Dear Mattie Rhodes Supporter,
This year, as we celebrate another milestone--40 years of arts programming for children--we continue to grow our support for families and communities. We continue to celebrate the importance of families with our Día de la Familia event, provide arts experiences for children through our Summer Art Camps, and work with the community in times of need.
I'm proud and humbled to lead such a long-standing organization (116 years) and I hope you'll join me this April for a special exhibit at the Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery celebrating the history of our arts programming.
John Fierro
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40 Years of Arts Programming |
In the early 1970s, the Craft Learning Center was established on the Westside of Kansas City, Missouri by college students who wanted to try an arts-based  approach to curb the growing school dropout rates. The Craft Learning Center started to provide after-school arts programs for children in the garage of a building. In 1986, with the blessing of the local United Way, Craft Learning Center merged with Mattie Rhodes Center and the Mattie Rhodes Art Center was established. The orginal site of arts programming, the garage that the Craft Learning Center used, remains as the ceramics studio behind the current Art Center. We're excited to have such a long and proud history of providing arts programming, now on the Westside and in the Northeast, and to celebrate we're exhibiting "Celebrate! 40 Years of Afterschool Arts" at the Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery in April. The exhibit will highlight pieces of artwork from participants of our after-school arts programs on the Westside and Northeast. Join us anytime in April for this special exhibit! |
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Día de la Familia / Day of the Family | |
 On Saturday, April 18, we're holding our third annual Día de la Familia ("Day of the Family") event for children and families at our Northeast building. Día de la Familia brings families together for food, games, entertainment and a day of fun. Carnival games and kid-friendly activities will amuse young children. Music and entertainment will be provided throughout the afternoon, including performances from students in the agency's youth development programs and dancing. Several raffles will be held throughout the day. Due to the agency's work with nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyles, Mattie Rhodes Center will provide healthy snacks, as well as traditional fair/carnival food. Special guests and surprise activities will be announced the day of the event.
Join us for this exciting day of recreational and educational activities! Download a flyer for Día de la Familia here. Festivities will take place 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at Mattie Rhodes Northeast at 148 N. Topping Ave (Kansas City, Missouri 64123).
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| Summer Art Camps |
 Spring Art Camp in March was a success and now we're looking forward to the 12th year of Summer Art Camps! Children ages 5-12 are invited to attend week-long camps. Art Camp participants are encouraged to celebrate diversity through the arts, as well as to explore the traditions of other cultures. Instructors use a variety of teaching methods to stimulate imaginations while continuously cultivating creative expression, confidence, self-discovery and respect for others. Art camps offers a variety of artistic mediums for children to explore: ceramics, fiber/craft, cultural art, mixed media, and painting/printmaking. For dates and to reserve your spot, call (816) 221-2349, visit our Summer Camp webpage or download a registration form. We also have online registrationthis year for your convenience! (Please be sure to still mail in a registration form.) A limited number of scholarships are available.
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| Latino Advocacy Taskforce |
In 2010, Mattie Rhodes Center and other community partners have come together to form the Latino Advocacy Taskforce to meet the needs of community members and families have been impacted by violence. The mission of the Taskforce is to be of assistance to a family and to the community in a time of crisis, by providing resources and reaching out to all members of the community.
Mattie Rhodes Center has acted as the convener for a large number of community institutions, organizations, coalitions and individual residents in establishing the Taskforce. The Taskforce has brought together many local organizations and institutions to discuss violence in the community, prevention work, and therapeutic and community response to acts of violence.
"I didn't know who to go to," is a common comment from families who have lost a loved one. Many Latinos in the Greater Kansas City area do not feel that they have the resources to help them through the process of finding the suspect, having outside support from the community, and going through the grievance process. The Taskforce is here to help all those who don't know where to turn to ask for help and we are here to provide support and guidance. The new Latino Advocacy Taskforce is providing a voice to the Latino community and standing up united against acts of violence in our community.
Please watch in the next weeks for the formal announcement regarding the Latino Advocacy Taskforce. |
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| Mattie Rhodes | |
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Mattie Florence Rhodes was only 19 when she died of typhoid fever in 1894, leaving $500 to her church group, the Little Gleaners. They founded the Mattie Rhodes Memorial Society with this pledge: "I promise to do all I can to help the needy and suffering by working for them, learning about them, giving for them, and trying to interest others in them." |
| Who We Are | |
Mission
Mattie Rhodes Center bridges cultures and communities through arts, mental health and social services. We empower individuals and families through culturally competent, bilingual services in a respectful and compassionate environment.
Vision
We envision a community where individuals and families reach their full potential in a healthy, safe and creative environment. Mattie Rhodes Center is a Midwest leader on Latino issues and cultural competency. | |
| Send a Child to Camp |
Want to help send a child to Mattie Rhodes Summer Art Camp? Donations made through Camps For Kids will be matched dollar for dollar by a community fund. Donate (up to $1,500) until July 31, 2010 through Camps for Kids and designate your donation to Mattie Rhodes Center to help send a child to camp!
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