This is John Trosko, our fearless organizer.
This is Sherri Lewis, our (even more) fearless organized client.
Both of us will be appearing in a television segment filmed March 23 for the Scripps Broadcast Group. The 2-minute "spring cleaning and home organization" spot will air this month on over 10 stations across the U.S.
Sherri and I first worked together in 2005 when Sherri moved out of her home of 10 years into an architecturally significant condo in West Los Angeles. From big space with zero style to small space with big style, Sherri made tough decisions to downsize, simplify, and re-emphasize the important things in her life. I think Sherri agrees that the work paid off, her organized home is beautiful.
But Sherri has been busy the past year or so, and it was time for some organizing maintenance. We stepped in, and Sherri agreed to tell her story for the cameras.
But this wasn't the first time Sherri Lewis took a long hard look at her life when changes were about to happen. The story behind the client is as interesting as the organizing we've tackled together.
Read on for the story that we have full permission to tell-- and stay tuned at the end for a list of the television stations that will air our fun day of office organizing.
In 1979, Sherri formed a power pop band called Sherri Beachfront. She was discovered by Lou Reed and quickly gained national exposure when the band appeared in Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine and fashion shows for Betsy Johnson.
Music mogul Neil Bogart signed Sherri and her group, Get Wet, to his newest label Boardwalk Entertainment in 1980. Sherri joined Bogart's long list of impressive properties including KISS, The Village People, Donna Summer, Joan Jett and Ringo Starr and they both produced two top forty hits. Those hits led to appearances on American Bandstand, Solid Gold, The Merv Griffin Show, two MTV music videos and a European promotional tour.
Around 1982, as fast as her rise, Neil Bogart died and her contract was bought out. Depressed, Sherri turned to drugs and alcohol and hit bottom as a homeless addict on the streets of New York's lower east side.
After crawling into a detox program in 1983, she became clean and sober eventually marrying a man and wanting to start a family. Dreams turned to nightmare when a routine blood test for her marriage license brought back results that she was HIV positive. A new and challenging chapter in her life was about to begin.
For the past 20 years, Sherri Lewis has educated others on AIDS awareness and education through her work as a public speaker, actress, singer and writer. Last November, Sherri provided the keynote speech for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 10th Annual Ribbon of Hope Celebration, honoring television programming excellence and "television with conscience." The event will air on the Here TV! network. Her future plans include moving to New York for a high-profile podcast, and a book deal.
Sherri Lewis has taught this professional organizer something, too. Life moves on, with new, sometimes strange, frightening and wonderful chapters that unfold.
For a list of the television stations carrying our organizing segment, please see below.
Contact Sherri Lewis by sending us an e-mail or posting a comment below.
Arizona
- KNXV, Channel 15, Phoenix AZ
Florida
Kansas
- KMCI, Channel 38, Lawrence, KS
Maryland
- WMAR, Channel 2, Baltimore, MD
Michigan
- WXYZ, Channel 7, Detroit MI
Missouri
- KSHB, Channel 41, Kansas City, MO
Ohio
Oklahoma
- KJRH, Channel 2, Tulsa OK
