The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

friendship

Inspiring Freshmen Create Camps for Middle Schoolers Stuck at Home

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By Krissh Bhargava

“I spent literally days and days and days and days playing Dungeons & Dragons, and that led me to a sense of strategy which was then, of course, very helpful when I later got to my entrepreneurial and business life.” Reid Hoffman, co-founder Linkedin. 

Chappaqua, NY— It was the podcast featuring Reid Hoffman that piqued my curiosity. As a normal middle schooler I had always thought that Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) was for nerds, and with society’s view on the game, who wouldn’t. But after listening to Reid Hoffman on the Masters of Scale podcast I realized how helpful D&D could actually be. 

That was in the end of seventh grade, fast forward two years, and now I play D&D for about 10 hours a week with a group of friends who I didn’t know when we first started. Reflecting back, I realize that I met  some of my closest friends and made some of my fondest memories playing a game that I once thought was lame. That realization led me into creating my very own D&D summer camp this year in collaboration with these very special people; Eli Brown and Owen Sibinga. 

We wanted to share our experiences with other middle schoolers and show them that this so-called game isn’t just a game. It has so many other unintended benefits, the most rewarding being building friendships.  When I first got interested in D&D I had no close friends. I had just moved from Long Island which was only an hour away, but I still felt in alien territory. Other kids had already established friend groups and I was the new kid trying to find somebody to hang out with. D&D played a pivotal role in changing that for me. It helped me find my tribe and really make close friendships that I cherish to this day. I really want to give this experience to other kids as well; to those who think they don’t fit in, and even those that just want to try something out of their comfort zone. Because as we know from Harry Potter, nothing builds friendships like defeating monsters. 

But as much as we wanted to do that we also wanted to do something more. Something meaningful. We didn’t just want to be entrepreneurs; we wanted our entrepreneurship to make a difference, however small. We wanted to fight for a cause that we believed in. 

That’s when we decided to donate 20% of all profits to the “Innocence Project.” The Innocence Project’s main goal is to exonerate those who were wrongfully imprisoned mainly using DNA testing that wasn’t available at the time of the crime, but without money to pay bail they can’t do that. That’s where the donors come in. When you donate, that money goes towards paying bail for someone who cannot afford it. That’s why we chose this cause. To see our contribution make such a difference in someone’s life is just astounding. 

We can’t wait to share our passions and introduce more people to the mystical world of D&D!

For more information you can reach out to krissh.bhargava@gmail.com. 

 

The True Meaning of Friendship: Dr. Jeff Gilbert & Artist Michael Bailey

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(L-R): Michael Bailey and Dr. Jeff Gilbert
Photo courtesy of Dr. Jeff Gilbert

A Chappaqua neighbor famously coined the phrase, “It takes a village.” When Dr. Jeff Gilbert befriended Michael Bailey, a homeless artist, he proved her words true.

Gilbert was on his way back to his home in Chappaqua after the June 22nd Yankee game when he spotted a shoeless man sitting on Babe Ruth Plaza surrounded by pictures of baseball player Aaron Judge and football player Saquon Barkley. He stopped to purchase the five-dollar Judge print, and as he boarded the train, he regretted not buying the Saquon picture. He tracked down the artist via the artist’s website – artofzebra.com – listed on the print.

The artist, 60-year-old Bailey, has been down on his luck and living on the street after a bad marriage, difficult partnership, bout of depression, and subsequent drug problem. Bailey, an architect with an MBA from the University of Chicago, opened the Zebra Gallery in 1990. In 1995, he expanded the Zebra Gallery, establishing Zebra Art, Inc., an art publishing and distribution business. “I had a million-dollar business, and I lost everything. It was going very well for a while. Then, with my divorce, and my son being taken away from me, everything went bad,” says Bailey.

Bailey grew up with his mother and his sister, Helen, in Chicago. Helen, who now lives in California, still maintains Bailey’s site. Bailey’s son, who lives in Tampa, stores some of Bailey’s original artwork. But since 2007, Bailey has lived on the streets of Chicago, New York, Dallas, Cleveland, and various other cities to which he’s traveled, trying to promote his artwork. “I’m trying to show my work,” relays Bailey.

A Friendship Forms

Gilbert became more than another person whom Bailey met in his travels. They became fast friends when Gilbert gave Bailey a copy of his children’s book, Milton’s Moment. “That was a gesture of friendship,” according to Bailey, who refused to take money for the Saquon print Gilbert wanted to purchase.

“I felt like I knew Michael from somewhere as soon as I met him,” says Gilbert, who just “knew Michael was a good person.” Overwhelmed by Bailey’s story and kind nature, Gilbert invited Bailey to dinner and then to visit him up in Westchester. “We have so many resources available up here. Things that Michael could never access on his own,” notes Gilbert.

A Supportive Community

But Gilbert couldn’t change Bailey’s life on his own. So, he reached out to his wide circle of friends and to the Chappaqua, Briarcliff, Pleasantville, and Armonk communities via FaceBook to tell Bailey’s story.

Thanks to the power of positive social media and community support, Gilbert witnessed “so many members of our community mobilizing to make a difference in this man’s life.” Helena Terilli, Co-President of the food pantry at the Methodist Church in Pleasantville, bought Michael almost $300 of new clothes. And the community has contributed almost $5,000 to the gofundme.com page that Gilbert established for Bailey.

“I meet a lot of people in different cities,” noted Bailey, “but it was Jeff who changed my life.” For the first time since 2007, Bailey is no longer sleeping on the streets. While he does not have a home yet, he is staying in hotels as he travels the country to show his work.

Thanks to Gilbert’s efforts, Bailey’s artwork is also being exposed to a significantly wider audience. In June, he was invited to show and sell his work in Pleasantville at Yogolicious and The Village Bookstore.

The opportunity to connect to more people and to show and sell his work to people who didn’t know anything about him six months ago, is deeply meaningful and life-altering for Bailey, who sees art as his spiritual calling. “Art is my gift from God. When someone buys a piece of art from me, I tell them that I am sharing this gift.” Bailey generously shares this gift with others, often giving children free prints of their favorite athletes, superheroes, or musicians.

Late this summer, Bailey spent some time in Chicago, working on a painting of the New York Yankees’ veteran pitcher, CC Sabathia. He showcased it at the table that The Rotary Club of Chappaqua donated to him for Chappaqua’s Community Day on September 14th. Gilbert also arranged for Bailey to show his art at the Chappaqua art gallery, The Art Closet.

Future Plans for Bailey

After Community Day, Bailey spent a few days selling prints outside of Yankee Stadium before he hit the road once again. He then returned to sell his prints at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival on October 5th. In the coming months, Gilbert will continue to look for “creative ways to help Michael.” No doubt, he will continue to rely on his “village” for help.

Help for boys who have trouble making friends

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boysAll children deserve to have friends. Friendships are an important part of life and a key to happiness. If you know a child who struggles socially then he would be a great candidate for the Where I Can Be Me® social skills program. It is the safe place where your son is guaranteed to have fun learning to make friends and maintain relationships – or I will give you all of your money back!

It doesn’t matter if your son needs a little help or a lot, my unique placement process makes sure he will be with peers who are a good match for both learning and making friends with!

“Conner loves coming each week to see his friends and play in class. His socialization skills are improving particularly engaging in conversation exchanges and listening, asking questions appropriate to the topic.”
Maureen Pleasantville, N.Y.

You will never have to worry about your son being grouped with children who are either too advanced or not advanced enough. This is important because children learn from modeling the behavior of others. That is why I will carefully evaluate your child’s strengths and needs to make sure he gets to join a group of children who will help bring out his fullest potential.

What’s more is that you can rest easy knowing that you are not risking a dime. If at any time before the start of your son’s 5th class you decide you are not absolutely thrilled with the program I will give you all of your money back, without hassle – guaranteed.

If this sounds like something that would benefit your child then I encourage you to request more free information now. You may do so by calling 914.243.1118, or my tollfree, hassle-free, 24hr recorded message information hotline 1.866.380.8340, or by visiting www.SocialSkillsWestchester.com Speak to you soon, Isa Marrs