Free Arts For Abused Children Of New York City Inc

FREE ARTS NYC EMPOWERS YOUTH FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH ART (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE "O")AND MENTORING PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP THEIR CREATIVITY, CONFIDENCE, AND SKILLS TO SUCCEED. SINCE INCEPTION, OUR GOAL HAS REMAINED THE SAME - TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD BY PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY, POSITIVE MENTORSHIP, GROUNDED IN TRANSFORMATIVE CREATIVE PROGRAMMING.THE YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6-21 COME FROM 20 SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS 20 HOMELESS SHELTERS. TRAINED VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 1,373 HOURS AS MENTORS ($60,948 VALUE) TO OVER 1,500 YOUTH FOR LONG AND SHORT TERM PROGRAMMING. YOUTH ARE INTRODUCED TO THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH TWO CORE PROGRAMS. FREE ARTS DAYS: PROVIDE INTERACTIVE ARTS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES WITH MENTORS TO ENCOURAGE PROBLEM-SOLVING, COMMUNICATION AND DESIGN SKILLS. THE TEEN ARTS PROGRAM: PROVIDES HEAVILY PERSONALIZED, LONG-TERM MENTORING, COMBINED WITH AN ARTS EDUCATION AND CAREER TRAINING.

TEEN ARTS PROGRAMTHE TEEN ARTS PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE ARTS AND BUILDS A PATHWAY TO ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS WITH THE SUPPORT OF A MENTOR. PROGRAM TRACKS INCLUDE PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT, CREATIVE LAB AND INTERNSHIPS. TRACKS INCORPORATE 21ST CENTURY SKILL BUILDING WORKSHOPS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND VISITS TO ARTISTS STUDIOS, WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING THE VITAL PROTECTIVE FACTORS INCLUDING COMMUNICATION, CREATIVITY AND PROBLEM SOLVING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT, OVER THE COURSE OF 8 MONTHS, 7TH AND 11TH GRADERS WORK ALONGSIDE THEIR MENTOR ON THE RIGOROUS PROCESS OF BUILDING A VISUAL ARTS PORTFOLIO FOR ADMISSION TO AN ART HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE. THROUGH CREATIVE LAB, 9TH-12TH GRADERS LEARN ABOUT THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY THROUGH VISITS TO CREATIVE COMPANIES. SPEAKING WITH EMPLOYEES, THEY LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS AND CAREER PATHS, OFTEN PARTICIPATING IN MOCK WORK PROJECTS. HIGHSCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PAID INTERNSHIPS

FREE ARTS DAYSFREE ARTS DAYS ARE WHOLLY INTERACTIVE ARTS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AGES 6-12. THROUGH ART PROJECTS AND ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING, THE DAY HELPS DEVELOP VISUAL LITERACY, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING AND DESIGN SKILLS, WHILE THE ONE ON ONE MENTORSHIP BUILDS PROTECTIVE FACTORS, SUCH AS COMMUNICATION SKILLS, COOPERATION AND CONFIDENCE. MENTOR AND CHILD PAIRS WORK ON CHILD-DIRECTED ART PROJECTS WITH VERY LITTLE STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE PAIRS ARE GUIDED BY A CREATIVE PACKET, WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE DAYS THEME AND PROJECTS. THE CURRICULUM IS TIED INTO THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS AND THE BLUEPRINT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING. THE PROGRAM SENT ART KITS AND ACTIVITY PACKETS 6 TIMES TO 21 COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR 1,443 CHILDREN EACH TIME. THE PROGRAM ALSO RAN WEEKLY ART CLASSES FOR SELECT COMMUNITY PARTNERS. VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON TEAM BUILDING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES HELPED TO MAKE CARDS, GAMES AND PACK ART KITS FOR THE YOUTH.