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Highlighting what makes the Greater Columbus area great!

Summer Jam West 2018

7/30/2018

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Written and Photographed by Doreen Dawkins
                  Edited by Kyra Dawkins
​This was  my second year attending Summer Jam West (held at Westgate Park),  an annual free music and arts festival. It brought back memories of walking to Westgate Park from my grandparents’ house to play basketball. It was hot as fire outside. Zoo Trippin, a local blues/rock  group,  was performing in the background. In between songs,  the lead singer shared some of his memories of the West side. While listening to Zoo Trippin,  I talked with a few of the festival participants.
Summer Jam West 2018, Zoo Trippin
Zoo Trippin
Summer Jam West 2018, Esther Flores
Esther Flores, working with children
Esther Flores, 1DivineLife2Health
https://1dl2h.or
​What are you doing?
Working with children painting rocks. While they are doing that, I am sharing with them the Golden Rule, which is to love God and to love everybody.  Believe in the power of the tribe because in unity we can do so much. The Hilltop has a lot of children that are forgotten. This organization is all about the children and working with the mothers who are the victims of human trafficking.
​We have the Hilltop Butterfly Garden on South Oakley. The Hilltop is the hub of human trafficking and the opioid epidemic. We try to meet people where they are. Feed them, clothe them, if they are ready to go into recovery, we are doing that as well.
Summer Jam West 2018, John Rush with Clean Turn
John Rush, CEO and President of Clean Turn Enterprises
John Rush, CEO and President of Clean Turn Enterprises
​Tell me about the organization.
Clean Turn Enterprises is a social enterprise incubator. We have three different social enterprises that we manage. For starters, there’s Clean Turn Demolition Services which provides employment for individuals coming out of incarceration. We have employed about 400 individuals in the last 6 years, providing a pathway into trades. We have She Has a Name Cleaning Services which is a residential/commercial cleaning company hiring individuals coming out of human trafficking, domestic violence, addiction, and sometimes the combination of all of the above. We have employed over 200 people (primarily women) over the last 3 years through that business. We have a little coffee shop on the west side called Third Way Café. In a polarized society when everyone thinks there is an either/or choice, we would like to think about maybe a third way of looking at things. 
​Is there a question that I should be asking but haven’t? If so, what is it?
What can businesses do to intentionally impact our society in a positive way especially in mass incarceration and the opioid epidemic?  Step up the game and get more engaged with the public and non-profit sectors. It’s more than just donating money. Be intentional in creating policies within your company that are conducive to working with individuals who are coming out of challenging backgrounds.
Summer Jam West, William Huffman, Friends of the Hilltop
William Huffman, Operations Manager of Friends of the Hilltop
William Huffman, Operations Manager of Friends of the Hilltop
​Tell me about the organization.
Friends of the Hilltop was started in 1996 out of the frustration of nothing being done out of the administration. We are in 2018 and we still have some frustrations with the current administration, but this administration is trying to work to help bring the Hilltop back. We provide land remediation, build flower beds, and mend fences. We do what is needed one block at a time,  turning the neighborhoods back to empower people.
Summer Jam West 2018, Refuge Ministries participants
Refuge Ministries participants
Jeffrey participant in Refuge Ministries, http://therefugeohio.org
​What is Refuge Ministries?
The Refuge Ministries is a 13-month ministry that affects the lives of addicts and their families. We learn about the Lord and we follow the walk of the Lord, which is loving our brothers as we love ourselves. We learn how to work with each other and become integral parts of the society around us by bringing hope and faith.
Other activities for children of all ages:
Summer Jam West 2018, Artist Wrestling League
Artist Wrestling League
Summer Jam West 2018, face painting
Spider man and the Princess
Summer Jam West 2018, Honey and Blue
Honey and Blue
​I paused to listen to the microphone check of Honey and Blue. The vocals were fantastic! While interviewing Rashid Hill, their music entertained me. If it weren’t so hot, I would have stayed for the entire set.
Summer Jam West 2018, Rashid HIll
Rashid HIll, Artist
Rashid Hill, Artist, @Rashidhill.art, rashid@rashidhill.co
Tell me about yourself.
I’m a self-taught professional artist. I knew I was going to be serious about art in the 3rd grade when I entered the BET art contest and won second place in the nation. I like to be everywhere from fine art, to abstract, to surreal life, still life, etc. I don’t want to be in one lane. My favorite medium to use is charcoal. I like how you can blend and manipulate charcoal (erase, darken, make highlights, etc.). About a year and a half ago, I started using oil paints. As an artist I’m learning every single day. The last couple of years I have been doing Walking Dead artwork. I get permission from the artist to make prints of my work in exchange for giving them the original piece. I am currently working on a graphic novel.
Summer Jam West 2018, Lousia Heyer
Lousia Heyer, Fine artist
Louisa Heyer, Fine artist (sidewalk chalk art) Louisa.heyer@yahoo.co
​Why do you do this?
I like to do this because it’s performance art. It engages people. It makes them ask questions. I like to intrigue people.
Summer Jam West 2018, Darrean Brown pavement art, Bruce Lee
Darrean Brown, Artist
Darrean Brown, Artist (pavement art)
FB: @misunderstood brilliance,
misunderstoodbrilliance@gmail.com
​What are you doing?
I’m out here trying to get a picture of Bruce Lee going and not pass out. Initially, I just tried pavement art because my friend Lori tried to get me to do it for the longest time. I decided to give it a shot. I found out I like it and it’s free advertisement. People get to know who I am and see some of my work. I like interacting with people who admire my work.
Summer Jam West 2018, Sheryl LazenbySheryl Lazenby, Artist

Sheryl Lazenby, Artist chalkstiz.weebly.com
Summer Jam West 2018, Lori Hughes, Raz
Lori Hughes, Artist
Lori Hughes, Artist FB @Lori Hughe
​What are you doing?
3D Monsters Inc. Raz. 3D chalk art from a specific perspective. You have to stand in one spot to see it correctly. Every other angle it is going to look skewed. I started in 2006. Up until 2012, I only did one a year. In 2012 I started doing 8 a year. Within the last two years I learned how to do 3D.
Summer Jam West 2018, Lori Hughes, Raz 3D
3D Monsters Inc., Raz
The slideshow can be viewed  on our 614whats2love youtube channel: https://youtu.be/MV0A6pdXWX
​My take on Summer Jam West:
This is one of my favorite festivals because they pack a lot in a smaller area. If you want to sit in the shade and listen to music, it offers that. If you want to find out about organizations in the Hilltop area, it offers that. If you want your children to participate in free activities, it offers that. If you want to talk to local artists and/or purchase their art, it offers that. If you want to buy food from local food trucks, it offers that. So suffice to say, Summer Jam West is the place to be! 
Category:   Festivals
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    Author/Photographer
    Doreen Dawkins

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Doreen Dawkins 614whats2love author and photographer
Doreen Dawkins, Author/Photographer