Spring 2005 Newsletter Welcome to Latitude's Earth Day Update! Sometimes we forget in our day to day struggle to ensure something like a near decent quality of life for those considered to have disabilities, that there are enormously important issues which seem beyond our immediate concerns or control. Really issues like the disregard we exhibit to our environment and the disregard we exhibit to those considered by some to have disabilities are connected! Today our "Earth Day Email Update" will examine some of the environmental activities Latitude has been involved with in the past and in the present too. Also we know many of you are checking in to see how our advocacy is going regarding our efforts to persuade the Division of Mental Retardation to allow real public input into the creation of regulations- more on this at the end of this email! (PS an enormous Thank You for the incredible amount of support!) A Blast From Our Ecological Past! Let's begin with a link to a super article at Ace Weekly. Two years ago as many of you may recall, Latitude began a community garden program at the request of one of our artists. At the same and in nearly the same place, Latitude artists created a wonderful mural on the side of Third Street Stuff. Both the dedication of the mural and a community celebration of gardening were celebrated together in an event attended by well over 200 people. Read about it here!: http://www.aceweekly.com/Backissues_ACEWeekly/2003/030731/cover_story030731.html See Latitude's painted rain barrel, part of the Bluegrass PRIDE Rain barrel Barrel Project: Bluegrass PRIDE is an environmental organization. One of the many programs they coordinate is a program in which you can obtain barrels which have been fitted to connect to the drain pipe from your roof. You collect the rainwater in the barrel and it can be used to water your garden. Each year local artists have decorated a number of these barrels which are then auctioned off to raise money for Bluegrass PRIDE. Latitude artists decorated a barrel last year which can be seen at the link below. We just completed a second barrel this year, and it can be seen at the Explorium until the auction in June. http://www.kentuckypride.com/weathermatters/barrels/barrels.htm Latitude Supporter Dave Cooper has an editorial about the effects of littering in today's Lexington Herald- Leader. (click link below) Last year Dave visited Latitude and presented a slide show about Strip Mining and Mountain Top Removal. Dave also sent an excellent Email to the Division of Mental Retardation in support of Latitude's efforts as citizens to be a part of our own regulation process! Thanks for everything you do Dave. http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/editorial/11458797.htm EcoLifeForce: A few of us here are members of the ecoarts collective EcoLifeForce. A few weeks ago we sponsored a "Mourner" to mourn for the loss of earth's habitat. The Louisville Courier-Journal did an excellent article about it last Monday. Click below to read it: (note it is possible that this link will not work after 4/25, if you can't access it let us know and we will send you a copy.) http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005504180338 New Poetry MegEzine from Meg Pike! Meg has a new poetry Ezine out (see poem below) to join her list of subscribers mail her at megpike2000@yahoo.com Hello Mr. Rock Star by Meg Pike I heard on t.v. you take drugs in and out of hospitals and a clinic you get lots of kisses and hugs you said you don't like yourself and that you don't deserve things maybe! but the angels love you Who me? I'm just someone who's not paid to care about you Coming Up: Latitude artists are currently creating over 20 amazingly colorful posters for a rally to End Elder Abuse sponsored by many organizations including the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. In October Latitude will be hosting a state-wide exhibit of art work created by people who work with those considered by some to have disabilities. The exhibit will be at the Carnegie Center in Lexington. Dreams with Wings will be partnering with Latitude to help craft an event that truly reflects our intent to create and exhibition which represents the efforts of people throughout our Commonwealth. More on this in the near future! Advocacy: First our thanks to all who have sent Letters to the Editor, Email to state officials and have added their names to our petition! (over 250 signed so far) We are truly advocating to be allowed the opportunity to have a reasonable voice in regulations which affect us. We are not going to devote space to this issue now- in the near future we will be sending out updates related only to this issue! You/we/us have really worked together as a community and progress has been made! Yesterday we were told of a meeting being set up (apparently only with providers though) in mid May to discuss these issues. If you are not a Provider but want to attend, email us and we will give you the details as we know them. More on all this soon! And Finally! Thank you Kentucky- we are grateful to be a part of this community! HAPPY EARTH DAY! Love, Bruce and Crystal Latitude