Under New Influence

Deratany's 'Haram Iran' an Obama-era play in the best sense

2010-02-11T21:38:00.003-05:00

'Haram Iran' An Essential Play For Gay Advocacy And Human Rights Everywhere

An Obama era man and his play: In the original sense of 'Hope and Change' (which sentiments are slated to return reborn and revitalized, ere long)

Website has Federal Copyright Pending

2009-08-24T13:52:00.000-04:00

Intellectual Property Notice: All the materials and images on this website have a federal copyright pending, as pursuant to title 17 of United States copyright laws. Infringement makes the agent liable and subject to these laws. Materials are in the office of G. Stillman, Esquire; stillmanesq@att.net

2009-05-25T18:54:00.008-04:00

Visit: http://uniundernewinfluence.blogspot.com/

"This Is Our Moment"

2009-05-25T15:26:00.014-04:00

". . . what he beheld all around him was a civic disorder in which there was oppression without statescraft, and revolt without patriotism. . ." ~ Mark Twain, "What is Man?"

Why They Fear Obama's Youth Corps: The Right's Perception of the Change Come Upon Us

Those on the right cannot seem to stop posting videos of Obama's Youth "Brigade". They make constant references to Hitler Youth, while forgetting that this was not at fault in Nazi Germany, it was only precursor to something else, of which the groundwork has not been laid here in 2009 Obama America. That order, discipline , and unity would take inner city youth, and harness energy hitherto spent on rap and drugs and sex and crime, into work and park clean ups and mural paintings is hardly something to shudder at. What they truly fear is Obama's success, and the changing of the order.

Changing America, One Community at a Time: A Network of Unity and Influence

2009-05-25T01:50:00.002-04:00

As the Nike ads of Generation X said, "Just Do It." U. N. I. : Linking communities across America for Change.

IN MEMORIAM: ANDREW JOHN KOVALINSKY 1952-2006

2009-02-14T13:51:00.002-05:00

Under New Influence: About the Program

2009-02-14T12:32:00.000-05:00

Under New Influence is a federally copyrighted incenctives/rewards cards program aimed to unite businesses, schools, and communities in a circular relationship of giving and receiving, for the promotion of Obama Youth Corps. It was originally created and envisioned as a National Youth program with the aim of creating a safe haven for troubled youth with its anti-peer pressure/anti-gang/anti-substance abuse and crime prevention agenda. Community projects such as the re-greening of parks, mural painting and clean-up were thought of as apt replacements for gang activity and aimlessness. Much of it was inspired by the campaign speeches of the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Its creator was the late Andrew John Kovalinsky, a Hunterdon County, New Jersey resident and marketing and media executive who hoped that its existence might promote a resurgence of civic spirit in American youth.

The program was lauded by New Jersey state Senator Gordon MacKinnes, in a televised interview with Kovalinsky conducted by the senator in 1998. It was also praised in 1999 by the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson Univeristy in Madison, NJ. In additon, it was well received at various fund raising and marketing conferences across the U.S.from 2000-2004.

For various reasons, the program lacked sufficient funding and Kovalinsky had numerous projects and duties which prevented him from proper implementation of his plan, and U.N.I. was put on hold. In 2006, just prior to Kovalinsky's death, a program strangely similar in name, "Above the Influence", was picked up by the Bush-Cheney Administration under the Partnership for a Drug Free America , and given large federal funding ( 30 million federal dollars in September 2008 alone). Similar in name, it lacked the community, civic service, and safe haven aspects of UNI, and had a mainly educational anti-drug format.

In 2004 Kovalinsky became an avid admirer of then Illinois Senator Barack Obama, when he saw his speech before the Democratic National Convention. As his widow, I am haunted by the memory of his turning to me, and remarking, "That man is our next great Democratic president. UNI was not meant for the '90s nor the Bush years." I consider it tragic that he died just prior to the primary election season. With the Change which has come to Washington and the creation of an Obama Youth Corps, it is my hope that Andrew's program might be adopted as an aid to public works and service in today's New America. I have altered its name to "Under New Influence" to reflect that spirit of Change. Its initials, 'UNI' create an acronymn for "You and I" and lend themselves "Unity" and "Communities, schools and businesses united for Change." The following are images which may be used for the incentive/rewards cards logos, as well as posters, Tee shirt designs, and the like: (see post beneath this one)

Some UNI Images

2009-02-14T10:00:00.017-05:00

This post shows some images which may be used as logos for incentives/rewards cards and for banners and merchandise (Top image incorporates Shepherd Fairey's Hope poster, courtesy of the artist):

U.N.I. Ads and Incentives Cards

2009-02-14T05:00:00.013-05:00

To see more about the Incentives/Rewards cards program for Obama Youth Corps, go to: http://uniundernewinfluence.blogspot.com/