F.A.L.A. February 2009 Newsletter

My Very Personal Nine-Month Collaboration with Big Wave Project in Half Moon Bay

On July 24, 2007 I phoned Big Wave Project and spoke with Kimberly Brennan and after several conversations with Kimberly and Jeff Peck, Big Wave's President and Co-Founder, I emailed them my Proposal that I had designed on September 24, 2007; A Self-sustainable Organic Farmstead Model that gained National Recognition from the most prominent Autism Professionals and experts across the United States.

Jeff Peck promised me a position on his Advisory Board and to secure a spot for my 10-year-old autistic son in exchange for collaborating and sharing my ideas and vision with Big Wave Project.

I spoke to Jeff about "Going Green 100%" (when I met Jeff, he had no intention of going green) on every aspect of planning and how it would help with the Permit Process especially because he was near the Coast. I also sent him my Live, Work, Green Proposal that I had also designed from scratch in February 2008 which includes a Full-Recycle Center & Live/Work Green Lofts and Businesses.

I designed my son's, Alex's Day at Big Wave and a written Architectural Layout of the Wellness & Community Development Center per Jeff Peck's request in November of 2007:

Alex’s First Day of his Month at Big Wave by Kim Ashburn

It is Monday morning and Alex has been studying his new Monthly Schedule all weekend. Alex is an early riser and his alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m. He heads to the shower and his music is set for 20-minutes. Alex washes his hair, cleans himself, and turns off the shower. He dries himself off, combs his hair, cleans his ears, and picks out his clothes based on the News Weather Forecast. He takes his vitamins, brushes his teeth, and gargles and heads out the door with his peers and his Life Skills Coaches at 6:45 a.m.

They walk to the Wellness Center and head towards the Cafe’s Commercial Kitchen. The Recipes for today’s Breakfast Brunch have been written on each of the chalk boards surrounding each workstation. They quickly move to their workstations and begin preparing today’s Breakfast Brunch; GF/CF French Toast, Apple Sausage, Fresh Fruit, Cold Cereal, Oatmeal, and Juice alongside their volunteers/mentors.

After completing setting up the Breakfast Buffet Bar, the group of six peers sits and eats their breakfast and discusses their next task with the help of their Life Skills Coaches. They each take out their punch cards that lists today’s activities.

Their Life Skills Coach punches their time cards for completing their morning task. It is now 9:00 a.m. and they are ready for some education. Alex’s peer group receives an hour of Computer Lab. They are learning the concepts of the computer and how to increase their speed typing. Alex does a great job by staying on task and his Life Skill’s Coaches punch his time card for completing his Computer Lab.

It is 10:00 a.m. and Alex’s peer group heads off to the Science Room. This month’s lesson is The Galaxy. Alex loves Science and cannot wait to get involved in an open-discussion with his peers and Science Teacher. Their Life Skills Coach punches their time cards for completing their tasks in Science.

It is 11:00 a.m. and lunch time and Alex and his peers head to the Cafe. They eat their lunch and head towards the Music Room at 12:00 p.m. for this month’s Choir Practice. They are preparing for an end of the month performance. They are excited to find out what song they will be performing.

A Mentor enters the room and it is someone very special in the Music Industry. The Mentor plays his songs to Alex and his friends so they can get a feel for what they will be performing. They pick their song and begin to practice. Their Life Skill’s Coach punches their time cards and they move onto Physical Education.

It is 1:00 p.m. and Alex’s group is aligned with other students. They spilt off into two teams. This month’s Special Olympics Featured Sport is “Soccer.” Alex is on the Blue Team and he likes to play Goalie. He is excited to play his favorite sport. After Alex completes Soccer at 2:30 p.m., Alex and his Team Mates head into the locker room and shower. Alex gets dressed and his Life Skills Coach punches his time card.

At 3:00 p.m. Alex helps run the Library. He loves to organize and help others. Alex and his peers work at the Library for two hours. It is 5:00 p.m. and Alex and his peers head to the Cafe for dinner. At 6:00 p.m. Alex’s Life Skill’s Coach punches his time card and hands him his tokens for the Arcade.

Alex thoroughly enjoys interacting with peers at the Arcade. The Arcade closes at 8:00 p.m. and Alex heads across the street with his peers and Life Skill’s Coaches and it is time for bed. Alex is excited to begin his next day at CDC!

Architectural Layout of Big Wave Wellness & Community Development Center

Basement next to Jeff Peck’s Movie Theatre: Snack Bar, Arcade: Dance, Dance Revolution, Dart Boards (Soft Tip), Pool Table, Ping Pong Table, Table Shuffle Board, Juke Box, Dance Floor, Two-Lane Bowling Alley, Pin Ball Machines, Electronic Game Area: Wii, Playstion, GameCube, etc...

First Floor: Gym with Weight Room, Tread Mill, Bikes, Racquetball Court, Indoor Salt Water Pool with retractable roof, Epsom Salt Jacuzzi, Infrared Sauna, Massage Room, Sensorcize Room; Yoga, Karate, Meditation, Jazzercise. Gymnasium with Stage; Full Basketball Court, Indoor Soccer, Power Walking, Adaptive Recreation, Gymnastics, etc... Gymnasium would be used for Performances, Socials, Family Events, Lectures, etc...

Centered: Cafe/Deli with Commercial Kitchen (Residents will create Daily Deli Specials), Organic Juice Bar, Organic Coffee Bar, and Bakery.

Store Fronts: Animal Grooming (all natural, no chemicals), Dog Walking & Training, Dry Cleaners (all natural, no chemicals), Book & Music Store, Library w/Computer Lab, Travel Agency, Postal Annex, Video & Game Rentals, Eco-Chic Boutique; Arts & Crafts, Gallery, Organic and 100% Natural Clothing, Towels, Stationary, etc...

Second Floor: Classrooms; Culinary Cooking Class w/Commercial Kitchen and work areas. (I sent a follow-up email to move this to the first floor adjoining to the Cafe/Deli because it would make more sense!). Science Room, Computer Lab & Graphics, Music Room/Choir, Fine Arts; Painting, Ceramics, Arts & Crafts (3), Acting/Performing Arts (they can use stage in Gymnasium), Dance/Ballet/Jazz/Tap, General Education (2), Banking, Billing & Receiving, Advertising & Marketing, Big Wave Executive Suites.

I also called Jeff Peck and spoke of the Eco-Friendly Solar Modular's and how the Germans just took first place again at Washington DC. I also phoned Jeff Peck about Live/Work Lofts and Studios that my husband had built and how in downtown Sacramento they rented for $2500.00 a month for a 900 sq. ft. Studio and that by renting more units at Big Wave Project could raise much more needed income to help its sustainability.

I highly question the statement that Jeff Peck made at the 6-8-08 Unveil of Big Wave where he stated, "After having a beer after work six to eight months ago with Steve Barber drove them to scrap their existing plans and start new and that their existing plans weren't good enough!"

Eight months prior on October 23, 2007, Jeff Peck was having lunch in my home in Sacramento while I shared my Proposal, my Model, and gave Jeff constant feedback over a nine-month period which I was more than willing to do in exchange of serving on the Advisory Board and being part of the Big Wave Team. And, to help secure a spot for my son's future.

It was brought to my attention at the 6-8-08 meeting, that Big Wave will be partnering with C-PALS to design and create an Organic Farmstead and Permanent Living with For Profit Businesses. Their Concepts according to the person who I spoke with are exactly like my Model that I shared with them and that I have personally designed and emailed to Jeff Peck and Kimberly Brennan in September 2007.

I asked Jeff Peck months ago that if I helped Big Wave and they liked my ideas and concepts, would Big Wave in return help me build my Model for my son and those like him?

When I questioned Jeff Peck as to why he did not invite me to one Advisory Board Meeting over a nine-month period (9/07 to 6/07/08) along with not listing my name on the 6-8-08 Slide Presentation along with all of the other Advisory Board Members, and never once introduced me to one person during the two hours that my family was there ...

He stated, "It was an oversight and he said to even suggest that they would need to or want to steal my ideas goes beyond ridiculous. He then went onto say that our family was not the right fit for Big Wave!"

Yet, it is very apparent to anyone who had ever read my proposals that every idea and concept that Big Wave Project has incorporated into their unique and one-of-a-kind "NEW PLANS" came from my two Proposals and my nine-month Collaboration which Jeff Peck and his Team deny to this day?