Loovatoo Now

Photographer Linda Strobert Joins Loovatoo as Staff Photographer

Photographer Linda Strobert is looking at life through an unusual lens.  The East Orange based photographer whose images are held in private collections and appear in print, primarily in fashion, has taken her passion for capturing the human spirit to the next level .  Strobert, who has been shooting since she was 17 years old and feels “lost without a camera in  hand,”  and now shares her creativity and talent with Loovatoo.

“Strobert’s ability to strip away the unnecessary and often distracting details surrounding a subject allows those that admire her  photography a unique view into the nature of the human  condition.  The decision to offer Linda the position of staff photographer was unanimous.”, says Stephanie Jelley, Co-founder and CEO of Loovatoo.

Today, Strobert shares her creativity and talent with Loovatoo as she feels compelled to motivate our youth “through the creative process”, says Strobert.  With an emphasis on elegant composition and lighting, Strobert captures the playful banter between children or the wholesome glance of an adult with ease.

Linda Strobert and Loovatoo plan on developing workshops for those students interested in photography in partnership with Cobble Stone Records.

Getting “Serious” in Newark with Jasmine V

Enriching the lives of those students at risk by providing an inspirational educational experience through digital media and the medium of film brings just a bit of buzz to the newly formed New Jersey not-for-profit, Loovatoo. The broad-based collaborative seeks to empower students by encouraging creative self-expression through the demonstration of the practical importance of literacy and arithmetic while writing and producing digital media projects.

Loovatoo’s unique outreach and scholarship program reaches those children and families living in “high need” school districts across our nation in hopes of inspiring America’s youth to celebrate self by making better academic and social choices that will lead to economic self-sufficiency. Stephanie Jelley, Co-Founder & CEO, and Michele Jelley, Professor of English at Rutgers University and NJIT residents of Maplewood, bring the organization’s first project to the children of Newark. Continue reading…

Strenghtening Our Community

Every day young people living in communities at risk find themselves confronting the perils of poverty.  Loovatoo’s community initiatives help strengthen our youth through education and the practical application of the skills they learn.

Loovatoo, a New Jersey Not-for Profit broad-based collaborative national initiative,  seeks to empower students by encouraging  creative self-expression through the illustration of the practical importance of literacy and arithmetic while writing and producing digital media projects.

Currently, directors Coodie & Chike are working closely with at risk youth in Newark, NJ and plan to shoot the Jasmine V’s video, “I Found This”, produced by Andrew Lane for Drew Right Productions. Working with 15 at risk Newark youth and several youth from various high schools from Central New Jersey to bring this project to network television.

Michele Jelley, Professor of English Composition at  Rutgers University-Newark, is guiding the children to develop the concept, treatment and script for the video. After several visits, Michele is “impressed with the childrens’ creativity and ability to articulate their own unique ideas when given proper encouragement.”

Loovatoo’s efforts will help ensure that America’s youth living in poverty with inadequate resources to continue their education will have an opportunity to attend professional trade school or county/state college.  Each year, loovatto will provide those students who show academic promise and dedication assistance with their tuition as well as services to ensure their successful transition from neighborhood to personal freedom.  Stephanie Jelley, Co-founder and C.E.O, states “If we are to succeed in securing a positive future for America’s youth, we must come together and reevaluate those approaches and programs that have failed to encourage this particular group of children to stay engaged in the educational system.”

Jasmine V and Team Loovatoo will be shooting on location in Newark, NJ this August 15th.  For more information on this project or furture projects, please contact us at info@loovatoo.org or phone 917.528.0357.

The Inspiration Behind loovatoo

Those living in neighborhoods riddled with crime and poverty far too often lack the support and self-confidence needed to rise above cultural and economic oppression.  Loovatoo’s unique outreach and scholarship program reaches those children and families living in “high need” school districts across our great nation in hopes of inspiring America’s youth to celebrate self by making better academic and social choices in order to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Loovatoo, a New Jersey Not-for Profit broad-based collaborative national initiative,  seeks to empower students by encouraging  creative self-expression through the illustration of the practical importance of literacy and arithmetic while writing and producing digital media projects.

Positive self-esteem and values on which to build a successful life-loovatoo NOW!  Your support of loovatoo will help ensure that America’s youth living in poverty with inadequate resources to continue their education will have an opportunity to attend professional trade school or county/state college.  Each year, loovatto will provide those students who show academic promise and dedication assistance with their tuition as well as services to ensure their successful transition from neighborhood to personal freedom.

Loovatoo… a gateway to a full life.

If you would like further information or wish to volunteer, please contact us via email at info@loovatoo.org or you may call 917.528.0357