The John Ernest Foundation Blog

Animated Speech:

May 9, 2007

Animated Speech
Caretaker: Diego Pettersson

Over 15 years ago, psychology professor Dr. Dom Massaro and his research associate Dr. Michael Cohen were wondering… How do people perceive and recognize speech by eye? How do listeners combine visual perceptions of speakers with what they hear to infer meaning? In pursuit of answers, this academic team spent over four years videotaping people as they talked. They converted the videotape into digital images and reassembled those segments in a computer program that converted typewritten words into a computer-generated talking head, Baldi®, whose facial muscles, jaw, and tongue moved with unprecedented accuracy.

When Dr. Massaro received a grant from the National Science Foundation to apply pedagogy to his research he chose to focus on deaf and hard-of-hearing children because they can’t overhear conversations, which places them at a disadvantage in language development. During this phase of his research, he realized that Baldi® had the potential to also help children with autism and other language challenges. That’s how he came to give a talk at a “Cure Autism Now” conference.

In the audience, Lisa Reed was extremely excited to hear about his work. As the mother of an autistic son, she instantly understood the far-reaching implications and potential benefits that autistic children could receive from interacting with Baldi. When Lisa told husband Dan Feshbach about Baldi, he picked up the phone and called Dr. Massaro right away and offered to partner with him. That’s when Animated Speech Corporation was conceived.

Massaro was delighted because it gave him a chance to get Baldi out of the lab and onto the computers of those who need him most. “Oddly enough,” says Massaro, “there is money to support empirical and theoretical research in academic settings. But there is rarely money to make the outcome of the research available to people out in the world.” That was the primary motivation for starting Animated Speech Corporation. By commercializing the techno

Website: http://www.animatedspeech.com

Portaits of Women of Courage by Mark Tuschman

March 8, 2007

Portraits Of Women Of Courage An Awareness Exhibit:

Contact Diego Pettersson for Any information on how to purchase these photographs

Diego Pettersson 650.223.4352 or dpettersson@tjef.org

Opening April 1st at 4:00pm, showing through Mother’s Day May 13th
Located: Alabasta The Flower Shop
366 State Street, Los Altos CA 94022

The John Ernest Foundation and Alabasta will be show chasing Mark Tuschman’s photographs from Africa and Bangadash documenting women’s reproductive health care as part of an ongoing book project Women of Courage: Portraits of Women Defending Their Reproductive Rights. The Daivd and Lucille Packard Foundation funded this work. We invite you to the opening to here Mark tell the unique and gripping story behind each of the photographs. There will be appetizers and refreshments along with a presentation by Mark Tuschman himself.

“As I have grown older. I have become increasingly motivated to use my photography to communicate in a more socially conscious way – To expose people to both the degree of human suffering that exists in today’s world, as well as to the courage and fortitude that people manifest to overcome it.” Mark Tuschman

Mark Tuschman has worked as a commercial photographer for Fortune 500 companies, specializing in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. His corporate clients have included Baxter, Genentech, Guidant, Herman-Miller, Immunex, Medtronic, Millenium, Palm, Schering and Wyeth. He has also worked on editorial assignments for magazines such as Smithsonian and GEO. In recent years, Mark has expanded his focus to include non-profit projects.   Recently, Mark traveled to China, Mongolia, and Thailand to photograph the grantees of the Global Fund For Women. The Global Fund used these photographs in their publications, including their annual report, which won a Wilmer Shields Rich Award. In addition, the photographs have been sold at an exhibition that raised funds for the organization.  

 After two decades of successful work in commercial photography, Mark plans to continue to use his photography in a socially conscious way.

PROJECT DONATIONS

Thank you for considering donating to the “Portraits of Women of Courage” Project, endorsed by Amnesty International and other human-rights organizations. The exhibit project is supported only by donations like yours. To show our appreciation, for a donation of $250 or more we will send you a signed Mark Tuschman print. Contact Diego Pettersson at 650.223.4354 to purchase any of the photographs.

$25 $50 $100 $250 with print Other

Pricing List for Mr. Tuschman’s “Women of Courage” portraits
1 print 5″ x 7″ $250
1 print 8″ x 10″ $500
1 print 11″ x 14″ $700
4 prints 11″ x 14″ (matted) $5,000
Book ??? ????

Your tax-deductible donation will be administered by The John Ernest Foundation, Palo Alto, California(tax ID# 94:3170824).

Arts and Wellness Newsletter

October 14, 2006

Arts and Wellness Newsletter

Caretaker: Diego Pettersson

The senior population of the United States is growing rapidly and living

longer than ever before. Increasingly, senior residences, parks and

recreation departments, and community colleges are offering arts classes to

this population that consider the health aspects of self-expression. At the

same time, research studies are just beginning to sprout up that demonstrate

the health benefits of the arts.

The Arts & Wellness newsletter will be targeted to readers who are

delivering arts programs to adults or have the potential to do so. The goal

of the Arts & Wellness newsletter is to communicate in practical terms how

these classes and programs are developed, how they can help the program

participants, and how they can be replicated effectively. Classes dealing

with all types of visual arts, all types of writing, all types of dance, all

types of music, and all types of drama will be covered in its pages. In

addition, the newsletter will feature such topics as the latest

breakthroughs in related research, fundraising strategies that could help

pay for programs, and how artists can make supplemental income by offering

these types of classes.

Website: http://www.artsreach.com/

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Stanford German Students Association

Caretaker: Raid Abuamona

The Stanford German Students Association uses the Foundation’s Treillage for strategic programming, fireplace chats and lecture series, small donor probabilities, and external community relations. Recent lecturers actualized with Foundation resources:

Professor Edward Krubasik, Member of the Managing Board, Siemens

Proessor Brigitte Seebacher Brandt, University of Bonn, and widow of the late German Chancellor, Willy Brandt.

Website: http://www.german.stanford.edu/sgsa

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MENTOR

Caretaker: Stan Fischman

The Foundation also coaches groups, corporations, and organizations using the same Treillage. Objectives establish goals, then deploy applicable resources in an effort to reach a particular vision. Naturally, personal chemistry, ethical urges and geography are all factors TJEF’s Committee on Objectives Under Consideration heed before entering into a mentor-mentoring relationship. A mentor receives the satisfaction of allowing someone else to benefit from his or her experience and knowledge base. The mentored are expected to tailor this advice to their particular vision, as appropriate. Learning is always a two-way street. Ken Kaufman sent the following Ode on the occasion of the passing of one of his mentors:

Ode to a fallen mentor~

What the concept came to mean so vividly to me, was a safe haven, where one could live without fear. Authority, while ever present, was overridden by a mutual respect, which the mentor duly earned.

A good mentor listens honestly.

A good mentor uses judgment with the utmost care.

A good mentor is a master with the chemistry of friendship.

A good mentor does not require hearing hints, as she or he wants them told, rather in naked language.

A good mentor is a patient teacher, and learns when to employ instruction.

A good mentor is clever, and understands how temporary disappointment can be.

A good mentor is seldom bored by the pupil.

And, most important, a good mentor is also in a constant state of learning, and often from the pupil.

What so commanded my respect for Erwin was his proper sense of good and evil.

He understood duplicity.

He understood false pride and vanity.

And, he also taught me that the means to an end, if suspect, were unacceptable.

Credibility is a scarce commodity, hard earned. It was to Erwin, among the best of traits.

Website:

Images:

Lotta Lehikoinen, Helsinki, Finland

Kelsey Broderick, Sacramento, USA

Raid Abuamona, Mainz, Germany

Jordan Sundheim, Charlotte, USA

Andre Muennich, Ilmenau, Germany

American Friends of Blerancourt

Caretaker: Chris Treble

The American Friends of Blerancourt(AFB) are supporters of the Musee de Blerancourt (http://www.musee-cooperation-blerancourt.fr/) founded by Ann Morgan and now part of the French National Museum system. The Museum houses a unique collection covering the history of French-American relations and is housed in a lovely setting among the battlefields of the First World War north of Paris. TJEF supports AFB in three distinct ways:

First, we are organizing a series of events with a view to expanding Bay Area membership. These events which we are calling "Fetes" will be in a variety of formats designed to provide both an enjoyable time for the participants while fulfilling the goal of introducing us to potential supporters.

Second, we intend to generate financial support for AFB and particularly for it’s current initiative, the funding of the multi media component of the new gallery currently under construction. The multi media component is being developed by Alan Govenor (http://www.docarts.com). The cost of the gallery itself is covered by the Reunion des Musees Nationaux.

Third, we are seeking creative connections to assist AFB renew and grow.This part of the objective is presently the least defined ; it will require both careful investigation and thoughtful planning in unexplored terrain.

Website: http://www.museefrancoamericain.fr

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AIESEC

Caretaker:

AIESEC, established over 50 years ago, contributes to the development of countries and their people with an overriding commitment to international understanding and cooperation. AIESEC encompasses a global network of 50,000 members across more than 83 countries and territories at more than 800 universities worldwide. They facilitate an international exchange of students and recent graduates through paid traineeships and volunteer opportunities at non-profit organizations. The organization states: “We, the young people who run this organization, have a hope for something better in the world, and this is a hope that AIESEC tempers with a practical approach." AIESEC believes that each experience abroad unequivocally affects the student — and in turn the world — for the better.

The John Ernest Foundation continues to provide assistance to AIESEC in establishing, building and maintaining an alumni association that brings together 50 years of experience and expertise. To achieve this goal, TJEF receives donations to underwrite its administrative and travel budget for three AIESEC consulting trips each year. To learn more about AIESEC, please visit their comprehensive website.

Under the auspices of AIESEC United States, Morocco, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, the Salaam Program is a joint initiative with the American State Department designed to increase the amount of student exchange between the Arab world and the United States. TJEF’s first intern using this program should arrive in California next year.

Website: http://www.aiesec.org

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