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Can the KC Vision Be More Than a Nice Sentiment?

10/30/2017

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The Kids Creative Vision is a nice sentiment.  "At Kids Creative, we believe that a better, more peaceful future is achievable by teaching youth the creative, critical thinking and social skills necessary to make peace within themselves and in society."

But can our vision be more than a nice sentiment?  Can peace be more than just a dream?
  The current climate (both politically and environmentally) are not very "peaceful".  Climate change is rearing its devastatingly ugly head, while families, kids and even our own staff face racist, xenophobic and sexist experiences that effect their lives. 

So how can we dream about a peaceful future when our present seems so dire? Because we have to. Elise Boulding in Cultures of Peace: The Hidden Side of History  says “Peace Cultures thrive on and are nourished by visions of how things might be…The very ability to imagine something different and better than what currently exists is critical for the possibility of social change…People can't work for what they can't imagine.”  

We recognize that peace is difficult, but we envision a peaceful future because when we think positively, the future holds endless possibilities.  

Recently, we tried something we don't do very often. We brought together a group of adults and used the Kids Creative process to imagine a story.  I challenged this group to use their imaginations, which is easy with kids, but is increasingly tougher as our participants get older.  This was an amazing story--before we spoke about any negatives in society, in our lives, we just imagined. 

When our imaginations are unfettered, positivity reigned. The room had a palpable energy and an excitement because anything was possible. We could have dreamed of unique solutions to any problem, and that's what we did. 

A group of adults created "The Jaded Moon", the story of worms from Mars who get to visit Earth once a year to eat all of the candy corn that nobody else eats.  Our story explored many themes, including agriculture, environmentalism, communication, economic monopolies and, most importantly, conflict and resolution.  

We all left the workshop to return to the "real" world, but the Kids Creative vision was front and center in each of our minds.  We all left with a bit more hope, because we had dreamed of what was possible.
​
And that's what the Kids Creative vision is all about.  Training each of us--kids and adults alike--to approach each other and the world as positively as possible, and to never give up our ability to dream.
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Why We're Honoring Gale Brewer and Annette Grant

10/18/2017

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Imagine: What would the world look like if we resolved conflicts peacefully? What if it was second nature to follow Kids Creative's 1st Cornerstone: "Be safe, don't harm: Safe bodies, safe minds"? What if we were able to listen and respect each other for who we are? The world is seeking out hope and help, and while we cannot solve all the major issues now, we can envision a more peaceful future through "Yes, and...", our way to listen. 
Our programs are centered around teaching conflict resolution skills through the arts. Our youth participants envision a more peaceful future on a daily basis. The two honorees at this year's annual fundraiser have both worked tirelessly to make this a better world, and we are excited to recognize both Gale Brewer and
Annette Grant for their roles in our organization.
Back in 2004, over a year before my brother Stephen and I were jumping around on Nickelodeon and long before Kids Creative was awarded 21st Century grants to serve hundreds of youth in NYC, then City Council Member Gale Brewer supported our small program in her Council District on the Upper West Side. Gale, who is now the 27th Manhattan Borough President, has always showed her support, not just in funding, but also in her willingness to visit our programs and speak out about the importance of arts education and diversity with students and families. She has been key in securing paid sick leave for hourly workers, expanding rights for domestic workers, and expanding technology to all New Yorkers. Gale even smiled year after year when I presented to the Manhattan Delegation of the City Council while wearing a pink wig.
At PS 191, the program that Gale funded, we met an amazing teacher, Annette Grant. When Annette asked about teaching at our Summer Camp, we didn't realize how lucky we were. Anyone who has met Annette, aka Ms. Grant aka Ms. Rev, knows that she teaches with smiles and positivity.  Annette, who is a longtime educator with the NYC Dept. of Education, brings a very unique perspective to Kids Creative and is a leader for our kids and teachers alike. She creates plays and characters with enthusiasm, and leads youth and adults alike in building personal character and self-confidence. She is one of our most experienced teachers, leading groups and inspiring youth and young staff at our Rock 2 The Bronx programs and Upper West Side Summer Camp. 
I am incredibly excited to honor both Gale and Annette at our upcoming CREATE fundraiser on Wednesday, November 1, and I hope you will join me in honoring them, too. 
WHEN: 
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 from 6-9 PM
WHERE: 
Gibney Studios, Entrance at 53A Chambers Street, New York, NY
WHAT:
Celebrating 18 years of Kids Creative! Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvre and cocktails, watch a Kids Creative performance, and support Kids Creative’s art and peacemaking programs in NYC schools.
HONORING: 
Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer for her long time support of Kids Creative and arts education in NYC
&
NYC Educator and Kids Creative Teacher Annette Grant for continuing to encourage creativity and providing a welcoming, peaceful environment for youth

TICKETS:
For sponsorship opportunities, tickets, and to make donations, clickhere.

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    Unless otherwise noted, our blog posts are the musings of our co-founder Adam Jacobs

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