The Shyne Project

Hello!

My name is Karmetra Shy, and I am the Executive Director of The Shyne Project. I've always had a passion for Dance and Theater. As a child, I would spend hours in my room dancing, acting, and creating shows—captivated by the magic of expressing myself through movement and music.

I was homeschooled and at the ripe old age of 17, my mother enrolled me in Mrs. Coy's English class. Her creativity and approach to applying what I was passionate about to life solidified my reasons for wanting to pursue theatre and dance. I was a late bloomer to the Performing Arts world and training was a challenge for my parents' budget. I then began to learn anything I could about dancing, I watched YouTube videos, and enrolled in free classes. The experience of Choreographing my first piece with a friend and landing my first job teaching dance at the YMCA deepened my desire to create, direct, and inspire.

While discovering Dance and Theatre during my college years my body began to change and I was feeling extremely fatigued. Feelings of inadequacy, dealing with serious health issues, and struggling with not having the “right look” for the industry caused many challenges.

Today, I’m living with two rare invisible illnesses. I’ve undergone several major and minor surgeries and continue to push for cures for what I am dealing with. Though I’m not currently able to maintain a full-time job, I have found joy and peace amidst these challenges. This journey has given me a unique perspective and a deep passion for serving my community and youth with invisible disabilities. Your donation will help achieve this goal and is greatly appreciated!

Please find The Shyne Project's Website Link and Additional Information Below:

Shyne Project Website

Organizational Background

The Shyne Project is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Dance and Theatre organization based in Houston, TX. Our mission is to provide a safe space for youth that allows them to explore, create, and grow in Dance and Theatre. Our organization was founded in 2021 and began serving in 2022. We are governed by a small group of passionate professionals and educators, who recognized the need for accessible, high-quality Dance, Theatre, and health education in our community. Our goal is to combine real-world issues with the arts, we focus on self-evaluation, mental and physical health awareness, and restorative practices. The Shyne Project was established to empower our youth by providing them with the skills, knowledge, and mentorship needed to become effective contributors to our society. We desire that individuals grow in their ability to adapt and cope with adversity, healthy relationships, and productive activity in life. Since its inception, The Shyne Project has been committed to expanding our reach and impact; to serve our community annually, providing mentorship, hands-on learning experiences, and resources.

Early Success!

Though The Shyne Project is relatively new to the community, we’ve been fortunate to serve schools both locally and internationally. In Houston, we’ve collaborated with YES Prep Southwest, James Madison High School, Benavidez Elementary, and partnered with the Boys & Girls Club for an after school workshop. We’re especially proud to have extended our reach to an international school in Kuwait. To date, The Shyne Project has impacted roughly 300 individuals, and we are excitedly preparing to serve even more!

Our Goals

Our primary goals for the program are to:

1. Increase participants' knowledge and skills in Dance and Theatre.

2. Foster a supportive community and network in areas of mental and physical health.

3. Encourage participants to pursue further education and careers in the performance art industry.

4. Partner with local farmers, and health nutritionists, and provide learning resources to students and families regarding healthy living

About Our Request

All our equipment is either donated or bought out of the pockets of our founder. Our small crew now works primarily as volunteers, earning little to nothing, and selflessly offering their time and knowledge. While we are forever grateful for their assistance it is our desire to create jobs and a sustainable income for our hirees. We are seeking $8,000 in donations to help us expand our program's capacity, reach, and impact. As we continue to gain traction and partner with schools and organizations in our community, our priority is resources and funding for student participation. Your funding would enable us to purchase much-needed equipment and supplies, provide scholarships for participants, and invest in mentor training and professional development. Thank you for considering our request your donation is a part of creating a lasting change in the lives of our youth.

Sincerely,

Karmetra Shy

Board Chair

The Shyne Project