Live! In Katie’s Back Yard

a review of the concert by Dave Martin

The air was balmy and the atmosphere convivial as 30 or so family and friends gathered in Katie Perkins’ back yard in southeast Portland August 27 to hear our own Johnny B. Johnny had been hard at work the past week in his Mississippi home laying down tracks and burning discs so that attendees could take home their very own “Live in My Bedroom” CD.

As darkness fell and JB skillfully worked his way through a set of his own compositions, ranging in theme from Hurricane Katrina to religious hypocrisy to the pain of love betrayed, wife Emily glided among the guests making sure that liquid and solid refreshments did not fall to dangerously low levels.

East Asia was well represented at the concert as several English language students sat on blankets in the front row, basking in the headliner’s aura. Though many of us were strangers to begin with, we experienced the unique sense of community that a shared appreciation of good live music can engender.

The appreciative audience was not about to let Johnny close the show without a struggle, and he obliged with a Bob Dylan tune, an unfinished composition, and (at the special insistence of Em’s folks and Aunt Carole) a beautiful song he wrote a few years back about his girl when they were in the first blush of true love. Not to say they’re not still in love…not at all.

(If you have any photos from the show, email them to me and i'll post them on the blog. thanks to all who came or wanted to come. It was a fun evening)

Johnny Live in Portland this Sunday

I will be playing an acoustic show this Sunday in Portland Oregon. Everyone is invited. It will be in Katie Perkins backyard so you may want to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Bring your own beverage(s) and one for me. The EP ive been recording this week will be available at the show. Come on by, hear some new tunes, and say hello!

Sunday August 27th

7:30 pm

6608 SE 48th Ave
Portland OR 97206
( Woodstock area)

Bertram's in the South!

Katie helps Jakalah with her homework




Mr. John gives Melvin a practice Spelling test.






Last week my family (Johnny's) came to visit us for a few days. My sisters, Allie and Katie, and my dad arrived on Thursday just in time help out in the after school program.
It was great to have them here. My dad immediately went to fixing things including our outdoor lighting system and the foose ball table. The next morning we went down to Millsap’s college where the New Orleans Saint football team has been holding their pre-season training camp. We were able to get a close up look at Reggie Bush and let me tell you, he’s fast. Next we hit up a local thrift store where Emily scored a used bicycle that she’s pretty excited about. It was short trip but we're so glad they made the drive down from Little rock where they were to attend 2 weddings on Saturday. I met them in Little Rock on Saturday while Emily hopped a plane for the great northwest. She is home with her family and friends now and I will be heading for Portland myself on Saturday.We're really excited to have 3 weeks up yonder with ya'll. It looks like I will be playing a solo acoustic show this Sunday evening in our friend Katies back yard in Portland. Everyone is invited. Im really looking forward to playing several new songs and hopefully I will have a little CD available.



Reggie Bush catching a pass





Johnny and Dad check out the Saints


On Friday we had Breakfast on the deck with John Perkins




Jp and the Fam





Allie tutors and tutors well!



Emily's welcome home sign in Portland. Her parents suprised her with a new Honda Night Hawk motor cycle! Just kidding :)








Dont forget to bring ya jacket!

New Orleans and Emily's Speech

(We Recycle! Summer camp students with a truck load of bottles, cans, and paper before Cortez and I took it to the recycle center)

Hello, sorry for the lack in updates. Summer camp ended and we have had 2 weeks before after school program begins. Last week Emily and I headed down to New Orleans for a 3-night getaway in the big easy. We booked a room downtown for really cheap and enjoyed a few days of relaxation. Down in the south there is a hotel chain called Drury Inns. They pride themselves in high quality service and cheap rates. They give you free full breakfast every morning as well as 3 complimentary beverages every evening. Needless to say they won my heart. Emily enjoyed the rooftop hot tub and pool despite the 100-degree heat. I guess I can’t really complain about the heat down here right now since most of you have experienced it yourselves around the country over the past few weeks. We took time to check out the lower ninth ward and St. Bernard’s parish where the flooding was in some places over 10 feet. It’s like driving through a war zone. Houses on top of cars and piles of trash everywhere. To see the devastation up close helps you to understand how long this rebuilding process is going to take. We drove right up to where the levies broke in the 9th ward and for about 4 blocks in everything has been bulldozed. Every few blocks you come upon someone or a family that is living in the devastation via a FEMA trailer in the front yard as they rebuild their home. You also pass by little cities of FEMA trailers all crammed into parking lots where people are living as they rebuild or wait for more options. Wallmart has become the community center for most. It seems that federal programs are setting up there to offer assistance because with all of the local business’s wiped out that’s where people go to get every thing they need.

Downtown the effects are less evident. The touristy French Quarter is thriving and businessmen walk the streets of the business district. The Saints almost have the super dome ready and refurbished. They have sold a massive amount of season tickets thanks to acquiring the star USC running back Reggie Bush in the NFL draft.
One day while walking through the square in the middle of the French quarter we witnessed some New Orleans police officers approaching a man who was sleeping in the park. They went over with their clubs in hand and began tapping on his foot. The man awoke and appeared to us to be cooperative but the police didn’t see it that way. Right before our very eyes we saw the cops get violent. They jerked him up and threw him onto his stomach then one threw his knee into the guys back. They then preceded to hand cuff and arrest him. Emily and I looked around the park for signs that prohibited sleeping on the grass but couldn’t find any. We walked over to the police van where the man was being detained and Emily, with the officers looking on, recorded the vehicle number and phone number. She called in and filed a report and the detective took it very seriously saying that she would, “ Personally look into the issues and get to the bottom of it.” A few days ago Emily got a call from the N.O. police saying that an investigation had begun.
This incident reminded me of the power have as citizens. I think most of the time I would be lazy and even though I thought what the officers had done to the man in the park was wrong, I wouldn’t do anything about it. Emily was determined though and maybe a difference will be made through her reporting of this incident.


Speaking of Emily’s awesomeness. I’m not sure if all of you heard that she was named Americorps member of the year for her program. She was asked to give a speech at the statewide closing luncheon and graduation. I will attach a transcript of her speech at the end of this long blog. Great job Emily!!!!



In other news the summer program ended with an amazing closing program. Many people who have been seeing these programs every summer for years and years told me it was the best they had seen. The amazing thing about it was that the kids did it. We guided them and helped them learn their dances and songs but on the night of the performance it was all them and they did an amazing job. I think it was moving for the parents to see their children involved in something beautiful. I edited a video and slideshow that we showed on the big screen and the kids again loved seeing themselves. It was a great ending to a great summer camp. Our CEO, Elizabeth surprised Emily and I with awards at the end of the night. She got emotional as she spoke of her appreciation for us. The whole night made us feel pretty good about all sweat and love we poured into the program.

This week we have been out in the neighborhood passing out flyers and spreading the news about our after school program which begins on Monday. We are expecting 27 students on Monday and the applications are still coming in. Here we go again!
Stay cool friends

Idaho and Oregon, heading your way at the end of the month.

Johnny




Emily's Speech-------------------------------------------------

Good Morning!

Well, what a year!!! I’m tired—is anyone else tired? Tired but energized.
For me this year in AmeriCorps has been
CHALLENGING, STRETCHING, EXHAUSTING, & JOYFUL.

I’ve learned so much about leadership and teaching.
But something I continue to be reminded of,
Is that you get out of Americorps
what you put into it.

If you put in your time
you’ll get a paycheck…….. a SMALL paycheck, but a paycheck.
But if you put in your heart
What you’ll receive in return is unlimited.

It’s not always easy to invest our energy, passion, love, and sweat into young people,
But it IS worth it.
The joy and meaning, and the growth, we experience in the process--is priceless.



After giving your heart to children,
it doesn’t take long to realize that by giving and serving others
we find real joy and true life.
What a crazy concept!!!
Especially in a society that constantly tells us to serve ourselves.

There’s a quote on my wall by Annie Dillard that reads:
“How we spend our days is how we spend our lives”
As simple as that quote is, it continues to challenge me to LIVE everyday.

If we’re floating through life, living for the weekends--
Then something isn’t right.
That’s NOT how life was intended to be.
That’s just existing.
If we’re putting off life until we finish school,
Or until we get that dream job, or home…….or man--
Then we are missing out of life NOW.

Sharing our lives with the youth in our community is the smartest investment we can make.
They’re the future,
and will ideally grow strong, discover the world, then come back to our community to invest in the next generation

A bumper sticker on my car,
says that “GIVING IS LIVING.”
That always sounded cool to me, but this past year has taught me that it’s true.
The real secret is that in giving, we actually receive too.

So after AmeriCorps, I’m going to take this service mentality with me.
It’s more than a job to me now--
It’s a lifestyle.
The growth and lessons I’ve experienced this year, don’t end here-
But instead, are a platform to a future of service.

So remember! We get out of life, what we put into it

THANK YOU & CONGRATULATIONS!
(Go JSU!)

Tom Brokaw report profiles our hood.

I hope most of you were able to see Tom Brokaws report entitled " separate and Unequal" last night. If not I should have them available on DVD in the next few weeks. NBC used Jackson Mississippi and specifically our neighborhood to profile the problems of race and education. The program featured an interview with Vince Gordon who we work closely with. Vince runs the Young Life program that meets here at the Perkins center. If you look in the back ground you can see shots of the Perkins center and our house.
To answer Michaels question in the previous post, I do think it was a fare portrayal of Jackson. The report pointed out what we've been seeing ever since we moved here. A cycle of poverty that is repeating over and over. We just found out last week that a 14 year old girl who was in our after school program and dropped out is pregnant. The breakdown of the family and the lack of positive male figures in our community is killing our people. The report also touched on how separate black and whites live here in Jackson. After integration the whites moved out of the city and started private academies for their children to attend. This made most of the public schools entirely black which is still the case today.

the transcript of the report is available at www.msnbc.com. click on the Brokaw Reports link under Dateline.

Lets discuss this.

I feel that bringing this issue to the nation is a great step but now we need a follow up report on what we can do. Here at the Perkins center we have a plan and are dreaming of ways to change this community.

If you missed the report and would like a DVD copy let me know.

Johnny

Update!

I was able to recover the photos! Im a nerd!


Emily on her 25th B- Day

The nerd always gets the babe in the end.


Finally an update! It seems like we've created a little online community with our comments on the last post. Please keep the comments coming, it was great to hear from ya'll.

Well this summer has been something. Being still in the midst of it I can hardly reflect yet but I can post some pictures and a few stories. We are in our 6th week of summer camp and our closing program will be one week from today. I've been capturing photos and video ( thanks to Jason!) all summer and will be putting out another DVD of our summer camp. This years DVD should be a good one. I will make those available for order so stay tuned.

Compared to last summer this one seems so different. Emily and I have gone from the kindergarten class teachers to the camp directors. I've had my fare share of frustrations. I never realized what a challenge it is to manage a large staff. You don't always get to be the nice guy or everyone's friend but the standards of the program must be held to. The kids are awesome! So many new and old faces this year, we love them all. I think we do well with the children because we are friends with them. Sure we have to discipline them and remind them of the rules sometimes but we always come back to the foundation of friendship. Emily is very good at this. Honestly I've learned a lot. Im planning on writing a report for myself when camp ends. It will be called " What to do and what not to do". But I guess that sometimes the best way to learn and grow is through experience.

Last night Emily and I went to the gym to work out and for the first time we really struggled to get our 30 min run/elliptical done. I think its a sign of how tired we are. At the end of the day we kinda just collapse into bed and enjoy the air conditioning. Lowell and Dixie left for the summer 2 weeks ago. When they left our house was full of people who were here for and intimate leadership retreat with John Perkins. Every bed in the house needs to be washed and made and we still haven't started. I just cant bring myself to make beds in 100 degree rooms at the end of the day.

The cockroaches have made a big return in the last few days. Emily and I caught a big one walking up the wall in our room last night. Oh and speaking of last night......
It was 10pm and I hadn't had dinner so I went down stairs to grab a bite to eat. Its always a bit creepy coming down stairs at night. For those of you who don't know we live in a big old house with 10 bedrooms and six bathrooms and we are living there alone for the time being. So I was a little creeped out and went to make sure that the front door was locked, and it was. I was making my food when all of the sudden the outdoor light on the back porch which has a motion sensor clicked on. I froze....My heart started beating very fast. I had just been thinking about that light the other night when I took the garbage out. I remembered thinking that If I ever saw that light come on I would know that someone or thin was outside. Our back yard is basically a park. The park has 2 gates which are both locked at night and a fence surrounds the entire area.
It took me second but I realized that there was someone out side on the deck. I went to the window and locked out. All of the sudden I saw a hand pass by on the railing to the steps. Someone had just darted past the window apparently running away. I hesitated for a moment then ran outside yelling but all I could see was darkness. I was really freaked out.
After giving it some thought I realized that it was probably this highschool aged neighbor who has been accused of looking in peoples windows in the past.
This was the first incident in over a year where I was scared in our community which is surprising since most people would call our part of town the hood.

Here are some pictures from our zoo field trip a few weeks ago. Check out our "Grow Strong" t-shirts. My second ever t-shirt design. Those of you from the Whitney Youth group Chicago trip of 98 have seen my other one.



Zebras make Joseph real mad



the garden is thriving! Emily takes children over there everyday and they love it. Our staff and kids are all taking veggies home every week. This week we began purchasing our youth garden supplies thanks to a thousand dollar grant we received.





Thanks for reading our blog!

100 comments Party!!

Hey everyone! Thanks again for checking up with us via the blog. This blog has been up and running for over a year and we think that this deserves a digital celebration. So if you are reading this blog please take a minute to leave a party comment. This is a way for us to see who all is out there and a way for you to let us know what you think. Our goal is 100 comments in response to this post so tell your friends and family to come leave a comment. Feel free to be funny, serious, and crazy but please no making fun of my beard. Tell a story or a joke or just share your thoughts on the blog. Improvements needed? Let us know.

Im making this up as I go but im really starting to like it. I think we can do 100 comments, dont you???
We want to hear from you so Speak up!
Once we've achieved our goal of 100 comments I will do something crazy and drastic...like post an update.


Lets get this Party started!!!!!!



( oh we will also be putting our newsletter through the us postal service and would love for you to recieve one. Please email us your address johnny.bertram@gmail.com )

check this out. A little article on our website about our internship program.

Summer is here----->

Hey everybody, sorry for the lack of updates. Its been a busy couple of weeks for us here. Our summer camp is going strong as we wrap up our second week. Emily is taking her first class at Jackson State university. Johnny is playing drums at church. Our softball team fell to 0-6 last Tuesday but hey, were having fun. This weekend Emily goes to Seattle for an americorps conference. Shes looking forward to meeting up her mother and aunt who will be traveling up from portland to see her.
I ( johnny) am really loving what im doing. I love these kids! Everyday I get to go around to all 45 of them and tell them how happy i am that they are at our camp and how special they are.
More summer camp stories to come.

side note- I caught a foul ball last night at the Mississippi braves game.

Love you all.

Matt, " man I want to be that hot dog guy"

Jerrod, remember when we used to meet at coffee shops in the morning to work on our movie script "room mate", I miss those days.

A year in the life

I don't know that I've ever felt this busy. Emily and I are officially running the Summer program here at the Perkins center for the next 2 months. That means 35-40 children and a staff of almost 20 interns, five days a week. We've been putting the interns through orientation this week and camp begins on Monday. Tomorrow morning we will be having a parent orientation where the parents will meet the staff and here about our plans for the summer.
I guess we're kinda learning how to be leaders. For me that means delegating responsibility and trusting that the goals will be accomplished. Im not sure what it means for Emily because she seems to be taking it very well. Meanwhile I have an ulcer and a stomach full of anxiety. I never prepare well enough for anything.
All this is happening at our one year anniversary of being here in Mississippi. What a year! I cant even begin to explain the things we've learned and felt. The pain of the people becoming our own, the desire to quit and leave, the seeds of love sprouting in the lives of our young friends, the mistakes, the unexplainable joy of seeing Deanthony learn to read and dream of what he could be. So much in a year. How can the next even compete? How do we keep from becoming complacent? How do we run a summer camp?

"California.....beautiful"

I traveled west to to California to attend an Urban youth workers conference. Networked with other people who work with poor urban kidsand shared ideas. The conference was held at Azuza Pacific University.




John Perkins teaching a workshop in the tent.




Cruising with the top down.




Brent, Alicia, and Judah Daniel drove over an hour to come visit me and hang out for the evening. We listened to John Perkins and Shane Claiborne speak and then grabbed some dinner. Brent and Alicia moved to So Cal to be part of a church plant near Riverside. Their son Judah is growing up so fast. I still cant believe that they are parents but they are doing a great job. It was good to catch up with them.




Judah

New Synthar Website

( where you at Mr. johnny??)


Hi Friends! Thanks so much for checking up with us via the internet and blog. You faithful blog readers give us support and encouragement that we need.
I ( johnny) am back from the left coast and will post on my trip soon. I actually have about three updates that need to be posted so stayed tuned this week.

In the meantime please check out our awesome new website for SYNtHAR. Synthar is a virtual band that makes real music using computers and keyboards. Soon you will be able to own our first album. Click the link on the right of the screen to see the new site. ----->

Shalom

Johnny
( wiping out poverty in a convertible in California)