Utilizing a couple of my favorite spots in St. Augustine. Model: Maddie Cheney.
Surrounded by Sound: Elizabeth Roth
Elizabeth Roth couldn't tell you what she would be doing right now if she never the courage to get up on stage, but that random moment of fearlessness has given her a life she describes as utterly fulfilling. She is one of those lucky people who has never worked a day in her life, because her job is her passion. Music teacher for the Florida School for Deaf and Blind by day, musician by night. Music consumes her life, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
The Jacksonville native came to St. Augustine for one summer that has turned into more than 30 and her sound and extensive classic rock and folk repertoire, with some of her own originals is one that has been cherished by North Florida venues she continually graces week after week. While her stage presence is one of complete ease, with a voice that projects powerfully without the need of a microphone, this confidence is not something that came naturally.
"People who just see me on stage probably think I'm an extrovert, but I'm really very introverted," Roth said.
Self-assurance is something that she gets from other people, for she's never heard herself as the impressive singer/song-writer that other people recognize. Most of her encouragement comes from a little leather notebook, well several of them that she has been filling up since the beginning of her career in music.
"They're my secret confidence booster," she flipped through the worn leather book full of the gigs that she's booked. "I keep track of how many times I've been hired. If I see that someone has booked me 10 times I'm like 'Oh, they must like me!' It can be really reassuring."
What she's lacked in confidence in the past she has made up for by helping her students believe in themselves.
"I've been so hard on my self, I was such a perfectionist and nothing was ever good enough. I couldn't play in front of people until I became OK with the fact that perfection doesn't exist, so I really stress that to my students- to not be so hard on themselves. If I didn't cut myself a break, my music most likely would have never left the house."
And as if nerves and stage fright weren't enough to tackle, her students have other adversities that other performers would never normally experience-hearing and visual impairments.
Roth has directed the school's contemporary music performance group.
The performance group proves the power of music and how it has something to offer to everyone.
"Music can get people through a lot and be such a big part of people's lives and really connect us. It makes the good times better, and the bad times not so bad."
She noted that her visually impaired students do have a special gift with music that is very rare: perfect pitch. And while there are braille music systems available, Roth said her students continually impress her by learning by ear.
"I have been playing guitar since I was 13 and I could never figure out pitch the way they're able to."
When she isn't turning students into rockstars, she stays busy with solo gigs and playing bass and lead vocals in her band Grapes of Roth.
With music being a ruling part of her life, rather than a hobby, it may be of concern that it becomes less fun. But that isn't the case for Roth and she feels truly blessed that she gets to do what she loves day in and day out.
Behind KBM
Driving past the Toon Town warehouse on Talleyrand Avenue in Jacksonville is like being in a black and white film that suddenly gains color. After passing a couple of insipid warehouses on the same street, steps away from Everbank Stadium, I arrive at the enthralling Looney Tune- inspired mural and am met by the equally interesting muralist responsible for it’s existence, Kyle Bryce Monteiro.
Toon Town is the actual name of the multi-functional warehouse and is recognized under that name as taggable location on Instragram.
Monteiro is a 29-year-old native to Jacksonville who has his heart in DJ’ing, but just as much passion and hard work has gone into his graffiti and other art that has colored much of Florida. His labor of love has not gone unnoticed is paying off and turning into more than he ever imagined, as the owner has plans on turning the warehouse into a music venue.
With the success and recognition he has received, he shows no signs of slowing down as he shares the dozens of ideas and dreams he has for the warehouse. Every corner is of the gargantuan concrete jungle inspires him to share yet another brilliant idea. I don’t think this guy sleeps.
A drippy-style continually makes appearances in Monteiro's work.
He does admit he is a creature of the night. While the rest of the world is catching Zs he is creating, creating, creating while keeping one ear open to absorb some news or Rick and Morty.
The conversation is alive with his upcoming commission pieces and his many influences like Odeith, Lush Sux and even Banksy, who ironically inspired Monteiro to transition into selling his work. (Banksy doesn't want his art to be worth anything).
“Even when I reach my goals, I won’t stop because it will never feel like work to me.”
Much of this motivation comes from his project painting the Jacksonville Jaguars cleats this past season for the NFL campaign “My Cause, My Cleats."
For Monteiro, this recognition is what justified his hustle- one that involved creating, posting and promoting his art on any platform he could, every single day.
While the tables have turned from him having to pay fines for tagging buildings downtown to now being paid to commission his art, his past isn’t completely vandal-soaked.
“I never got into too much trouble growing up. I wasn’t great in school, I was always doodling, but never did anything crazy."
Tagging buildings didn't become a thing for Monteiro until he was 21, and while he appreciates having a space now where he and his friends have utmost freedom to paint whatever they would like legally, he does miss the adrenaline rush. At Toon Town, though, he has the time to put into the art that you don't have on the streets. And access to a lift- so he's pretty spoiled.
He also argues the bad rap a lot of graffiti gets. For Monteiro, graffiti was the only rush he ever needed; it actually kept his nose clean.
“People see graffiti and they think it’s gang related. It's only gang related if it just straight up says, like, blood," he laughs. "We're just a bunch of friends painting together. We're artists. We're mostly nerds."
With his music career in full momentum, and pockets that are always stocked with spray paint, it is only a matter of time before a Monteiro creation crosses your path. Look out for his first EP, cutely titled "My First EP" paired with childish artwork done entirely left-handed that packs a completely juxtaposed sound.
"It was pretty much just used as a food truck commissary until I came in here and started throwing events. Jacksonville needed a music venue like this. I am so thankful for this place and the owner is happy to have us here."
The saddest line
Ana P. Santo's article on Pulitzer Center "Teen 'Widows' of Duterte's Drug War Face a Bleak Economic Future" quoted Eleanore Ordillos: '“I just want her to finish school so she can find a job. Any job will do. I don’t have big ambitious dreams for my children." Ordillos is the mother of teen mom Mishel, who has just been "widowed" by her teen boyfriend due to Duterte's war on drugs. To me, it seems as though these people being impacted by the drug war, increasing teen pregnancy rates, and difficulty finding work have lost all hope. To hear a mother not have big dreams for her child is something that doesn't ring right in my ears. They just see no hope.
In America a war on drugs is hoped to kill less people; to decrease the amount of drug-related deaths. In the Philippines, a drug war means fearing your government and more people dying from the war itself and less the drugs. And, from what I read, the drug users aren't partaking recreationally, but in order to stay awake working as fisherman and other long-hour jobs. Of course this does not make it any more acceptable, however it's just another sad truth of the poor conditions they're in.
Not only are Filipino teens increasingly being robbed of their childhood as lack of education and birth control leads to 500 babies being born a day to teens, but then they are robbed of their loves, their co-parents, their source of income. And now their mothers, the people who are supposed to want nothing but the best for them, just want them to get by with the bare minimum. This is something that strikes me as very, very wrong.
Journalistic conduct reconfirmed with Bloomberg's Washington Bureau Chief
Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to hear from Craig Gordon, Bloomberg News's Washington Bureau Chief. He discussed his strategy for managing all the news that comes out of Washington D.C. His resumé is rich in political reporting and policy, so prior to attending the forum I expected it to be daunting in some aspects. I was surprised to hear how down to earth Bloomberg was while talking about acquiring stories and how he still relied on the same core values of journalism that I've been fed since High School journalism classes. Perhaps I am ready to work and report in this strange scenario of administration!
I have heard all of the discouraging replies when I inform people on what I am studying: "Are you going to be one of those fake news people?"
It's not the question that I find discouraging, but the way people hear that phrase "Fake news" and actually attribute it to journalists in such a way. I always reply with the optimistic, innocent remark stating that it's actually really easy. . . I find people with an authentic, reliable story and I write down exactly what they tell me. It seems to really bother them how much I've simplified it.
While there is much more to it, and the field requires one to be an expert in as many subjects as possible, Gordon confirmed my belief in the respect of there being no need to overcomplicate the process. He believes in doing most of the work in finding a good story and good subjects, and then letting them tell the story. There is no need to fabricate or sensationalize when you find the right story; the story will tell itself.
He gave excellent ways to start stories: Following data, following the money, accountability and many more ways that now seem so obvious. He really put things back into perspective and I have less fear of the intense world full of so many stories. I will trust my core values and knowledge and go forth to find the stories that tell themselves.