As 2011 concluded, we received rave reviews from students, parents, and our program partners about the joy and learning resulting from our programs. At Cypress Hill Local Development Corporation - (CHLDC) / IS302 middle school in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn; students performed a drumming exhibition as part of the center wide holiday celebration. Our musical theater ensemble members at CHLDC/IS 171, Brooklyn completed a "commercial" to advertise auditions for this year's spring production; and urban dance students (grades 2-5) at Riverdale Neighborhood House, Bronx began preparations for their February culminating performance.

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Thanks to our year end fundraising success, we have already been able to add two new programs to our roster for 2012. Our year end social media campaign exceeded our goal of $1,500 raising a total of $1640 to support a theater workshop program this winter/spring at CHLDC/PS 7 in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. We also received a first time grant from the LLH-LHM Foundation designated to support an additional program at the Academy Street Firehouse, Newark, NJ.

 

Program Profile CHLDC / IS 171
David Freeman, ATG Teaching Artist 

Starting in the fall of 2011, David Freeman has brought rhythm to Cypress Hills LDC/IS 302 in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn through his ATG Percussion Ensemble. Under his guidance, 5-8th graders have learned basic rhythmic hand drum techniques.

David Freeman's experience with various populations, especially with at risk youth has allowed him to better understand the needs of his students. Freeman has observed a great change in his students: "The students have developed a respect for themselves, for others, and for the music. When you look at their faces when performing, it says it all."
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On Tuesday, January 18th we officially launched our first Teaching Artist Resource book with a small celebration gathering at the Museum of Motherhood Our new resource book provides a collection of ideas and documents from Arts to Grow staff and teaching artists designed to inform, guide and generate more ideas among our growing team of professionals working directly with children. This written document (that will continue to grow and expand with us) will serve as a tool for communicating Arts to Grow's distinctive approaches to teaching and learning through artistic exploration. We will use this living document in training each new ATG teaching artist making it ever more possible to replicate our successful methodology for engaging children in the arts as a means of helping each child find their own personal motivation and joy in learning.