a teenager in attendance at one of the nearby schools and they are currently searching schools in the vicinity.

This is the second account of an abandoned newborn this week. The abandoning of a child is a crime in Georgia; however, parents need to know there are safe haven laws in place that allow children to be left at various locations, including: hospitals and police stations, without repercussion.

Broadcast Draft

Broadcast Radio Feature Story (Draft)

Dekalb, GA—Dekalb County police are looking for the mother of a newborn found at a Dekalb County park.

Officials say the newborn was found inside a backpack left abandoned on a picnic table by the park’s maintenance workers earlier today.

The infant was rushed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston soon thereafter. Hospital officials say the child did not suffer any serious injuries, nor did the child seem to have been left in the cold for very long. The baby girl is expected to make a full recovery.

Dekalb County police suspect the mother of the child goes to one of the nearby schools and is currently searching schools in the vicinity.

Print Interview Final Copy

By: Tiffany Lempesis

Print Interview Final Copy

Local artist and Kennesaw State University graduate accepted into prestigious program

Kennesaw, GA—When she was a little girl, Morgan began to draw; she had no idea that one day her passion would lead her to an acceptance into an exclusive art program at Georgia State University.

When Morgan Booker, 23, opened her email Tuesday, she found an acceptance letter into her program of choice: the Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership specialization program beginning in fall 2010.

Booker was four years old when the scratch lines of a toddler’s art turned into figures of whimsical creatures that she seen in story books. Drawing was an escape from her parents’ separation, moving, her father checking into rehab and a baby brother. “I was off in orbit when I drew; the world I created was always better than reality,” says Booker of her art.

Despite her passion for art she applied to Kennesaw State University (KSU) as an intended English major, to fulfill her other dream of becoming a novelist. Knowing her talent, it was her parents and high school professors who pressured her into going into the arts program at KSU. Uncertain as she might have been about her own artistic capabilities, she transferred her major to fine arts after orientation and “fell in love with the program, her classmates, professors—everything,” Booker says.

Throughout her college career, Booker changed concentrations four times. While she ultimately went back to painting, her portfolio expanded and now includes a wide skill set, including: printmaking, photography and art education.

She also got involved with America for the Arts, an advocacy program that aims to enrich the community through art, as well as fund art programs in schools. America for the Arts has had such a profound effect on Booker that she says she knew instantly what she wanted to do once she graduated.

Months before her December 2009 graduation she applied to Georgia State University (GSU) for the school’s B.S. in Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership for fall 2010. Booker knew the program was competitive—only 30 applicants are accepted—but she also knew she wanted to experience this more than anything else.

The B.S. in Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership is an accelerated program, in which the bachelor’s degree is finished in 18 months, followed by enrollment in a summer seminar that includes a graduate certificate and grants admission into the master’s program for two years.

The program teaches students how to lead a nonprofit organization and advocate for their organization’s cause ; this includes running the organization like a business by allocating the least amount of resources, primarily money, and navigating politics in order to help their cause by the most effective means possible, as defined by the graduate.

Being accepted into this prestigious program is a monumental step for Booker towards her dream to be the primary advocate for a nonprofit art organization. “I could have achieved my goals without going back to school, but it would have taken longer, a lot longer, and this puts me that much closer,” says Booker.

Will she continue to paint and pursue her passion? “Of course—painting is as much a part of me as art advocacy; I wouldn’t be whole if I only did one or the other,” says Booker.

She already has some plans for the future, “I want to get into the summer internship program with America for the Arts this coming summer,” Booker says. She has already applied and has made many contacts through volunteering, but until she hears she has been accepted she is keeping her fingers crossed.

For now it looks like her biggest obstacle will be preparing for her first solo gallery show at Mason Murer’s Gallery in Atlanta, GA in May. Of this challenge she says, “I’ll be painting like crazy until then.”

She hopes that college students know that no matter how often you change your major it is never too late to follow your dreams and achieve your goals. “You just need to remember what’s important and go for it,” Booker says.

Print Interview Rough Draft

Print Interview Rough Draft

Local artist and KSU graduate accepted into prestigious program

Kennesaw, GA—When she was a little girl, Morgan started to draw, she had no idea that one day her passion would lead her to an acceptance into an exclusive program at Georgia State University.

That one day was Tuesday, when Morgan Booker, 23, opened her email late that evening to find an acceptance letter into her program of choice: the Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership specialization program for fall 2010.

Booker was three when she picked up her first crayon and began drawing figures from her imagination. Drawing was an escape from her parents separating, moving, dad checking into rehab and an annoying baby brother, said Booker, “I was off in orbit when I drew, the world I created was always better than reality.”

Surprisingly, she applied as a hopeful English major at Kennesaw State University (KSU) and it was her parents and high school professors that pressured her into going into the arts program at KSU. Uncertain as she might have been about her own talent, she changed to Fine Arts after orientation and “fell in love” with: the program, her classmates, professors, everything, Booker said.

Throughout her college years, Booker changed disciplines four times and while she ultimately went back to Painting, her portfolio expanded and now includes a wide skill set, such as: printmaking, photography, and art education.

She also got involved with America for the Arts, an advocacy program that aims to enrich the community through art as well as fund art programs in schools. America for the Arts had such a profound effect on Booker that she knew instantly what she wanted to do once she graduated, according to Booker.

Months before her December 2009 graduation she applied at Georgia State University (GSU) for their excelled Bachelor of Science Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership specialization for fall 2010. Booker knew the program was competitive, only 30 applicants are accepted, but she also knew she wanted this chance more than anything else.

The Bachelor of Science Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership is an accelerated program. The program encompasses finishing the bachelor’s degree in 18 months then enrolling in a summer seminar that includes a graduate certificate and grants admission into the master’s program for 2 years without having to apply.

The program focuses on teaching students how to lead a nonprofit organization, work for the cause, running the organization like a business allocating the least amount of resources and navigating politics to help the cause by the best means possible, as defined by Booker.

Having been accepted into this prestigious program are monumental steps for Booker towards her dream to one day having her own nonprofit art organization to advocate for. “I mean I could have achieved my goals without going back to school, but it would have taken longer, a lot longer, and this puts me that much closer,” the art advocate said.

Will she continue to paint and pursue her passion? “Of course, painting is as much a part of me as art advocacy, I wouldn’t be whole if I only did one,” Booker said.

As for the future she already has some plans, “I want to get into the summer internship program with the America for the Arts this coming summer,” Booker said. She’s already applied and has made many contacts through volunteering, but until she hears she’s been accepted she’s keeping her fingers crossed!

For now though it looks like her biggest obstacle will be preparing for her first solo gallery show, at Mason Murer’s Gallery, in Atlanta, GA. this coming May. ”I’ll be painting like crazy until then!”

She hopes that college students know that it doesn’t matter how often you change your major, it is never too late to follow your dreams and achieve your goals, you just need to remember what’s important and go for it, Booker said.

She’s come a long way since her first crayons, that’s for sure.

by: Tiffany Lempesis