I work for a non-profit program called Hearts To Nourish Hope in Riverdale, Ga. Every summer they have a summer learning program that incorporates art, music, drama, and video. The at risk youth that we have worked with for over 10 years in Clayton County, Fayette County, and Henry County come together to learn about the above mentioned arts. The program in the past has been funded by grants and scholarships and stimulus money-2009. We have had in the past up to 250 kids-this year 150 kids. Next year we are not sure how much we will have. This program pays the kids and teachers and counselors to learn about the arts through the kids writing the play from scratch, writing music and words for the play, doing art work and set work for the play and learning how video mixes into all the above through taping the play and video taping their own written scenes and acting them out as well as a variety of topics about at risk youth culture. It is a rich and enriching experience for the kids that culminates at the end with a trip that in the past has been taken to Washington, DC stopping to visit colleges along the way. This year-MGM studios and two colleges along the way. In the past we have been able to take field trips to various art places like the High Museum, plays, musical events, etc. We had to cut that out this year and we had to go to a 4 day week, instead of a 5 day week. The 5th day is what we used for the field trips to show the kids what's out there- as alot of them can't afford to go. They are low income and foster youth we work with. I teach art for the summer program. I want next year 2010 to be just as great as ever, but we need grants and art scholarships to make this happen. BIG ONES! We fear we may have to down size the number of kids in 2010. Please help us not to have to do that. Hearts to Nourish Hope has just started a Facebook page that we will be adding a lot too as days go by. We also use it to keep up with the youth that are in our programs. Hearts is more than just what I told you about. Check us out. We have a GED program also! Thank you, Because we care, Sandra Hill
