UPAC Artist-In-Residence Program

The 2001 Surgeon General's Report and Communities That Care surveys identify academic failure and lack of commitment to school as risk factors associated with the increased probability of juvenile violence and delinquency. The proposed program will address these risk factors with strength-based interventions that will support the protective factors of commitment to school and opportunities for pro-social involvement in school, family and community. This program will provide 4 different in-school arts-in-education workshop residencies for a total of 360 at-risk students ages 9-11 in 4 schools of the Kingston City School District. Kingston NY is the urban center and county seat of Ulster County, located in the heart of the Hudson River Valley. Each residency will conclude with a stage production or appearance in a street festival created by the students in collaboration with their Teaching Artist, in which the participating students will perform alongside their artist mentors. The students' progress will be measured by tracking changes in school attendance, behavior, work standards, and youth self-assessment in a pre and post-program evaluation tool to be completed by the students and their classroom teachers. The proposed program will offer opportunities for self-actualization, social development and skills acquisition toward empowering students for academic, social and personal success. NCA/NCF