Holiday Spotlight: Mitch Ward

Name: Mitch Ward

Occupation: Professional actor [SAG, AFTRA, AEA] and CEO and Chief Information Technology Officer, 21st Century Artists, Inc. and pC Help? Professionals - specializing in development of smart device apps, Internet cloud solutions for professional musicians and entertainers, and small to medium environmentally green-focused industries. 21stCenturyArtists.com - pCHelpProfessionals.com

What's your holiday wish for others?  First, I wish for an end to the Afghanistan war so soldiers can come home to loved ones just as the soldiers are doing this week as a result of President Obama's end to the war in Iraq.

And I wish we would take that roughly $10 billion per month spent over there and invest it here at home to further invigorate the technology, manufacturing, housing and construction market and to address our nation's aging infrastructure like bridges, libraries and schools. 

Next I wish others will all have access to plenty of food and drink, warmth, and shelter. 

And I especially wish and hope that those who sought the American dream of homeownership but who subsequently fell victim to predatory banking lenders will find recourse against their "liar loans" as they are called.  

And I wish for all of us Americans that the United States Supreme Court will rightfully strike down the notion that "corporations are people" or "corporate personhood."  

And I wish for a more civil and respectful era in politics in America. 

But lastly I hope everyone is surrounded by someone they love because that is the real meaning of family and holiday any day of the year.

If you could give someone in your life whatever gift you wanted to, what would the gift be and who would you give it to? New kidneys for my mom.

What are your plans for this New Year's Eve? I make my plans for New Year's Eve on New Year's Eve.  

What will you do on (New Year's Day) Jan. 1 and 2? Write an article for OccupyLosAngelesNews.org regarding the future direction of  Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Los Angeles. And finish my photographic and writing assignment for the second edition of the printed Occupied Los Angeles Times newspaper for Occupy LA - occupylosangeles.org.

What stands out to you about 2011, either personally, professionally or in general? As a political activist, 2011 became my dream year in that regard. On the 12th day of Occupy LA's encampment at Los Angeles City Hall, I joined the Occupy Wall Street movement and began to participate daily within it and the numerous committee meetings in downtown Los Angeles. I settled upon and became a member of Occupy LA's media committee.

Earlier I had started publishing and distributing Occupy Los Angeles News, the first newspaper of the largest standing occupy encampment in the world. It was my occupation to report on news within the local OWS movement and beyond and to photograph occupiers and the events surrounding OLA. 

I wrote the stories associated with my reporting and then printed and distributed the paper to both an online audience and the camping occupiers. I published 37 issues up through Mayor Villaraigosa's ordered raid on November 30.

What stood out to me this year was how people took very complex figures and facts and communicated them in very precise manners whereby everyone could understand. 1% of America vs. 99% became a vivid description of economic inequality in 2011 USA. And OWS forced our nation to speak about this harsh fact that some don't want known.  

For the first time in my lifetime, I saw economic inequality pictorially depicted by people who were most harmed by decades of governance that ignores a large majority of the US population - 99%. And now they are being listened to finally.

It was personally rewarding to be a part of such a powerful movement which steered our nation's conversation away from "spending cuts" and "tax cuts for job creators," to a discussion that the majority of Americans related to and agreed with. 

And I am proud to still lend my voice toward that discussion, which continues to focus upon our nation's economic inequality, the outsourcing of good jobs to other nations, corporate tax inequality, and the decimation of the poor and middle class within this nation. 

What is your New Year's Resolution? To continue to use my voice and talents to speak for those less fortunate than I have been.

What's your favorite Christmas tradition? When I lived in New York City I was known for having an annual Christmas party where everyone invited had to bring an tree ornament. Now each year when I place them on my tree, I reflect on the person who gave it to us. 

What holiday foods do you like? German chocolate cake, pecan pie, hot water bread and turnip greens, English peas, southern style baked beans.

What do you like about the holiday season? Spending some peace and quiet at home with my family.

What don't you like about it?  I despise having to shop anytime of the year. Christmas involves shopping and that, again, I don't like. And forget about the busy stores and roads. 

Is there anyone near and dear to you who wasn't with you for the holidays? Who, and why? I am married to and surrounded everyday by someone who is most near and dear to me. But both our families live in other states and we will certainly miss all of their company.

What does Christmas mean to you? It means a time to reflect on what has occurred over the past year. And each Christmas I am especially reminded life is sweet.