meet 2 of my roomies

New KKi product coming 7-11-11: 'the Lincoln'

3 weeks of my internship with KKi have already gone by.. I can't believe it!  I feel like we've been so busy and having so much fun that the time has flown by.  A lot of exciting things have been happening since I got here a few weeks ago.  We launched our "We Are the Future of Change" campaign with the Active stores here in California.  We also released our partnership with Volcom and the new products that will be coming from that.  I've gone to three events reppin all the KKi products at Make Music Pasadena, Fish Fest in Irvine, and the Vans Warped Tour in Pomona.  The best part is sharing the KKi story with people who don't know about it.  The minute I flip their hat inside out and show them the lady who made their hat.. their eyes become wide and genuine excitement shows on their faces.  SO GREAT.  

I've been having a blast working on the Events team.  Within our team, we each have unique roles to fulfill.  I'm so thrilled to be posting on the intern blog for KKi!  I love taking pictures and capturing moments that I can share with all the KKi supporters who read the blog.  

I also had some great visitors this past week!  My mom, best friend Jordan, and bf joined me in Newport!  My mom and Jordan were able to attend one of our benefit concerts for our next project in Lima, Peru!  I was thrilled to have them there and Jordan bought some great merch.

One of the events I've gone to was "Fish Fest" in Irvine.  It was great because our booth was super busy and we got to neighbor with 31 Bits!

While I've been here I've heard a lot of great bands play live!  The New Limb and Hotels and Highways were both amazingly talented!  It was fun hearing them play live and even talking to some of them before the shows started.  

Here's The New Limb performing at our benefit PERU concert.

This weekend I hiked to the Hollywood sign!  We all started screaming the minute it came into view.. so great.

I feel so blessed to be working for a nonprofit that I believe wholeheartedly in, as well as exploring around California with such incredible people.  Thanks again to everyone who helped support me so that I could live here for 3 months!  You're the best :).

I've been loving Cali--but I still have my fair share of missing Seattle.  It's so green AND clean!  I miss my family and friends (although, I've been really fortunate to have a lot of visitors!) and I've also been missing my church in Greenlake.  I started reading my pastor's new book called, "The Colors of Hope."  On page 13 I was pleasantly surprised by a paragraph written about the guys I work for!  I couldn't believe it.  The chapter was talking about those who hope and wish things will happen versus those who do it and take action.  It talked briefly about how the guys who started the organization are are doing something instead of just sitting and hoping it will happen.  I was so excited to see that! I had no idea when choosing to read the book that the awesome people I work for would be in there because of the impacts they're making!

LOVE IT!

Care to meet who I work for? They're incredible.

Slumber, Needtobreathe

Fish Fest!

Krochet Kids is at Fish Fest in Irvine today! 

my first day off included...

love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love

Week one of being an intern for KKi has come to a close.  I can't believe it has already been an entire week!  We've done so much already and I feel so unbelievably blessed to be a part of this great organization.  

First off, I want to thank all of my wonderful family and friends who helped support me so that I could make the move to Newport Beach a reality.  Thank you for financially supporting me with my rent costs.  I am such a fortunate girl.  THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!  Living with 8 other interns has been so much fun.. especially since we live hardly a block from the beach!  We're all passionate about what the organization is doing and are beyond excited to be part of spreading the KKi story.  

Only a few days into getting to California we got to begin setting up for a private event held for Active Ride Shop employees.  It was a lot of fun with great food, awesome people, and music from Moonsville Collective.  The campaign is called "We Are the Future of Change."  In a number of Active Sports stores there will be a really cool jar with a picture of a lady from Northern Uganda on it.  Each store will be supporting a specific lady.  People who come into the store can donate in order to help these wonderful ladies.  

The event was awesome to say the least.  

Event interns (that's me!) also had our first events this weekend.  I went to the Make Music Pasadena Festival with one of the interns.  It was a lot of fun telling people about KKi and getting them excited about the products and the unique business model that we have.  

So to sum it all up... this first week has been awesome!  My dad flew down with me for a day to help me get situated since I don't have a car down here.  We had a great time grocery shopping, eating at inn n out burger, AND checking out the beach.  

www.krochetkids.org: the story of Akello Welsy Olara

We can make a difference.  Here's the proof.

6 days until Costa Mesa!

In only six short days I'll be getting on a plane and heading to Newport Beach to intern for Krochet Kids.  I'm super excited but this week has been crazy!  I'm in my last week of school--meaning finals week!  Luckily, I just turned in my last paper.  I just have to take one last final Thursday morning and then I'm officially a junior!  On top of that, I have two graduations to go to and a lot of grad parties to attend.  Meanwhile, I've had to move out of my apartment on campus and begin packing for the summer.  I have no idea how I'm going to fit almost 3 months worth into only one or two suitcases.. my shoes alone can take up an entire one!  Yesterday, I met with one of the new interns!  Emilee is awesome and we both had a great time sharing tips about packing.  Check back to hear more about my time in California!  

Meanwhile, check out this awesome video of the fundraising event that KKi held in Seattle last month!

Krochet Kids intl. Benefit - Seattle from Alec Cattarin on Vimeo.