The Director's Corner
Hello Fall! The students in Brandon House's summer program ended the summer with a Brush and Breath Painting event to culminate their summer experience. Hello, Fall was their painting them with each student painting and depicting what Fall symbolizes to them. I echo those words... Hello Fall - as we usher in the afterschool programs and we wave goodbye to summer. We are excited about our afterschool programming as we have a good team of instructors, coordinators, and facilitators who will engage the youth in activities related to production, drama/theater, music, academic skill building, and cultural arts.
We also look forward to completing construction in our event center where we have built a state-of-the-art production lab for band/choir rehearsals and opportunities for recording sessions. At the state-of-the-art dance studio, we will roll out fee-based programming to include hip-hop jazz, ballet, line dancing classes, and lyrical/contemporary dance sessions, and we will continue to offer our Creative Expressions dance team opportunities to compete and showcase their talents through performances and competitions.
Brandon House's gift shop will reopen with new products and will offer opportunities for youth as well as community residents to sell their products in the gift shop. This is our way of promoting the creative economy right here in our own community.
Lastly, through funding from Windgate Foundation, our Creative Art Lab will begin to offer creative art classes to the public as well as we will begin hosting art award shows and art camps that encourage creativity and self-expression among program participants of all ages.
Thank you to our sponsors and funding sources who have graciously sponsored our summer events and summer programming. We are so grateful for 2 new partnerships: Southern Bancorp who donated hundreds of backpacks and school supplies that we gave away to youth at the Rock the Block event and Entergy who gave a cash donation for school supplies. Without your generous support, we could not have enrolled and worked with 76 program participants between our 2 sites this summer. We are excited for the Fall! Stay tuned for more.
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Rock The Block Recap
Rock the Block rocked the community with an unforgettable end-of-summer celebration and back-to-school bash held on August 4, 2023. The event was an absolute hit, and we're sending a shoutout to everyone who helped make it happen! Local schools and community organizations teamed up to showcase the incredible talents of our youth and promote positivity.
Families and community residents of all ages enjoyed a smorgasbord of games, music, food vendors, resources, and entertainment. Attendees accessed valuable educational and prevention resources to support their children's academic success. The event was a must-attend for anyone looking to support their community's students. We relied on donations and sponsorships from our community partners. Thank you, Caleb Walker and Angelic Cooper from Southern Bancorp for the backpacks and school supplies. Thank you, Scott Hamilton, Urban League for your generous support! Thank you Marshunda Thomas from Entergy for the cash donation for school supplies. Thank you to our parents and staff who contributed so that we were able to serve free hot dogs, chips, and burgers. Thank you, Director Andrea Lewis - Ward 6, CRA Officer at First Security Bank for providing the grill for us to cook the burgers and hot dogs. Thank you, Mr. Jamar, Sam's Club manager on Bowman for providing the food for the event. Thank you to our board members who made contributions and for your presence at the event. Thank you, Ms. Deana McCormack, Celebrity Attractions for the donation of backpacks. Above all, thanks to the City of Little Rock - Department of Community Program, Dana Dosset, and her team for without the funding, Rock the Block would not have happened. We have over 350 attendees at the event!
Can you dig it? We want your feedback on the event! Please complete the event evaluation form if you were there to let us know your thoughts and suggestions. Your feedback is crucial to us as we plan the 7th Annual Rock the Block event. Click on the following link to access the form: https://forms.gle/wF5b31DLQ63qLZEe8.
We're stoked to continue working together to celebrate our community's youth and promote academic success. If you have any questions or need more info on Brandon House, reach out to Dr. Patrice Bax at programs@brandonhousearts.org or call the Brandon House Cultural & Performing Arts Center at 501.725.5757. Stay in the loop on all Brandon House Events by following us on all social platforms @BrandonHouseLR. Let's keep the good times rolling!
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New Program Alert: A Second DreamStarters Program Offered at Brandon House's Colonel Glenn Site
We are excited to announce that we are now accepting DHS vouchers through the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Brandon House expanded our DreamStarters Creative Education Program to our Colonel Glenn Site and DHS vouchers are now being accepted for children and families who want to enroll in the afterschool program. Only 40 spots are available, so enroll today! Children and Families must complete the DHS Program Assistance Application and must be approved by their DHS caseworker for voucher assistance. Brandon House accepts the DHS vouchers and offers part-time rates of $112 per week.
Brandon House’s DreamStarters is a creative arts-based program designed to expose students, ages 6-12, to arts-infused learning experiences. The program offers positive youth development approaches that address the personal, academic social, and emotional developmental needs of the youth and provides them supportive strategies to prepare them to build skills for life. Activities in the DreamStarters Program include Music Ensemble Projects, Dance, Drama/Theater/Plays, Literary and Visual Arts, and SREAM activities. activities.
The DreamStarters Afterschool Program at the Colonel Glenn site will start Monday, August 14th, and will go to May 28, 2024. Sessions will be held Mondays through Fridays, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. We follow the LRSD calendar of scheduled days in school and days the schools are closed. The DreamStarters Program will take place at Brandon House Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 12120 Colonel Glenn Rd, Bowman Plaza #2, Suite 1000, Little Rock, AR 72210.
Brandon House is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving underrepresented and underserved youth in low-income communities. Brandon House is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Human Services - Division of Child Care & Early Childhood Education and holds a Level 2 Better Beginnings rating through Arkansas's Quality Rating Improvement System.
We look forward to having your child enrolled. For more information about Brandon House, please visit our website at https://brandonhouseperformingartscenter.org/connect/brandon-house-enrollment-form.html or call (501) 725-5757. Meet our DreamStarters Coordinator, Darneisha Airhart, at extension 101. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your child's life through creative and performing arts! Transportation may be provided but parents must complete the enrollment process to be considered for transportation. Meals will be provided through the sponsored food service provider.
Please also note: The DreamStarters Program at our Midtown - 3802 West 12th Street site remains the same and is free to parents and youth who live within the city limits of Little Rock. We have a few slots available at the 12th Street site for enrollment. Transportation may be provided but parents must complete the enrollment process to be considered for transportation. Meals will be provided through the sponsored food service provider. For enrollment, contact Julien Whitfield at 501-725-5757, ext 400, or complete the enrollment application at https://brandonhouseperformingartscenter.org/connect/brandon-house-enrollment-form.html
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Summer Recap
We hope you had a wonderful summer and an enriching experience with our summer program. We truly value your feedback and would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete our summer program evaluation.
Your feedback is incredibly valuable in helping us improve and enhance our program for future students. We want to ensure that we provide the best possible experience for all of our participants and your input is essential in making this happen.
By completing the evaluation, you will have the opportunity to share your thoughts on what you enjoyed most about the program, what could have been improved, and any suggestions you may have for future programs. Your honest feedback will allow us to make the necessary changes to ensure that our program continues to meet the needs and expectations of our participants.
We thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the evaluation and for your continued support of our summer program. Your feedback is truly invaluable and we look forward to hearing from you soon!
Student Evaluation Form
Parent Evaluation Form
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Hey there, all you young performers out there! Are you ready to FALL in love with the arts? We are thrilled to announce the return of our after-school Fall-In performing arts program! Starting August 14, 2023, every Monday through Thursday from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, you can immerse yourself in the world of performing arts. Whether you're into dance, theater, music, or anything in between, our program provides a safe and supportive environment for you to express yourself and explore your creative talents. The Fall In Program is funded in part by the City of Little Rock Department of Community Programs and offers programming every other Saturday to assure the older teens are engaged during the weekends when they are not in school.
Our experienced and enthusiastic instructors and facilitators will guide and encourage students throughout their participation in the program. Youth who sign up for the Fall-In afterschool program will have the opportunity to continue their artistic journey and build meaningful connections with other young performers. In addition, the youth will have opportunities to showcase their skills with various performances throughout the year.
So, what are you waiting for? Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to develop new skills, unleash your creativity, and have a blast while you're at it! This program is open to all students between the ages of 13-18. Register for Fall-In today and get ready to show off your talents!
Fall-In Afterschool Registration Form
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Calendar Updates
We are excited to share with you our updated master calendar through July 2024. From concerts to theater productions, and everything in between, we have a jam-packed schedule of exciting events lined up. We invite you to click on the link provided and take a look at our calendar. Mark your own calendar, so you can join us for all the fun and entertainment we have in store. Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience the best that Brandon House has to offer. We can't wait to see you there!
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