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I love keeping up with our Recipients and sharing the awesomeness to help inspire others. Ruby pushes me everyday to better myself, and I feel each Recipient has that same quality and energy that just sparks something inside a person. You know what I love even more than an update?  An ENTIRE blog post written by the Recipient themselves!  Oh my heart is just about to explode with happiness and pride every time I read this post from Brandon Gruber, who has also joined Ruby’s Rainbow in our very first Ambassador Program. Brandon’s artwork is amazing, as is his heart. He continues to sell his artwork nationally to fund his grassroots foundation, the 321 Life+1 Project. The money raised goes to helping people in his community and with a low-income.  Please enjoy this amazingly inspiring blog post written by Brandon!!

Dear Ruby’s Rainbow,

I have been very busy this year! Thank you so much for the scholarship. I have been using it to fund my journey of exploration in the arts. I have been enjoying these classes very much.

Brandon Blog

My personal favorite class is the Recording Arts class at the Indigital Institute in downtown Santa Cruz. I composed my own song from start to finish. I recorded the tracks, did a lot of editing, mixed the song, and then I want to produce a music video to go with it. It’s a process!

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My future plan is to design clothes for the Disney stars. When I was younger, I made some simple PJ’s but I wanted to know more about fashion design. I took a class with Sonia at Cosmo Chic. There I learned how to use the sewing machines, the thread, and the fabric scissors. I also learned about patterns and different types of stitches. I made two aprons, one pair of boardshorts, two jackets, and a dressy vest. I feel great about returning to my sewing dreams. Maybe I’ll be the first model/designer in New York fashion week who has Down Syndrome!

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The College of Adaptive Arts is all about believing in who you are and standing up for things that you want. I have always spoken from the heart, but I wanted to stand up for more than myself, and that can be scary! I took a class on Speaking with Confidence at the CAA. There I learned that people will make a judgement based on body language and appearance. I now know how to take control of conversations to rewind and change how people see me, self-advocate. It is important to speak up even if something is very challenging for everyone to realize.

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I also continued my individual art lessons with my long-time teacher, Mrs. Padma. I have been painting with acrylics since 6th grade. My favorite things to paint are destinations my family has traveled to. This year I painted many European landmarks we visited in 2012. I sell my artwork nationally to fund my grassroots foundation, the 321 Life+1 Project. The money I raise goes to people in my community and with a low-income.

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I wanted to learn more computer skills so I can show the world who I am and what I’m up to, using the internet as a professional tool. I went to the Digital Nest, a non-profit, high-tech training and collaboration space for young people. There I learned how to use Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop to create and edit drawings, photos, and videos for my website, how to create a banner with descriptors, and how to create logos.

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Now I can post videos

to my foundation’s website and make new websites working independently, which is very fun!

 

This next year I will be working on my theater and acting skills, I want to become the next big thing(NBT) with Disney. I have learned so much this year, thank you Ruby’s Rainbow for making it all possible!

 

Sincerely,

Brandon Gruber

Brandon, we are so proud of you and can’t wait to see where your inspiration leads you!! Keep on rockin’ it!!