CreateAthon onCampus '12 with CARES

I am Sierra Peralta, a senior studying strategy advertising at VCU. Follow along as I document my journey through CreateAthon onCampus '12 with my client CARES.

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5 Ways to pass the Torch

How will you carry the CreateAthon torch and spread the word?

Ignite your passion for contributing to non-profits that you care about (advertise, free-lance, volunteer, or donate). A good place to start is by reading "Urban Views Weekly".

Network! If you're going to grad school, talk about it with other professors and students that may be interested.

Put CreateAthon on your resume! It's a give-and-take relationship ;).

Six-degrees of separation. Got friends with CreateAthon-talent? Tell them about it! Inspire them to DO it!

Wear your CreateAthon T-shirt! Be proud of what you accomplished and be proud of the work that is to come.

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Change, the only constant!

As we know, nothing is perfect--not even the do-gooders and Marvel super heroes. Rarely can anyone be too prepared for something. With that being said, there are two things that I think will make CreateAthon on Campus an even more successful operation.

More time studying other non-profit campaigns

Dedicate more class time to studying other non-profit projects.

Spend more time finding other deliverables and successful methods for promoting causes with limited budgets.

Look for inspiration everywhere so that we can have more campaigns out of the ordinary.

More carefully selected teams

Provide team leaders with more information about qualified teammates' skills. Many people can say they are good at something, until you find out that day of the event otherwise.

Make sure people signing up for the marathon can actually run it.

With these changes, I think everyone will be better equipped with creative ideas for their campaign strategy and a strong plan of how they will work with their teams to execute their plan in 24 hours!

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CreateAthon took a class field trip to Carter Printing Company, where all of our work was printed... yeah, it was pretty awesome!

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What I learned about the way I work

I have about 22 years of anecdotal proof that I am a type-A worker.

I like fast-paced work environments, but sometimes I am too detail-oriented to keep up with myself.

I ask a LOT of questions. Sure, I make sure I have ALL the outside knowledge about my client. But if I am skeptical about a design, I am going to question the rationality behind it. If I don't understand how to work a program, I am going to ask how to use it. If I don't understand what you are talking about, I will ask for clarification.

I'm bossy, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If I am running the show (especially a 24hours show), I will encourage my team to work however they are most comfortable. If you need to smoke, smoke. If you need to nap for 20 minutes, do it. If you need guitar therapy, strum away. But I know where to draw the line to make sure we don't fall behind. I also know how to make that line big, fat, and crystal clear.

But I also like to compromise. Even as a leader, I never pretended to have all the solution to everything. That is why I make sure to choose a team that has all the skills that I lack. It keeps the clock ticking.

I come over-prepared. Phone numbers. Colored pencils. Rulers. Scissors. Exacto blades. Red pens. Blue pens. Old collateral. Oranges. Crackers. Caffeine pills. Everything I could have possibly needed, I had it ready.

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Working with clients

CreateAthon has taught me plenty about working with clients people. It's a lot like babysitting.

TRUST IS EARNED WITH INTEGRITY, NOT KINDNESS. Working directly for a brand is a lot like babysitting. People don't trust you to watch their kids just because you are nice and sweet. They trust you because you are honest, interested, and responsible. More importantly, parents are hopeful that you will do the right thing in their absence. And if there are any questions about food allergies and bedtimes, you MUST ask, because there are no sweet, little, honest mistakes when it comes to other people's kids! Not knowing is not a horrible thing. Not doing the right thing is.

TIME IS MONEY, EVEN WHEN YOU ARE WORKING FOR FREE. Do not show up to a family's house late. Likewise, if they are dropping their child off to your home, BE THERE, and be there EARLY. Calls should always be answered and e-mails should always be replied to. If you won't do it for your own good name, do it for the agency you are working for.

IT TAKES INITIATIVE. You shouldn't wait until a kid has an accident before you take him to the bathroom. Likewise, you shouldn't wait until something goes wrong or until you need something before you discuss terms with your client. It's just that simple.

IT SHOULD BE FUN! If you are not having fun, you are either

Not putting enough heart into it

Planning poorly, having to do too many responsibilities at once

In the wrong field entirely

In the end, it shouldn't be like this:

but like THIS!

-SP

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CreateAthon: Does a body good.

Let's look at the facts:

An agency won't hire you without a few years of experience or a KICK ASS resume.

Internships will seldom hire you, even for FREE, because you taking someone's time.

You have these mock-ups in class, but how often are you REALLY pitching them? And how many people that MATTER are critiquing your work?

In school, much of our passion for the game is redirected to our fear of earning bad grades.

Your school work is for a client that doesn't know you exist. Unless it's published or in a portfolio, it's just practice.

What can CreateAthon do for you?

It makes you step up to the plate. REAL deadlines, REAL people, REAL investments.

You learn how to prioritize! The client comes FIRST. The grade comes LAST. Ask any team leader. (Honestly, I forgot CreateAthon was an actual course).

You get to experience the fast-paced atmosphere that you'll be experiencing for the rest of your life

It brings you back down to Earth. You see real people that need real things, and request for YOUR help.

You get REAL responsibilities.

You get to exercise your creativity, brain storming skills, mediating and collaboration skills while picking up on others' as well.

and lastly...

You make a REAL impact.

My group and I have changed the image of an organization that has been around since before you and I were born. An organization who devotes all of their time and energy into improving the quality of life for people in need. An organization that is really thinking about the future. I helped change that.

And what did those things cost me? Some passion, dedication, and trust in myself... and about $50 worth of gas to commute to Petersburg. But cost cannot rival the passion I have for the industry--interpersonal communication, MASS communications, and the redemptive power of art.

If you're a part of a talented student body that is eager to make a difference, you should have CreateAthon on Campus at your school. You can cram for your exams, practice for your labs, and make love to your books and typewriters. Put those checks on that to-do list. But at the end of the day, if you're not sweating little details, putting your heart and soul into your work, it is just a waste of time.

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Collaboration: The good, bad, & ugly

I'm a firm believer in the power of team work. After all, team work makes the dream work doesn't it? But seriously. It's written everywhere in nature. Four elements--earth, air, fire, water. Earth grounds fire. Air helps fire breathe. Water tames fire. Red, yellow, and blue are mixed to make all the colors of the rainbow. A clock only works if all the cogs and gears work together. Even sundials are useless unless there's light. Upon picking my team for CreateAthon, all I had to choose from and a list of very vague skills. Brain stormer. Designer. Web person. No samples of work. No prior meet and greet. There wasn't must too work with. Not much to analyze or pick. The best I could do was choose people that had the skills I lacked. So I did. and I wasn't surprised to find... THE BAD & THE UGLY

Some people don't expect to stay away for 24 hours to work.

With different skill sets and efficiencies, work gets distributed VERY unevenly

Personality clashes (bossy vs. sensitive, introverted vs. way too loud)

Time crunches make some people sweaty, panicky, and frantic.

THE GOOD

If I was unsure, someone could guide me.

If I didn't know how, someone did.

If I couldn't, someone would.

If I needed to breathe and play with my puppy, everyone let me!

I lost an hour of work because I didn't embed the objects. I didn't know the best way to design and format our brochures. I had no idea how to search for Pantone color names in the color books. Perhaps that doesn't sound to leader-like. But what is a leader without a team?  It was my promise to invest trust in my team, and to let them to sink their creative teeth into an awesome project. What made me a good leader was my conviction to finish BETTER than I had planned, and to give my client nothing less that what they wanted. p.s. (I learned how to do all of that stuff now)

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7 DAYS LEFT

and I'm not worried at all! This is a GREAT thing. Do you know why? Because for every negative thought you have, it takes 10 positive comments to overturn that thought. Get a whiff of the positivity in its abundance!

I know my non profit like the back of my hand!

My client is confident in me

I am confident in myself

I have an amazingly gifted team that will implement my campaign strategy with flying colors.

Copy & art direction tickle me

Strategy tickles me

Challenges excite me

I have a badge to be bossy

I get 24 hours of Peyton Rowe's hilariousness!

There will be free food and the Devil's brownies

I'm getting a t-shirt

I still have hope that Ellen Degeneres will show attend

...At the end of it all, it is the grateful and ecstatic expression on my clients' faces that is motivating me. So unless you have 120 negative comments, good luck breaking my confidence.

-SP!

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CreateAthon needs a typical Aries.

...Strengths Finder 2.0 says I'm super bossy.

Your Top 5 Strengths Are:

Input (100%): People strong in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.

Command (95%): People strong in the Command theme have presence. They can take control of a situation and make decisions.

Communication (95%): People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.

Belief (95%): People strong in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life.

Learner (95%): People strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them. ....and the 6th, just because it was also 95%!

Activator (95%) People strong in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient.

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For many women the threat isn't on the outside. Advertising Agency: Adler Chomski/Grey Tel Aviv, Israel Creative Director: Yonatan Stirin Art Director: Assaf levy Copywriter: Amir Ariely Photographer: Ariel Van Straten

The Print Ad titled Peephole was done by Adler Chomski/grey advertising agency for product: Anti-violence Against Women (brand: Domestic Violence) in Israel. It was released in the Jan 2008.

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5 senses of CARES

What does CARES look like?

What does CARES smell like?

Cleaning products (both literally and metaphorically). Going in to CARES is the opportunity for a clean start. It is up to the clients to keep it that way.

What does CARES taste like?

The taste of sweat and grass as you roll from the ground to protect your goal in a tied soccer rivalry. Intense! You know your team is with you, but it is up to you to block the last shot, no matter how much work it takes!

What does CARES sound like?

A ticking clock. Sand dropping from an hour glass. The fast gusts of wind that blow as the sun begins to set. Sure there is another hour, another day, to start fresh. But at CARES, time is of the essence. Smart goals are attainable and measurable.

What does CARES feel like?

Sanding wood. Sometimes you will get splintered and scratched. But if you commit yourself, in the end you will have a strong, smooth, piece of lumber with which you can begin to build anything.

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CARES SPACE

Last Friday I drove to Petersburg to make my site visit. There are actually two neighboring locations to visit for CARES--the shelter itself that houses their admitted clients and the service center that assists other community members experiencing difficulties. This time, I only got to visit the shelter and it was...

CLEAN!

Small

Comfortable

Warm

Full of pride

Let me tell you just how clean it was. I could wear a white glove, wipe my hand against the floor, and collect no dust. The shelter was as homey as a temporary home could be. On the first floor were two offices--Ms. Grim's (the loveliest social worker's) office and a board member's office. There was also a moderately sized play room full of books and toys and a large kitchen/dining room (like any other kitchen). Large bulletin boards displayed motivational posters and pictures of clients & staff at CARES parties. Upstairs were 3 bed rooms, with 20 bunk beds and dressers. Most beds were spruced with client's personal bedsheets. There was also a crib and playpen in every room. On top of that, there was a living room with a couple of sofas and a television set and small movie collection. There are also two, very clean, bathrooms with showers and stalls.

Although the shelter was very comfortable, there were of course some things missing that divide it from our own homes.

A mess (because piles of clothes and some carpet stains make a home!)

Personalization (personality in general, colored walls, pretty curtains, etc.)

Privacy (doors close, and rooms are separated, but there is nothing like having a place of your own!)

These are some things I could not help but notice, and little things all of us should appreciate...for example, crayons on the wall, pencil etches to mark growth, etc. Furthermore, it made me even more hopeful for every child to have the chance of growing up and making memories in a home of their own.

-SP

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Indifference kills.

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Teenage girls should be sleeping under posters of their favorite pop stars (not newspapers).