Hemispheric Envoys for Artistic Transformation & Culture

2009

Yakima, Washington

Table of Contents

Mission Statement ................................................................................................................................................. 1

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 1

Problem ..................................................................................................................................................................

Solution ...................................................................................................................................................................

Funding Requirements ............................................................................................................................................

Organization and Expertise .....................................................................................................................................

Statement of Need ..................................................................................................................................................

Fact/Figures/Statistics ............................................................................................................................................

Demographics .........................................................................................................................................................

Projections ..............................................................................................................................................................

Project Description ..................................................................................................................................................

Goals .......................................................................................................................................................................

Objectives ...............................................................................................................................................................

Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................

Staffing/Administration ..........................................................................................................................................

Evaluation ...............................................................................................................................................................

Outcomes ................................................................................................................................................................

Budget .....................................................................................................................................................................

Expenses .................................................................................................................................................................

Organization Information ........................................................................................................................................

Board of Directors ...................................................................................................................................................

Director of Development ........................................................................................................................................

Program Director ....................................................................................................................................................

Field Staff ................................................................................................................................................................

Conclusion ...............................................................................................................................................................

Appendix .................................................................................................................................................................

Michoacan/Patzcuaro Quick Facts ..........................................................................................................................

Popular Traditions/Arts ..........................................................................................................................................

Endorsements in Michoacan ..................................................................................................................................

Endorsements in Washington State .......................................................................................................................

Criteria and Application Process .............................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................

Staff Biographies .....................................................................................................................................................

Delegation Itineraries .............................................................................................................................................

Art & Cultural Curricula...........................................................................................................................................

Evaluation ...............................................................................................................................................................

Delegate Survey ......................................................................................................................................................

Mission Statement

Hemispheric Envoys for Artistic Transformation and Culture (HEART & Culture) is a nonprofit

organization based in Yakima, Washington. It seeks to create college-bound opportunities for

at-risk youth in Yakima County by strengthening school performance, extra-

curricular resume, and community involvement via the arts. HEART & Culture seeks to build

respect for cultural expression and identity by immersing participants in culturally vibrant

communities and discussions.

Executive Summary

Youth have stories to tell and experiences to share. However, the opportunities for at-risk

youth to utilize the arts as therapy or as a mode of communicating personal experiences are

minimal in Yakima County (Washington State). Curricula in standard classroom settings in public

high schools do not fully reflect the increasing cultural diversity of its at-risk youth.

Consequently, many youth have been marginalized. The need for a cultural program that caters

to the talent, personal histories, and heritages of diverse youth in Yakima Count

schools is pressing.

Due to a variety of factors, public schools in Washington State continue to underperform. The

Yakima Herald-Republic reported that in Washington State hirty percent of the schools facing

the most severe [No Child Left Behind] sanctions are in the Yakima Valley area. Out of the 64

schools statewide that needs status, 19 of them

are in Yakima or Grant counties. Of that, eight of the schools are in the Yakima School

District....i

Why art? It challenges youth to think critically, creatively, and responsibly in school and general

life. It may also be a creative new opportunity for academically challenged youth to pursue a

college education. Because ideal candidates for college admittance are usually those with

diversified experiences outside of school, HEART & Culture serves as a local source of

alternative arts, with an emphasis on college admittance. It is critical for classrooms in Yakima

County to adopt college- and career-prepatory art curricula centered on local, struggling, at-risk

youth. In efforts to provide students with cutting-edge, supplemental education, it is the focus

of HEART & Culture to facilitate culturally challenging art curricula in Morelia, Michoacan,

Mexico. The following partnerships have been established: Cave Moon Productions-Yakima,

Secretaria de Turismo-Morelia, Centro Cultural-Patzucaro, Casa de las Artesanas-Morelia.