Artportunity Knocks

TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO MAKE POSITIVE AND SMART CHOICES WHILE INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES IN STEM+ARTS, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND BRIDGING CULTURES. THIS MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CAMPS, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND CLASSES.

THROUGH THE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES CREATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WE CREATED SEVERAL INNOVATIVE PIVOTS TO OUR NORMAL PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND PARTNERED WITH THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION TO DELIVER MEALS DIRECTLY TO THE STUDENT'S HOMES. EACH COMPACT PACKAGE DELIVERED CONTAINS THE PHYSICAL NOURISHMENT OF A HEALTHY MEAL, AS WELL AS THE INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION OF A SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, OR MATHEMATICS PROJECT. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE BOTH NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND SUPPLEMENTAL LEARNING MATERIALS TO CHILDREN IN NEED AND TO CHILDREN MOST IMPACTED BY COVID-19.

THE BOOST GRANTS PROGRAM PROVIDES THREE-YEAR GRANTS, RENEWED ANNUALLY, TO COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT OPERATE COMPREHENSIVE OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (OST) PROGRAMMING YEAR-ROUND, OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS, OR AFTER SCHOOL DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THAT TARGET LEARNING ACCELERATION AND PROVIDE WHOLE CHILD SUPPORTS, THUS REMOVING NON-ACADEMIC BARRIERS TO LEARNING FOR STUDENTS MOST IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. GRANTS WILL SUPPORT STUDENTS LEARNING, CONNECTEDNESS AND WELL-BEING, ALL WHILE ADDRESSING THE LEARNING LOSS EXPERIENCED ACROSS THE STATE IN RECENT YEARS. THE PURPOSE OF THESE GRANTS IS TO: 1. EXPAND ACCESS TO SERVE MORE YOUTH, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES 2. REDUCE BARRIERS, SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION AND ENROLLMENT COSTS, TO ENSURE ACCESS FOR ALL, AND/OR 3. INCREASE PROGRAMMATIC QUALITY AND EXPAND OR ENHANCE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES OFFERED.

THE YOUTH ARTS PROGRAMS OFFER STUDNETS THE OPPURTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND LEARN ABOUT MANY DIFFERENT FORMS OF ART. VISUAL ARTS, DRAMA, DANCE, CULINARY ARTS, MUSIC THEORY, PIANO, MUSIC ENGINEERING, MUSIC PRODUCTION, ROBOTICS AND FILM MAKING COURSES ARE ALL OFFERED TO STUDENTS.

ARTPORTUNITY KNOCKS SERVED 800+ SCHOLARS DURING AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER, TRAINING AND EXPOSING THEM TO OUR CORE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING. USING ART INTEGRATION METHODS WE SUPPORTED THE ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE THERRELL CLUSTER IN PROVIDING COMBINED LEARNING LOSS PREVENTION STRATEGIES. FROM JANUARY - MARCH 30,000 MEALS WERE HOME DELIVERED UNDER OUR STEAM & MEAL HEALTHY KIDS INITIATIVE ALLOWING STUDENTS TO RECEIVE LUNCH AND DINNER FOR 5 DAYS. 500 BACKPACK FULL OF SUPPLIES WAS GIVEN AWAY TO HELP RALLY BACK TO SCHOOL EFFORTS IN THE THERREL CLUSTER OF ATLANTA. IN-PERSON LEARNING FOR AFTER SCHOOL WAS ACTIVATED ALLOWING STUDENTS TO RETURN ON CAMPUS AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR. WE HIRED OVER 75 NEW TEAM MEMBERS AND 30 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP IMPACT 750 STUDENTS IN 4 SCHOOLS IN THE ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.