ARTreach URGEWORKS Programs at The WAREHOUSE in NW Houston
ARTreach is a non-profit arts and educational outreach organization. Our organization serves children at risk, troubled youth on the streets, elderly in need, and indigent populations through community partnerships with schools, cultural centers, churches and social service agencies.
Recently our organization received a generous donation of space, free rent for two years valued at $43,200 from The Warehouse Studios in Northwest Houston. We have been asked to match the facility donation with program development that will directly impact this community. We will be providing URGEWORKS Programs. These are our programs that represent urgent outreach targeting high risk youth in underserved communities. These ARTreach Programs work to turn youth away from drugs and gang activity by providing a safe haven in their community and exposing youth to positive people and creative alternatives to negative behaviors.
The URGEWORKS programs combine ARTreach teaching methods, mentors and positive role models, with relevant aspects of the hip hop culture to teach dance, art, music and drama. The programs promote learning and provide new and creative opportunities for youth at risk to be successful and contribute positively to their communities today and into the future.
It is true, ARTreach URGEWORKS Programs in underserved communities are utilizing professional street dancers and graffiti artists to actually help students stay off drugs, stay in school, and stay out of trouble. Our artists teach that through hard work and perseverance you can make your own dreams come true. The program teaches techniques in dance and utilizes fine arts curriculum that incorporates educational objectives that help students meet mastery standards in fine arts, language arts, history, math and science. The program also supports physical education, teaches about character and community responsibility, and promotes healthier lifestyles and safer communities.
The URGEWORKS Programs are urgent and they work! ARTreach is currently offering these programs weekly in 3rd Ward, and one day a week at The Warehouse in NW Houston. The Warehouse is located at the corner of 34th and Mangum in the heart of a Latino community much in need. The building is 6000 sq ft made up of 7 classroom and office space and a 3000 sq. ft. of air conditioned area for staged shows and performances. The Warehouse will house a recording studio and dance studio and offer free health and exercise programs to residents in this community. The Warehouse is also home to The Worship Experience Church providing services weekly to reach out to this community as well.
Our challenge through this gift in kind is to expand our ARTreach Programs immediately to serve the urgent needs represented by the youth in this area. We are accepting this challenge, because we know our URGEWORKS Programs WILL help the children and the families living in poverty and in this community. We also believe the additional benefits of full time ARTreach programming in this community will touch the lives of the elderly residents living alone and in need of companionship and social interaction that free art, music and movement classes will also provide.
This is a major project for ARTreach and we are starting it now. Our first goal is to expand programs serving children at risk from 10 hours a month to 30 hours a month by July. ARTreach will be tracking the increasing numbers of students and measuring the impact the ARTreach Programs are having in this community for the next two years. We will be producing short film documentaries that will capture our progress and share the results of an outreach program that we hope can be replicated by mission driven art groups and community leaders anywhere as a viable solution that truly supports the needs represented by children at risk.
We are asking for your support. Your donated dollars will be used to contract the ARTreach staff necessary to support the additional students. ARTreach staff is responsible for community relationships, curriculum development, lead teaching, and volunteer recruitment and artist training to expand and assure programs ongoing. Donations in any amount will help and are 100% tax deductible.
Donations are accepted online www.artreachonline.org using Visa or MC or Pay Pal. Checks are also can be made out to ARTreach and mailed to:
ARTreach
Warehouse Studio NW
4500 W 34th Street Suite K
Houston, TX 77092
We invite you to be a part of this important project and support the ARTreach URGEWORKS Programs at the Warehouse in NW Houston. Please visit our website to learn more about ARTreach and the impact the arts have on children at risk and others in need www.artreachonline.org
We are also in need immediate donations of art supplies including Crayola Markers and basic white drawing paper, Prang Watercolor sets, Watercolor blocks and paper, Liqitex Complete Classic Studio Acrylic set, Standard depth wrap around and gallery wrapped canvas sizes 16×20 ($25.19) up to 4 x72 ($429), Acrylic and watercolor brushes/ white or golden synthetic brushes, size 2- 32
We are also improving the studio and classroom space where ARTreach programs will be offered we are seeking donations that include Paint, Lumber, Carpet, Sound Equipment, Tables and Chairs, Office furniture, Computers
We also need volunteers to help, and skilled laborers for the flooring and carpet installation, painters and technicians for office computer and sound system set up.
Thank you for your support! Please contact me anytime for details about this program and to discuss other ways you can become involved and help.
Terri Bieber
ARTreach, Executive Director
t.bieber@artreachonline.org
Cell 713-444-1897
Office 281-392-5341
Please contact our ARTreach URGEWORKS Program Director, Chris Gamez for more information. Become a Mentor through Art today and volunteer to teach dance, art and music to children at risk.
Chris Gamez
info@artreachonline.org
info@urgeworks.com
