Save Arts for Chester's Children

Help Nia Save the Arts for Our Children

In a city of 35,000, the public school children will receive limited or no art education at school: no theatre, no visual art, no music or music appreciation instruction, no dance. Problems associated with low income, health disparity, economic and environmental injustice predominate.


Like [longtime student inspired by Nia classes, De’Aira says in the video], "I used to paint in black and white. Colors now make me happier." All children are our responsibility! Please help us infuse their lives with color and  give them an outlet for their creative natures, a means to express their frustrations and their joys, a reason to look at their futures with hope and excitement. Each dollar raised provides a creative outlet for a child, inspiration for an adult, strengthening the community giving them alternate means to consider their lives.

WHO WE ARE

The Nia Center , Inc., (TNC) is a 501 (c) (3), nonprofit organization whose mission is providing artistic, educational, and cultural enrichment opportunities for the underserved children, youth, and families in Chester, Pennsylvania. “NIA” comes from the Kwanzaa principle meaning “PURPOSE”.  It is this sense of purpose  and responsibility for our children that serves as the foundation for the center’s vision for community development and inspiring the next generation. Each student learns to view the world as not just “black and white” but like an ‘artist’s palette, full of colors imbued with possibilities and hope, and where they are encouraged to express their own vision, enhancing the well-being and success of the whole community.


HOW IT ALL STARTED ~ OUR FOUNDER’S VISION

 

Delores Freeman-Clybourn, Executive Director, founded The Nia Center in 2002 initially by offering art classes in a garage. Delores recalls:
I realized that [Chester] schools had reduced or eliminated the arts programs throughout the district… the children truly missed access to arts related programs so I decided to begin having classes in a rented garage on the west end. Then I … developed the “Chester Pride Historical Tours” …and used our seniors willing to share their stories of Chester’s rich history in the arts with our youth. This gave them a connection with the past and pride in our city. This is how it began.


WHO NIA SERVES

Nia is one of the few inter-generational agencies in Chester and targets low-income families of the Chester Upland School District including:

Pre-School, Elementary, High School and College Families and Senior Citizens
We take pride in sharing the arts with all ages!


WHAT NIA OFFERS

Nia Programs are provided year round for free (or for a nominal fee) and are currently serving approximately 700 students through:

·      Classes and activities in art, music, singing, dance, theatre, writing, poetry, and more through support from other community partner organizations and individual teaching artists.

·      Programs that take place at TNC site, and satellite locations through out the city.

·      Providing a safe and supportive environment that encourages self-expression and community pride both after school and in the summer.

Some Current Programs Include:

·      Pre-School Music and Art & Art Instruction 


·      After School Programs


·      Summer Camps 



·      Teen and Young Adult Internships
·      Kids Art Fairs, Exhibitions and Activities


·      Cultural Events
·      Community Outreach
·      Senior Support


WHY IT MATTERS

Nia impacts students and families through opportunities for Positivity, Empowerment, Self-esteem, and Confidence by:

o   Exploring a variety of art disciplines and cultures
o   Discovering and developing interests and talents
o   Receiving recognition and encouragement 
o   Sharing in a caring community that believes in them
o   Educational and academic support through tutoring 
o   Exposure to positive role models for learning
o   Overcoming challenges through creative expression
o   Family engagement in the community and service
o   Enrichment as children grow into productive citizens


NIA'S ARTS CHANGES A CHILD'S LIFE 

I recall how we took the children on the tours around the city with cameras photographing historic sites and then we exhibited them for proud parents and the community. Our partnership with the Community Arts Center allowed us to take students there for a class series to expand their knowledge of photography… learning to develop their own pictures. One youth went on to college using film and photography as her main focus. She has since thanked me.  I feel blessed to have been a part of her experience.

         ~Delores Freeman-Clybourn, Founder/Ex. Director

 
PARENT TESTIMONIAL
 
The artistic talents of children in deprived areas need to be recognized and awarded…Recognizing the gifts of these children will foster their creative abilities and permit them to further their talent(s).

WHAT YOUR DONATIONS WILL MEAN

The Nia Center of Chester, PA returned to its former site on the historic Ruth L. Bennett property  after extensive restoration and renovations of the building in June of 2014 by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot).  TNC had vacated the property for several years and used different spaces throughout the city to continue providing services. Upon our return, additional repairs were needed a few months later due to a regional electrical blowout in the area and damages from vandalism. Despite these setbacks, Nia kept the programs and services going in alternate spaces.

Donations are urgently needed for the following Building Repairs, Supplies, and Services:

$3,000.00 – Repair Broken AC/Heating System since June 2014-Present: A new AC/Heating System has to be restored and a new utility board put in due PECO blowout issues. The entire facility has been without air-conditioning since last summer or heat during this past winter. Once again the children will not have AC for their camp this summer.
 
$1,000.00 – Repay Loan for Iron Bars Installation: New window were installed through a donation by a local business, but TNC secured a loan to have iron bars placed over all the window around the first floor of the building.
 
$500.00 – Install Window Security/Safety Lock: A lock(s) needs to be installed on one or more of the window in case of an emergency where occupants needed to escape through a window.

Security System Set Up: These systems need to be maintained throughout the year for safety purposes in our community.

$1000.00 – Repay Loan on Security System Set Up

$150.00 – Maintenance Contract for one year

$150.00 – Monitoring System Contract for one year

$1000.00 – Alarm System Set Up

Office, Internet & Web Services: The Nia Center currently does not have Internet access in the building limiting the staff’s ability to work onsite. The telephone set up was damaged during the break in and needs to be reinstalled.

$2000.00 – Replace and Set Up 5 Computers: We need a minimum of 5 computers to be replaced for the kids to use in the “After School” Program and to do their homework. We would purchase refurbished equipment and hire a technician to set up the computer lab.
 
$1,200.00 – Telephone/Internet Set Up & Service: Install new phones. Set up a 2-year contract with an available provider.

$1,200.00 – Website Hosting, Registration & Email Service, Maintenance: Half of these funds would cover the basic fees for the next 3 years and pay for maintenance for 1 year allowing Nia to expand it’s patron base online, set up a professional email marketing service raising its visibility and fundraising platform.

Grant Writer: TNC is working with a local university to procure a student grant writer for Fall of 2015.  However if this does not come through, we will need to hire a ‘professional’ grant writer experienced in this area on a part-time basis whose expertise would allow TNC to better access available state and federal grants supporting low-income, arts deprived communities.

$10,000.00 - $13,800.00 – Paid Grant Writer

FUNDING GOAL TOTAL: $25,000.00


IF WE REACH OUR TIPPING POINT

DONATIONS WILL GO TO:

$3000.00 – Student Shuttle Bus /Repairs & Mantainence: This bus shuttles youth to their after-school program in Bryn Mawr each week during the school year and to field trip locations during the year.

$1200.00 - Utilities Electric Bill for one year

$ 900.00 – Insurance for a year

$ 450.00 – Repay Loan for Refrigerator


Funding for Expanding Programs, Operations, and Marketing:

TNC has run as a volunteer based organization over the last 10 years.  Most all staff and instructors offer their services for free or for a small stipend.  Some instructors pay is sponsored by one of TNC “Community Partner” non-profit organizations. Further Funding is needed for and would go to:

·       Salaries for Executive Director, Administrator, Marketing & Fundraising Staff at minimum 

·       Marketing

·       Payment for Professional Teaching Artists

·       Rental Costs of off-site spaces

·       Office and computer materials and supplies

·       Class Art Supplies

·       Exhibition and Art Fair Fees and Materials

TNC Current Funding Comes From: Small grant monies received through donations from community members or from the following:

·       State, city and corporate grants,

·       individual donors,

·       corporate donors,

·       program participant fees,

·       Fundraisers



MAKE A DONATION TODAY

All children are 'our' responsibility and deserve to see the world in color!

Please help us fill our children's world with a rainbow of colors and love by providing them with a creative "home" in which to grow and build a future. Any donation amount you can give today makes these repairs to our 'home' possible and gives students the support they need to flourish and re-envision their lives!

With your help we can  continue serving the community with 'purpose' and instill a legacy of purpose in our youth. We believe in our children —we believe they can be anything they want to be. If they believe it, then they can achieve it!  And Nia is here to help them along the way.
          
 Any Amount is Appreciated!
 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RAINBOW OF GENEROSITY!