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CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Shout Out: Victor Pacini, singer who warns against sexual abuse
By Maryann Pisano
Victor Pacini is the founder of Childhood Victories, Inc. Pacini goes to schools and teaches Erinâs Law, which is a law that requires that all public schools offer child abuse prevention education. He encourages students to be seen and heard. Pacini performed at Mannheim Middle School in Mannheim School District 83 last month.
Where did you grow up and go to school?
I was born in Galewood, near Elmwood Park. Then, we moved to Mount Prospect. I went to Prospect High School. I went to Harper College and then I finished at Columbia College Chicago.
How did you get involved with performing?
My dad purchased a jukebox and my brother filled it with Elvis songs. I was singing along with the songs and an Elvis tribute band was looking for a little Elvis...
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NORTHWEST INDIANA TIMES
PORTAGE | Children at Kyle Elementary School were motivated Tuesday morning as they listened to speaker, author and âinnertainerâ Victor Pacini. He gave a presentation on core values: respect, responsibility, honesty, compassion and fairness.Pacini used music to get his message across. He sang, âYou have the power, imagine if you try.â He told the kids they need to have these core values at home and at school and to be mindful of others.
âI am no better than any of you,â he told the students who were in kindergarten through second grade. âI can learn from you and you from me.â Students and teachers clapped and sang as Pacini told stories through song. He told the children that itâs easy to be honest when parents and grownups are around, but they have to be the same when with friends. âYou need to get to the core of it and it all lives in your heart,â Pacini said. âTake off those blinders and see if someone around you needs help.â Jaira Vega, a second-grader, participated in a role-playing game during the presentation. âI learned about being respectful, honest and compassionate and that itâs the right thing to show other people and they will show you it back,â she said.
Pacini will give two presentations at each Portage elementary school this week, emphasizing the newly adopted core values of the schools. He will be at Portage High School East from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday along with poet and author Bill Buczinsky. They will perform a one-hour show for Family Night.
Paciniâs visits were funded through grants from the Porter County Substance Abuse Prevention Council and the Porter-Starke Services Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant fund.
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The Hayner Public Library District of Alton, IL has inspired the community to participate in their new youth recognition program, Mission Recognition. This program will recognize the youth of the area for outstanding service to an individual, organization or the community. They have asked Victor to become their spokesperson for this project. He has brought the messages of kindness and respect to the schools and organizations of Alton. Please visit their website to learn more about Mission Recognition.
BUFFALO GROVE NEWS
Singer/speaker motivates students
By KATIE OKON
Staff Writer
âI believe in myself, thereâs nothing I canât do. Follow my dreams, Iâll make them come true!â
Arms waving in the air, students shouted out these lyrics to âMy Dreams,â an original song by Victor Pacini, while sitting wide-eyed with awe and delight in Longfellow Elementary Schoolâs gym on Oct. 17.
As part of the District 21 schoolâs cultural arts program, singer and motivational speaker Pacini came to the school as the artist in residence last week to encourage students who are âdreaming big.â
After two assemblies in the morning, Pacini met with each classroom and had the students draw their dreams on paper. The next day, five students from each classroom stood before the entire school and spoke about their dreams in life while their drawings were projected on a big screen.
Pacini, 35, was raised in Mount Prospect and graduated from Prospect High School in 1990. Currently residing in Algonquin with his wife and child, Pacini has been singing publicly for 27 years and speaking professionally to children and adults for eight years.
Surviving tragedies
Overcoming his own obstacles in life â surviving childhood sexual abuse and the murder of his sister â inspired Pacini to teach others to do the same.
âI am no better than any one of you,â Pacini tells the students. âI am here today to learn just as much from you as you can learn from me.â
Angie Lawrence, the schoolâs assembly coordinator, found Pacini while attending a showcase in Skokie.
âI thought he was different, better than some juggler, and I think the kids are very excited and inspired today,â she said.
Sharing dreams
The energy level Pacini brought with him filled every student and teacher as they clapped, snapped, stomped their feet, whistled and sang along to each song played. The students cheered each other on as they raised their hands excitedly and shouted out their dreams: football player, art teacher, professional black belt in tae kwon do, astronaut, bus driver, bowler and ventriloquist.
Kindergarten and art teacher Barb List felt the program âreinforces values and builds self-esteem, all part of a theme that the kids carry through life.â
After the program, Pacini stood at the door and high-fived students as they left â Paciniâs smile as bright as theirs.
âI grew up in a loving family, but no one ever really said, âWhat do you want to be when you grow up?â to me,â Pacini said.
âWhen I look into the audience, I see me, at 8 or 9 years old.
âWhen I can make that connection with one child, those are what I call the magic moments.â
DAILY HERALD
Victor Pacini, self-employed musician and entertainer with Neysake Communications in Algonquin, IL
Musicians work in a variety of areas. They play musical instruments, sing, write songs, lead choirs, bands and orchestras and teach others to develop their musical talents. Whether theyâre playing in front of live audiences, recording songs for television productions or writing music for others to perform, musicians share one trait: a love of music.
Musicians specialize in one or more areas. Instrumental musicians play a musical instrument in an orchestra, band or group. Singers sing in front of a live audience or in a recording studio. Conductors and directors lead instrumental or singing groups. Composers write original music. And music instructors teach other people how to play an instrument or sing.
Musicians work in many environments. Some perform live in concert halls or nightclubs and spend a great deal of time traveling. Others record their music in professional studios or work in the solitude of their own offices and studios.
For many musicians, every day is different. They spend considerable time practicing and performing. Self-employed and part-time musicians may spend significant time marketing and selling themselves, keeping track of finances, coordinating gigs and writing songs.
Math, accounting, public relations, sales, writing and information gathering are crucial skills. Few musicians hold 9-to-5 jobs. Those who perform must often do so at night and on weekends, and sometimes spend a lot of time traveling from one performance venue to the next. Composers and teachers tend to work more regular hours, but still devote extra time meeting project deadlines or preparing for upcoming performances.
Professional musicians who perform live in concert halls and nightclubs must be in good physical condition. They burn off energy on stage and need stamina to cope with frequent travel and night performances.
Here is an interview with Victor Pacini, self-employed musician and entertainer with Neysake Communications in Algonquin.
Q: What led you to a career in the entertainment industry?
A: At the age of eight, I had an opportunity to try out for a band that was doing a tribute to Elvis and I made it. I traveled with them out of state on the weekends for four years. After that, I started entertaining on my own. Entertaining was something that I was passionate about ever since I was a child.
After high school, I studied art at Harper College and transferred to Columbia College in Chicago, earning a bachelorâs degree in graphic design. After college I worked in graphic design and it wasnât until I had a job at Pleasant Ridge School in Glenview that I combined the graphic design with my passion for entertaining. I knew whatever career I decided on, it was going to be a long time. One day I asked the principal of the school if I could put on a show for the kids and it went really well. There was a boy named Matt and he asked me if I could sing a song. We sang Johnny Be Good together. It was one of the turning points in my life and an unbelievable feeling when the boy sang with me and the kids gave him a standing ovation and he put his arms up in the air like he had won.
After the event a teacher came up to me and asked why I wasnât doing that full time. I said âdoing what?â She said, âentertaining.â So after that I created a show that could really make a difference in the lives of students.
I combined the graphic design with my love for singing into a show that could inspire kids to believe in and respect themselves and follow their dreams and teach them that they can accomplish anything.
Q: What do you find most en-joyable about your work in the entertainment industry?
A: The most enjoyable aspect is to make a difference in the life of a child and to inspire them to believe in and feel good about themselves.
Q: What do you think is the most important quality for someone considering a career in entertainment?
A: The entertainment industry is challenging, therefore perseverance is the most important quality when youâre searching for jobs and meeting new people. You must also have the love and passion for entertaining.
Q: How has technology changed your career?
A: Technology has changed my career because I am able to project images and words on the screen. When I talk about ârespectâ I can reinforce the meaning by creating a graphic on the screen. Technology has allowed me to communicate on a higher level. I use a laptop and project through PowerPoint and other software programs.
Q: What advice would be helpful for someone going into a career in entertainment?
A: When you decide entertaining is what you want to do, you canât give up. Keep moving forward and donât take anything personally.
DAILY HERALD
River Trails Middle School Celebrates Hero Night
Eighth grade students at River Trails Middle School read their self-written poems about personal heroes Wednesday evening in front of fellow students, family and community members as part of the school's annual Hero Night.
Hero Night was created by River Trails Middle School teachers after the September 11 terrorist attacks to give students an opportunity to identify heroes in their lives. The night also included an interactive presentation from author and motivational speaker Victor Pacini. Earlier, Pacini also participated in Hero Day, an event that involves the entire eighth grade student body.
"Eighth grade is a time for growth and reflection," teacher and event organizer Georgette Zitis said. "Our students are learning to see beyond their personal lives and take note of the world around them."
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FRA NOI
NUOVAVOCE
Making dreams real
â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘â˘
by Matthew Bonaccorso
Victor Paciniâs new book, âMy Dreams,â provides children with inspirational messages, helping them grow and gain confidence, teaching them to follow their dreams, and letting them know how special they are.
Standing in the gymnasium of Juliette Low Elementary School, Pacini displays the excitement and joy of a child on Christmas morning as he prepares one of his many interactive motivational presentations, âThe Artist Within,â for the children. With his conversational style and amazing ability to connect with any audience, Pacini captivates not only the young children of this school, but the faculty and staff members as well. âVictor targets the importance of building character and feeling good about oneself. He continues to stress the importance of doing what one is expected to do, not doing it because he or she was asked to. He teaches children to make the right choices, even when no one is watching,â says Cindy Brummitt, principal of Juliette Low Elementary School.
Whether his audience consists of school children or corporate professionals, Pacini reaches out and establishes a connection with whomever he is speaking to. His program, âThe Artist Within,â enables people to develop themselves and give of themselves to the world. The thoughts and ideas conveyed in his programs further enhance the message set forth by âMy Dreams.â
âMy Dreamsâ reinforces the belief that all children are unique and special, and that if they believe in themselves, they can achieve anything. â(âMy Dreamsâ) further expands my work with children. I wanted to give the children something they could have to take home with them. It is a book for everyone, but it is geared from 2nd through 5th grade,â Pacini said. The self-published childrenâs book is based on a song Pacini wrote six years ago, also titled âMy Dreams,â and the words of the book are the actual song lyrics. âMy Dreamsâ is unique in that all of the illustrations were done by children and that Pacini included his âMy Dreamsâ CD with the book. âThe children drew pictures based on how they interpreted the lyrics they chose. These pictures became the illustrations of âMy Dreams,ââ Pacini says.
âGrowing up, I donât remember people saying â What do you want to be? It was more like, you studied and then entered a career. But what about having a dream?â Pacini says. âThis was the basic idea of the book, to tell kids that they could be anything as long as they believe in themselves and never give up.â
Victor is the youngest of five children of Lawrence and Marianne Pacini. âWe were a very close-knit Italian family. I was born in Chicago, and grew up in Mount Prospect,â he recalls. âAs a child, my father was very supportive and very proud of me. My mother was the glue that held our family together. She was a huge inspiration to me.â
Victor has been a performer since he was 8 years old. He began his performing career as âMaster Vic,â donning a jumpsuit in an Elvis Presley tribute band. He attended Columbia College and received his degree in graphic design.
From college Pacini began working in his field, but soon realized thad it wasnât where his passion was. âI couldnât see myself sitting behind a desk for the rest of my life designing, so I took some time off and became an aide in a school in Glenview,â Pacini says. It was at that point that Pacini knew what he was meant to be. While an aide, Pacini put on a show for the children, singing Elvis and oldies songs. It was met with a tremendous ovation. âI knew that this is where I was supposed to be,â Pacini says.
To book Victor Pacini at your school, office or other events, call 888-667-2370 or visit his Web site at www.victorpacini.com.
DAILY HERALD
Mt. Prospect native returns to put on show
By Erin Holmes Daily Herald Staff Writer
Even as a Lions Park Elementary School student in the early 1980s, Victor Pacini was an entertainer, having begun at age 8 with his impersonations of Elvis Presley.
He returned to his home turf of Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 on Thursday â his first time back in two decades â to deliver a special performance for kids at Fairview Elementary School.
Since his days as a young artist, Pacini has attended Lincoln Junior High and Prospect High School, both in Mount Prospect, and Columbia College in Chicago.
His act has evolved over time â he delivers inspirational âFollow Your Dreamâ acts now, rather than just songs from The King.
And that new routine fits perfectly with the Character Counts initiative started this year in District 57 schools. Paciniâs upbeat song-and-dance performances, encouraging kids to follow their dreams, align with the thought behind Character Counts, said Jeff Golob, a teacher who had Pacini in class at Lions Park School.
Character Counts stresses trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
Pacini for several years has traveled around Chicago to deliver motivational programs at schools.
His appearance at Fairview was coordinated by Golob, himself a 35-year veteran educator, in honor of retiring teachers Joan Brueggemann and Eileen Skora.
As a special treat, Pacini showed the Fairview the old Elvis pantsuits he used years ago.
CHICAGO PARENT
Motivational Musician
Singer inspires kids to follow their dreams
-Mary K. Williams
When Victor Pacini was 8 years old, he had what might sound like a dream job: performing as an Elvis impersonator in local night clubs. Now heâs trying to help other children reach for their dreams, whatever they might be. Pacini, 29, has put together a high-energy, interactive show featuring original songs designed to inspire kids to believe in themselves and follow their dreams. Clad in t-shirt and jeans, he took the stage (actually the gym floor) at Schaumburgâs Nathan Hale Elementary School one morning in early November, performing first for the younger kids (grades K through 3) and then for the older ones (grades 4 through 6). As he sang, he bounded around the room, asking kids about their dreams. He got young volunteers to walk around displaying posters of his personal heroes: Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi. He divided the room in two and led the kids in a dueling chant. (âMy dreams are my dreams ⌠and no one can take them ⌠away. .. from me!â) By the end of the 40minute show, he had even the most jaded-looking 6thgraders on their feet, swaying and clapping along. The kids got the message, too. âHe made me think of my dreams and how if I accomplish them I can make a difference,â says Caitlin, a 5th-grader whose dreams include being a soccer player, actor and childrenâs author. âNo one gets left out,â adds classmate, Vishal. âHe makes you feel good.â Assistant Principal Joyce Drenth watched both shows. âHe was very engaging and he really connected with the kids,â she says. After the show, many of the kids were so pumped up that the teachers improvised with related classroom activities, such as having kids draw pictures about their dreams or make âI [heart] Meâ t-shirts. âI donât remember anyone ever asking me what my dreams were,â says Pacini, who grew up in Mount Prospect and now lives in Buffalo Grove. His goal, he says, is to help kids learn to love themselves. In addition to his âYour Dreams Are Your Dreamsâ show, Pacini has two others, one called âOvercoming Obstacles,â geared toward junior high students, and another called âThe Artist Within,â focusing on caring and respect. For more information, call Pacini at 888-667-2370 or visit www.victorpacini. com.
QUINCY HERALD
Turn obstacles into opportunities
The Quincy PTA Council worked two years to bring motivational speaker
Victor Pacini to Quincy. By Phil Weber Herald-VVhig Staff Writer
As a child, Victor Pacini was abused by a family friend at his home in Chicago. Now, as an adult, he uses that and other experiences to show children how they can overcome obstacles in their lives.
Pacini spent much of the past week talking to Quincy students about how they can be positive people and make good life choices. He presented a pair of programs â âYour Dreamsâ for children in kindergarten through sixth grade and âOvercoming Obstaclesâ for students in grades 7-9...
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WRITE ON! RADIO â Victor Pacini
First, Dave welcomes Victor Pacini onto the show to discuss his prolific and powerful writing and speaking against child sexual assault. Paciniâs âBe Seen and Heardâ curriculum has been delivered to over 750,000 children and families, bringing information about body awareness, domestic violence awareness, and equipping vocabulary and knowledge for a healthier life...
To listen to podcast, click here.
THE SUN
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Performerâs songs teach kids importance of self-confidence
By Jennifer Tempest STAFF WRITER
He earned a degree in graphic design, but his passion led him to perform. On a dreary Friday morning, Victor Pacini sang to a group of students, helping them believe in their dreams. A future Olympic figure skater, a go-cart racer and a rocket scientist were among the Wasco Elementary School students sitting in the audience Sept. 28.
Pacini, who has been performing since he was 8 years old, wrote all the songs he performs.
âI used to do a little Elvis,â he said, laughing. âI used to dress up in a jump suit and travel with this band. It was pretty hilarious.â
His career as a performer began four years ago when, as a teacher aide in Glenview, Pacini asked if he could put a show together for the students. The success his first performance motivated Pacini to pursue a career as a performer. By night, he is a night club performer. By day, his attention is geared toward children.
âMy main focus is to help kids realize they have potential and that itâs within them,â Pacini said. âThey can do whatever they want to do.â
Throughout his 40-minute show, Pacini sang about dreams, heroes and even three angels he identified as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi and Mother Teresa.
âEven though theyâre not here anymore, they are still very important,â Pacini said. âThese three people never gave up. Things sometimes donât come so easily, but you have to work for them.â
Using examples from Gandhi and Kingâs actions, Pacini explained to students how problems cannot be solved through fighting.
âGetting into a fight really solves no problems at all,â Pacini said. âWhatâs the point of getting a black eye or broken tooth?â
After Pacini sang his closing song, âMy Dreams,â and students began to file out of the cafeteria and back into their classrooms, it was obvious his points had made an impression on his audience.
At the end of every performance, Pacini said, he always feels energized.
âItâs unbelievable,â he said. âI feel like if I could have made one child come up to me and say they had felt they learned something, thatâs all that matters to me.â
For the students at Wasco Elementary School, Paciniâs trip indeed was worthwhile.
âIt was fun,â fifth-grader Caroline Basciani said. âI learned that you should always believe in yourself.â Standing near Basciani, fifthgrader Nick Patridge had similar thoughts.
âHe taught us about respect,â Patridge said. âTo believe in yourself and never give up.â
