LIVING ARTS BLOG
Detroit Wolf Trap Fall Meet Up
On Wednesday, October 16, the Detroit Wolf Trap team (including teaching artists and staff) met for their fall meet up. Sharing coffee and a hot breakfast on a chilly morning, the team caught up and opened their day with a discussion on their best practices for self-care while they care for others.
On Wednesday, October 16, the Detroit Wolf Trap team (including teaching artists and staff) met for their fall meet up. Sharing coffee and a hot breakfast on a chilly morning, the team caught up and opened their day with a discussion on their best practices for self-care while they care for others.
Director of Programs Erika Villarreal Bunce gave a program update about the work we are doing with Informal Caregiver (ICG) Workshops and the Brightmoor Quality Initiative (BQI).
The goal of the work is to conduct outreach to caregivers in informal home settings, bring early learning and arts workshops to them to implement into their own work, and ultimately facilitate legitimacy for the work they do and create momentum toward licensure and state/federal funding for services. These workshops are being led by Karilu Alarcon Forshee and Alesha Brown, two of Living Arts long-standing Teaching Artists.
Some highlights:
Living Arts is working with 125 ICGs throughout Southwest Detroit in partnership with three organizations: Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Congress of Communities, and Mathematica Policy Research.
50% of the caregivers have sustained throughout the series
Parent-child workshop model allows caregivers to learn skills with their children, and childcare is provided to give them some time to learn separately
Through funding from the Fisher Foundation, Living Arts Teaching Artists Kimberli Boyd, Alesha Brown, and Shirel Hernandez have been working in Brightmoor with private child care facilities through the Brightmoor Quality Initiative. Bringing the Wolf Trap model to these spaces requires flexibility, adaptation, and resilience. With music, movement, and drama skills our teaching artists are able to impart literacy and social-emotional learning, as well as kinesthetic learning in these early childhood spaces.
An interactive session was led by DWT Specialist Roberta Lucas on modeling for co-leading. Using props, fabric, and animal movements, the Teaching Artists created metaphors for how they see their roles as co-leadership in the classroom. Animal representatives like the chameleon who’s adaptable and can give and take from others; cone of communication that receives and transmits; embracing cape that holds in and supports; elephant that holds up, and more were represented.
The day closed out with a deep discussion on relationships and a sharing of major takeaways from partner-teachers. These included honoring the space—but still being yourself, modeling resilience among resistance from teachers, carving your path while managing expectations, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable when your partner teacher opens up. This discussion focused on finding ways to thread through but also meeting teachers where they’re at.
Music, Play and Storytelling for Caregivers
On August 31, Living Arts hosted our second workshop for Southwest caregivers! Led by professional recording artist, musician, and Teaching Artist Alesha Brown, those who are involved in the very important work of taking care of our children were invited to learn storytelling through music. Participants were given a guitar to use during the workshop and learned how to match chords and notes with images to engage youth in a storytelling dance.
On August 31, Living Arts hosted our second workshop for Southwest caregivers! Led by professional recording artist, musician, and Teaching Artist Alesha Brown, those who are involved in the very important work of taking care of our children were invited to learn storytelling through music. Participants were given a guitar to use during the workshop and learned how to match chords and notes with images to engage youth in a storytelling dance.
Teaching Artist Karilu Alarcon Forshee with participants in puppet workshop at Congress of Communities.
Over the past few months we’ve partnered with Congress of Communities, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and Mathematic Policy Group to present these free workshops to caregivers. These activity sessions promote bonding, social-emotional learning, literacy, and communication skills through visual art, drama, music, and storytelling. Congress of Communities recently hosted a puppet-making workshop that used drama and the crux for storytelling.
Our next workshop is Saturday, September 28 from 2-4pm at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center (2826 Bagley St). Childcare and food are provided and all caregivers of children 0-6 are invited.
Arts Workshops for Southwest Detroit Caregivers
We’ve partnered with Congress of Communities, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, and Mathematica to present a series of workshops for caregivers who provides care or babysitting to pre-school youth ages 0-5 in Southwest Detroit communities.
We’ve partnered with Congress of Communities, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, and Mathematica to present a series of workshops for caregivers who provides care or babysitting to pre-school youth ages 0-5 in Southwest Detroit communities.
The first installment of the series was held on July 27th at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center. Teaching artists Karilu Forcee-Alarcon and Alesha Brown led participants in creative play activities that help to support early learning and kindergarten readiness in our youngest learners.
Ten participants (including caregivers and children) used books, toys, costumes, DIY instruments, and song and dance for the workshops. These creative arts activities create a brain boost for the youth and center developmentally appropriate learning styles.
The next installment of the series will be held on August 31st.
Detroit Wolf Trap Goes to National Conference
Last week, members of the Detroit Wolf Trap team traveled to reunite with our fellow Wolf Trap Affiliates at the Wolf Trap Institute Affiliate Conference. The conference was held at the Wolf Trap Foundation in Vienna, Va. from August 13-16.
Living Arts Program Director, Erika Villarreal Bunce; Detroit Wolf Trap Program Manager, Sicily McRaven; and Teaching Artist Alesha Brown at the Wolf Trap Conference
Last week, members of the Detroit Wolf Trap team traveled to reunite with our fellow Wolf Trap Affiliates at the Wolf Trap Institute Affiliate Conference. The conference was held at the Wolf Trap Foundation in Vienna, Va. from August 13-16. In total, representatives from the Institute’s 21 affiliates throughout the US and now, Singapore, bonded over our shared love and work of early learning through the arts.
In addition to Detroit Wolf Trap Program Manager, Sicily McRaven, we were accompanied by our very own Alesha Brown—musician and long-time teaching artist who has taught in all of Living Arts’ programs.
With our national and international peers, the Detroit Wolf Trap team gathered to learn about strategies in story-telling, expansion into 1st grade, equity and inclusion, and more.
We presented on new work with informal caregivers and independent early childhood providers in the Southwest Detroit and Brightmoor communities. Teaching artists from many different affiliates, including Alesha, lead our group in community-building through music, movement, bringing us closer together despite our huge spread throughout the country and world!
<<<THIS POSITION IS NOW CLOSED>>> Are you passionate about early learning in Detroit? Living Arts is Hiring a Program Manger!
<<<THIS POSITION IS NOW CLOSED>>> Living Arts is hiring a full-time Program Manager - Early Learning for our Detroit Wolf Trap (DWT) program. The Program Manager will work with the Living Arts Program Team to develop, implement, evaluate, and market relevant and exceptional arts education programs in Detroit early learning centers and community settings.
<<<THIS POSITION IS NOW CLOSED>>> Living Arts is hiring a full-time Program Manager - Early Learning for our Detroit Wolf Trap (DWT) program. The Program Manager will work with the Living Arts Program Team to develop, implement, evaluate, and market relevant and exceptional arts education programs in Detroit early learning centers and community settings.
Detroit Wolf Trap Teaching Artist, Alesha Brown, leads a baby Wolf Trap class at the FREC-Mercado.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter with 2 or more years experience working within arts or education, ideally with early learners, and interested in the following:
Social Emotional Learning
Creative Youth Development
Parents/Families as Primary Educators
Arts as Healing
Culturally Responsive and Critical Education
The Program Manager - Early Learning position will pay between $33,000 - $38,000 with benefits including healthcare and retirement.
If you believe this is the right position for you, we sincerely encourage you to apply by Friday, March 22! Details about specific responsibilities and ideal qualifications are listed in the job description here.
Detroit Wolf Trap Evaluation Partner Secured
After a rigorous screening and interview process, Living Arts has found a Evaluation Partner for our Detroit Wolf Trap early learning program!
After a rigorous screening and interview process, Living Arts has found a Evaluation Partner for our Detroit Wolf Trap early learning program! We're pleased to announce we've partnered with Research for Action, a Philadelphia based non-profit education research organization.
With funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Living Arts and Research for Action will evaluate the impact of the program on teacher growth and professional development. This study will be conducted through June 2021.
For more information on the mission of Research for Action, click here.
Dance Me a Story: Developing Early Literacy Skills through Movement and Creative Dance
On Saturday, February 2nd, the Living Arts Youth Dance Ensemble was invited to participate as honored guests at the Detroit Dhamaal 2019 Bollywood Fusion Competition.
Held at the historic Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Detroit, the competition featured Bollywood dance troupes from colleges across the nation. Board member Matthew Nahan spoke about the Living Arts programs and the value of teaching artists in the community. Nahan also introduced the Youth Dance Ensemble performance.
Photos: Erika Villarreal BunceAt the age of 9, Lorna Park started her work with young children. Ms. Park is proudly still in early childhood care as an educator at House of Joy Child Care in Detroit. Using her body artfully is important to Ms. Park "Nurturing a love of learning is a priority to me. The arts help us to get where we need to be mentally, physically, and spiritually to receive experiences. Movement helps us to follow the child".
In partnership with Help Me Grow Michigan, Living Arts hosted two professional development workshops for early childhood educators at the Detroit PAL on Friday, February 15th and Saturday, February 16th. Seventy educators, including Ms. Park, attended the workshops over the course of both days. The workshops, lead by Master Teaching Artist Kimberli Boyd, provided educators with methods to incorporate movement and dance in their work around early literacy.
Using chants, songs, stories, and props, Boyd demonstrated developmentally appropriate strategies to support literacy skills in the early childhood classroom. Beyond literacy, these strategies support social and emotional growth, as well as whole body awareness and fine and gross motor skill function.
Young children are able to gain understanding of the world around them by learning how they move through the world. “I believe that the Arts are powerful enough to cause transformation, and that dance is empowering enough to move hearts, minds, and bodies — and to revolutionize learning,” said Ms. Boyd. Participants of the workshop received certification for their time.
Announcing New Hires at Living Arts!
Living Arts is proud to announce staffing updates that will strengthen our team and allow us to better serve the Living Arts community. Please join us in welcoming three new hires to the team!
Announcing New Hires at Living Arts
Living Arts is proud to announce staffing updates that will strengthen our team and allow us to better serve the Living Arts community. Please join us in welcoming three new hires to the team!
NEW HIRES IN 2019
Krystle Cheirs-Roberts, Communications Manager
In her new role, Krystle will play an integral role in refining communications goals and developing a strategy for meeting benchmarks. In addition to external storytelling, Krystle will assist with data entry and analysis and work closely with the entire Living Arts team.
Karen Hernandez, Program Assistant: Detroit Wolf Trap
Karen previously worked as the Program Assistant in the Out of School Arts program, supporting all youth and family programs for Living Arts at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center. In her new role, Karen will be responsible for coordinating all documentation associated with program launch and evaluation. Karen's role also consists of managing professional development and parent class scheduling.
Christiana Castillo, Program Manger: Detroit Wolf Trap
In her new role Christiana will work alongside the Programs team to develop, implement, and evaluate early childhood arts education programs in Head Start, Early Head Start, informal care, and community-based classrooms. Christiana will be responsible for the supervision, evaluation, and professional development of the DWT Teaching Artist team.
Living Arts receives $540,000 commitment to support early childhood outcomes in Detroit
Partnership support comes from CFSEM, Erb, Kresge, and W.K. Kellogg Foundations
DETROIT, Mich. (July 2018) – Living Arts, a Detroit nonprofit that brings high quality and year-round arts education to the city’s youth, is proud to announce it has received several multi-year grants totaling over a half million dollars to support the expansion of Detroit Wolf Trap, a program that will provide intensive professional development, mentoring and coaching for Detroit area early childhood educators, parents, and caregivers by introducing them to proven performing arts-integration strategies through classroom residences and professional development workshops.
Teaching Artist Alesha Mickens uses music to engage young learners in a Living Arts' Detroit Wolf Trap Class. Photo by Julianne Lindsey.
“This generous partnership will amplify and deepen Detroit Wolf Trap’s proven impact on teachers, parents, and students in classrooms and homes across Detroit, by elevating the role and effectiveness of educators and caregivers in supporting the early education of our region's youngest children,” said Alissa Novoselick, executive director of Living Arts. “It is exciting to know that these organizations are working collectively to ensure that not only the children but the adults engaged through Detroit Wolf Trap programming will meet achievable goals to continue best practice for early learning through the arts,” added Roberta Lucas, master teaching artist and Detroit Wolf Trap’s founding director.
The contributing organizations -- Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Foundation, Kresge Foundation, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation -- will provide long-term classroom residences for children ages 3 months to Kindergarten. Additionally, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s award will enable Living Arts to expand evaluation efforts to demonstrate the positive impact Detroit Wolf Trap has on the teaching practices of early childhood educators in Detroit. Living Arts’ Wolf Trap program, an affiliate of the national Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, has proven to strengthen children’s literacy, math, science and social emotional skills in its first phase of evaluation, completed in 2017.
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development, and civic affairs. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $1 billion through nearly 65,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston counties. For more information, please visit www.cfsem.org.
The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Foundation’s mission is nurturing environmentally healthy and culturally vibrant communities in metro Detroit, consistent with sustainable business models, and supporting initiatives to restore the Great Lakes Ecosystem. Established in 2007, the foundation funds grant applications that benefit the environment, arts, and Alzheimer’s research.
The Kresge Foundation was founded in 1924 to promote human progress. Today, Kresge fulfills that mission by building and strengthening pathways to opportunity for low-income people in America’s cities, seeking to dismantle structural and systemic barriers to equality and justice. Using a full array of grant, loan, and other investment tools, Kresge invests more than $160 million annually to foster economic and social change. Kresge’s Detroit Program collaborates with civic, nonprofit and business partners to promote and expand long-term, equitable opportunity in Kresge’s hometown for its current and future residents. For more information visit kresge.org.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life. The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.
About Living Arts
Founded in 1999, Living Arts is a nonprofit organization that engages Detroit youth, teachers and families in transformative experiences in the performing, visual, literary and media arts. Implementing arts education programs for nearly 3,000 early learners, elementary and secondary students annually, Living Arts’ programs increase youth’s academic achievement, develops leadership and artistic skills, and strengthens schools and communities.
Living Arts receives support from the Ford Motor Company Fund, Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Dresner Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Foundation, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, ITC, and PNC Foundation.
-