Dawry Ruiz is a 17-year-old artist from East Boston and alum of Zumix. In his presentation at TEDxYouth@BeaconStreet, he reminds us how development and placemaking patterns for the “Creative Class” continue to scour communities of their history, social patterns, and identity.
Monthly Archives: May 2019
Podcast: Sonido Musica in Harmony
On the Mass Cultural Council’s podcast, Creative Minds Out Loud, we spoke with Eileen McCaffery, Executive Director of Community Music School of Springfield, and Julie Jaron, Director of Visual and Performing Arts for the Springfield Public Schools, to discuss their work over five years on the Sonido Musica program, a partnership that aims to reduce Springfield’s high school drop-out rate through student engagement, leadership, and performance opportunities. What started with three public schools and 60 students has grown to 18 schools and nearly 1,000 student musicians! Now nearby Holyoke wants to replicate this model. Their goal was not to have the Community Music School replace music education in the public schools, but rather to help principals and administrators see the power of the arts working every day in their school.
Check out other episodes featuring Creative Youth Development leaders.
Through the Eyes of Photographer James E. Reed
High school apprentices at the New Bedford Whaling Museum created an exhibition focusing on New Bedford’s first black photographer, James E. Reed.
Reed, a prominent African-American photographer born and raised in the New Bedford area, captured the city’s landscape and influential citizens over the course of his 34-year photography career.
Studying the history of New Bedford and photography as well as the business of the discipline, apprentices gained insight into Reed’s aesthetic and artistic style.
New Bedford Superior Courthouse: Past and Present (recreated by Joshua).
Reed’s Grace Episcopal Church and Destiny’s modern day recreation.
They explored the history of New Bedford through the eyes of the photographer, gaining inspiration for their project; honoring Reed’s legacy by recreating his work with modern-day influential community members (selected by the group) and local landmarks depicted in his pieces. Through this project, youth also showcased the shift in photography over the years.
Recipients of Mass Cultural Council’s 2018 Amplify grant, Reed’s Modern Studio exhibition was on display in the museum’s San Francisco room in the Summer of 2018.
CYD Gets a National BOOST
Last week, the Clare Rose Foundation in partnership with the Creative Youth Development National Partnership, co-hosted the first BOOST creative youth development workshop strand at the BOOST Conference in Palm Springs, CA. Pursuing the goal of bringing the impact of CYD work to a broader national audience, the BOOST Conference was an opportunity to engage with over 2,500 out-of-school time providers, administrators, and professionals.
While we couldn’t be there in person to present, we shared the following video with BOOST attendees. Watch Mass Cultural Council’s Executive Director Anita Walker and Program Manager Erik Holmgren discuss our work to support the field of Creative Youth Development in Massachusetts:
Adobe Offering Grants, Software to Organizations
Adobe has some open opportunities available for Creative Youth Development organizations, including:
- Grants to support Projects & Collaborations (up to $7k)
- Hardware grants (up to $5k)
- Free access to Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom, In Design, etc.)
- Webinars to support learning across CYD organizations
There are currently about 50 organizations around the world that are engaged in the network through one or more of the above opportunities.
Learn more
