Greetings!
Welcome to my portfolio, Blackbird Beginnings, where you can learn a bit about me and my skills, hobbies, and interests.
My name is Christian Tidwell from Santa Cruz, California.
I am a Cal State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) graduate with a major in Communication Design.
Enjoy!
Education
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Earthship Biotecture Academy
Academy Session (Step 1) - April, 2022
Extensive training in principles, construction, and philosophy of building Earthships in their community, located in Taos, NM. Students within the session participate in classes learning each of the categorial ethics of preparing and building Earthships, as well with labs, tours, and hands-on job site construction.
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Field Study (Step 2) - May, 2022
A further study of building Earthships, outside the community in Fence Lake, NM. Mainly built for an Earthship alumni, it is all hands-on construction from 9AM-4:30PM. Takes on expanded insight and direct experience for students to gain a better understanding of building Earthships all together.
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Cal State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) - Fall, 2021
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Communication Design.
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Monte Vista Christian School - Spring, 2016
Graduated with a diploma and honor roll at a Christian high school.
Work Experience
Housekeeping Staff
Mount Madonna Center
9/2023 - Present
Responsible for cleaning and servicing communal gathering spaces and rooms. I coordinated with coworkers to ensure all guest space are clean and organized, providing quality standards and adherence to hygiene and safety standards for a clean, welcoming community for the retreat.
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Pizza Cook
Pizza 1 | Pizza My Heart
8/2021 - 3/2022 | 9/2022 - 2/2023
Part-time employee making a variety of pizza, food preparation, dishwashing, customer service, taking phone orders, and cashiering. Organization and cleaning of work areas as well as customer dining area.
House Painter
Cal Bear Painting | Cranston Fine Finishing
6/2018 - 7/2018, 6/2021 | 7/2021
Preparation of residences for painting which required sanding, masking, layering, and taping off areas, and painting of interior and exterior homes.
Student Assistant
Otter Cycle Center
8/2019 - 3/2020
The Otter Cycle Center is a co-op bike shop delegated by CSUMB Recreation Department, revolving around bicycle rentals and maintenance for students and faculty members.
Assistant in maintenance and troubleshooting bicycle issues, and bicycle mechanics. Maintained cleanliness and organization of the Otter Cycle Center and bicycle inventory. Worked collaboratively with students and staff.
Volunteer Experience
Gardener
Homeless Garden Project Farm
4/2021 - 3/2022
The Homeless Garden Project Farm is a giant piece of farmland located by Natural Bridges State Beach, outside the city of Santa Cruz, California. It is a massive garden, recruiting homeless and volunteers in gaining volunteer opportunities and resources. Food marketing and donations contribute the community and public, along with a store selling their own products in downtown Santa Cruz.
I followed orders from staff members gardening the land with their hands-on tools and equipment, gathering supplies and items in a big community. Learning and growing with like-minded individuals in a therapeutic garden, warmly deals with mental health and spiritual healing.
Communications Designer
Community Builders for Monterey County
9/2020 - 3/2022
Communications design is a visual design position involving the design and development of collateral material (one pagers, flyers, logos, and more), in supporting a team of communications and marketing gurus.
Originally, supposed to be for a service-learning class, I decided to stay and continue designing and developing communications material in the organization's voice and style.
Had to prototype and communicate social media pages for Community Builders, expanding their platform in order to discover and share opportunities as a lasting impact on the community through volunteerism.
Muralist
In summer 2012, 2013, and 2018, I designed, trimmed, and used a printed graphic design to layer elements on the emblem of Gaivota, a sailboat. I sprayed and brush painted murals across separate islands in the Azores, a Portuguese archipelago.
Volunteer
Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter
8/2008 - 5/2016
Volunteered in caring for cats and dogs at an animal shelter. I helped them get well adapted to human beings and the community by playing with them outside their kennels to be put up for adoption.
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Hobbies
Reading
Writing
Meditating
Listening to Music
Exercise
Skills
Communication Design
Organizational Skills
House Painting
Gardening and Yard Maintenance
​Media Editing
Problem Solving
Pet Sitting and Care
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Interests
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Nature
Gardening
Minimalism
Spirituality and Philosophy
Arts and Designing
Volunteerism
Meditating
"A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants."
-Lao Tzu