MSSION:
A youth cultural arts exchange and retreat program designed to “promote self-discovery within various cultures, utilizing the arts and artistic expression as a teaching tool to stimulate and heighten ones sense of humanity”. This program will dedicate itself to young artisans by providing a safe haven to network, to be enlightened and inspired to fulfill their artistic passions without limitations.
Our focus is “youth at risk”, but not in the traditional sense. We believe, our “YOUTH” are at risk of not fulfilling their “ARTISTIC LEGACIES”, simply because the environments in which they live do
not possess all of the tools necessary to nurture and support their “QUEST” for ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.
We seek to provide an environment conducive to this need.
The intent of the ACE Youth Ambassadors Program is to expose inner-city youths from United States to the rural artist communities of Nova Scotia, Canada and conversely expose youth from Nova Scotia to the urban arts communities in the United States. Our goal is to promote artistic expressions, cultural enlightenment and entertainment awareness, so that the youth can develop as leaders at the forefront of their communities representing Arts, Culture & Entertainment on a global stage as Humanitarians.
The ACE Youth Ambassadors Program focus is a multi-cultural one, whose desired intent is to bring together youths from different ethnic backgrounds, to an alien environment where they learn to build social bridges, artistic collaborations and develop the concept of teamwork as a working tool to HEAL humanity.
OBJECTIVE:
A three-year summer program designed to track high school students from grade 10 through completion of grade 12. Students are expected to participate over the summer months of July and August. There will be 8 groups of children (40 children total per month), 1 group of 10 children will be in Los Angeles, while 1 group of 10 children will be in Nova Scotia. Each multi-cultural exchange will involve 15 days, 2 days traveling to and from and 12 days of programming and a final day of farewells and bonding.
Age of Students: 15 - 18
GOALS:
The underlying goal of this program is to nurture, stimulate and supplement the development of young artisans in eight(8), fifteen (15) day summer arts retreats with six (6) once a month school calendar year workshop on weekends.
During the 15-day exchange, each student will choose their arts discipline in one of the following categories, visual arts, literary arts and performing arts. Their selection will be designed to nurture their individual and group growth and creativity.
In overseeing the participant progress, program leaders will cautiously address false belief systems constructed by generational influences, environmental influences and individual thought processes. The exchange and creative experience will promote emotional growth and feelings of shared community. Several questions will be posed to participants, which they will answer through their creative process.
Students will creatively express how their environment impacts their emotional and physical wellbeing through their chosen discipline
Students will explore what it means to be a unique being. This exercise is design to promote self-celebration.
Students will be asked to individually express, through their choice of discipline, insights and or perceptions generated by being in the program. Students will learn to write biographies and use documentary media to create a record of their artistic expressions, there-by giving greater prominence to the artistic, personal and social experience they achieved during the summer.
Lastly a collaborative creative effort will be designed to document the students experience during the retreat. This exercise will foster teamwork and a sense community. The students will learn and employ skills in negotiation, planning, problem solving and co-operation.
SUPERVISION:
One (art therapist) will be chosen to accompany each group (10children) on the 15-day exchange. Therapist will submit their names for random selection and those chosen will undergo a mandatory background check with proper legal authorities.
PROGRAM:
Visual Arts;
Visual arts challenges and promotes self-exploration.
Literary Arts;
Writing validates ones lived experience and promotes goal setting
PERFORMING ARTS;
Music,
Participants will explore all aspects and music, vocal, instrument, conducting, arranging andmusic’s digital applications.
Dance,
A three-phased dance program that addresses the needs of culturally isolated youth,including: a dance presentation, instruction, and a lecture/demonstration series offering an
historical viewpoint on dance, without this point of reference, the focus today is directed to
hip-hop and video dancing.
Drama,
An adjunct educational program provides training via classroom/workshop, and mentoring
of those seeking professional instruction as actors
Conclusion of fifteen (15) day Youth Art Exchange (Self-discovery) program:
Upon completion of 15 day program, students will review participation and development in order
to gage improvement and growth. Students will have a portfolio of work completed, which may
provide material to expand upon later. A copy of all documentation will be given to the student to keep with their journal of growth. And art therapist Counselors) will maintain communicationswith students throughout the six (6) scheduled school year workshops.
This program will actively pursue and maintain communications with its student,
The success of the students and the program will hinge on our instilling in our students the
value of networking, sharing and stepping-up and beginning the conversation that “ART
HEALS OUR HUMANITY”.
SPONSORS & PARTNERS: Sponsor - Heritage Empowered Arts Legacy, Inc - (HEAL) is a
US registered Federal tax-exempt 501C3 non-profit organization. Its mission is to develop arts
programs that support the cultural, educational and economic growth of youth; with a
particular focus on youth of African & Hispanic origins and their community through the
preservation and presentation of their artistic, cultural and historical legacies.
( Los Angeles, California )
Sponsor - Imagiovation International is an arts entity whose mission is to foster the artistic
insight of our “YOUTH”, to become future visionaries for the enhancement of the “ARTS.”
Imagiovation International will assist the youth by developing and delivering arts products
and ventures that chart and nurture the growth of our youth onto the world stage.
( Los Angeles, California / Nova Scotia, Canada )
Sponsor - Indigo Mood Expressive Arts Studio (IMEAS) is located in Nova Scotia.
The studio's creator is a professional artist and registered Art Therapist. The goal of the
studio is to stimulate the creative spirit by foster emotional growth and spiritual healing
thru artistic expression. ( Nova Scotia, Canada )
Partner - City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs,
Cultural Facilities & Performing Arts Division
Partner - Nova Scotia African Cultural Affairs
Partner - Parson's Cultural Youth Artist Retreat Lodge, Nova Scotia
Partner - Ross Creek Center for the Arts, Nova Scotia
