Our Kids Need a Safe Space & a Soft Place to Land

Who We Are

The H.E.ART, a 501(c)(3) performing arts company

for children and young adults, needs your help.

Our immediate goal is to secure funding to maintain a home

for our students and a safe space for our artistic

programming and community service.

The Mission

The H.E.ART's mission is to provide a healthy, creative and inclusive environment. Our holistic approach to the Performing Arts is to inspire and empower Actors, Dancers and Singers of all ages and abilities to cultivate their natural and latent talents. As a Multicultural Performing Arts Company in Los Angeles, The H.E.ART is committed to fostering and developing our youth's self-esteem and self-confidence, instilling a sense of cultural pride, strengthening relationships and nurturing their socio-emotional development.

The Why

A HOME FOR THE H.E.ART

Due to a 500% rent increase our program is at risk. We need your support to continue offering safe, equipped spaces and dedicated faculty, ensuring our students' growth and well-being.

The Ask

We need your help!

Your help is crucial to keeping our programs running and provide a safe space for our students. Immediate funding is needed to maintain our upcoming summer intensive programming. In November, with our pending lease termination, we need to move to a temporary home to complete our fall and spring semesters.

$200K

Comprehensive Need

A comprehensive transition need from June 2024 - June 2025.

$75K

To stay at MKM from now until Oct

To make sure the summer intensive goes uninterrupted.

This program is already in place and we do not want to be uprooted in the middle of the semester.

$125K

Transition to a new home

Provides funding for temporary stay in a safe space for our Fall & Spring semesters.

The Team

Eartha Robinson

Founder

A native of New York City, Eartha was raised in Harlem. At the age of 14, she was accepted into the “famed” Performing Arts High School (P.A.) in NYC.

Eartha made her Broadway debut at age 16 in THE WIZ, starring Stephanie Mills and thus began her career. Eartha has worked as a Dancer, Actress and Director in over 100 films, television shows, commercials, specials, documentaries and stage shows. Her credits as a performer and member of the Creative Team are extensive: Fame, School Daze, Malcom X, A Different World, Academy Awards shows, the Grammys, Essence and many more.

Eartha is committed to sharing the joy and spirit of dance and pure creativity with the youth of today. Eartha brings the gift of Performing Arts to all children that desires to express themselves through the arts and develop learning and social skills, as a means to ‘pay it forward’.

Vernée Watson

Co-Founder

Vernée Watson began her career over 55 years ago with a theater group in Harlem, NY. After doing over 200 commercials she moved to LA to continue her career, which is documented in “You Look Familiar - Vernée Watson” currently streaming on Peacock. She’s also on the CBS hit comedy series. “Bob Hearts Abishola”, and for two consecutive years, won the Daytime Emmy for her role as Stella on General Hospital, and recently inducted into the Gold Circle of the Television Academy.

Vermée has taught acting to young people through coaching, creating plays and directing for over 40 years and is a published author of two commercial acting books. She continues her passion for teaching and “passing the torch” to the youth as co-founder and acting teacher at The H.E.ART.

Staff & Faculty

Tiana Taylor-Shaw

Eli Hall

Tangie Ambrose

Keoni Mendonca

Evyn Johnson

Raquel Mapp

Eja Wong

Deborah Sharpe

Jodie Patterson

Blaire Howell

Audrya Kelly

Roselee Showe

Kelsey Johnson

Baba Fodé

Maia

Duanté Fayall

Thank you for taking the time.

Heartfelt Education through the Arts, Inc.