“The arts, whether as formal therapy, community outreach or enrichment, do impact lives in positive, far-reaching ways.” -Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPCC, LPAT, ATR-BC
m.a.m.a. earth is a Los Angeles-based grassroots community organization, founded by Jaime Kailani Bayot – big sister to Grammy-award winner, Bruno Mars. Our mission is to inspire others to give back in their own communities while raising awareness about issues that affect us all. 4mamaearth partners with schools, local and global non-profit organizations to present enrichment classes, hands-on workshops and fundraising events.
We are so excited to have launched an 8-week pilot program of ALTER: An Arts and Creative Writing After-School Program for grades 9-12 at Crenshaw High School in South Los Angeles, created by artist and educator, Ronda Brown and Grammy-nominated poet and performer, Sonja Marie. The pilot program began this month and will run until the end of the school year in June.
Sufficient data exists to overwhelmingly support the belief that study and participation in the fine arts is a key component in improving learning throughout all academic areas. Evidence of its effectiveness in reducing student dropout, raising student attendance, developing better team players, fostering a love for learning, improving greater student dignity, enhancing student creativity, and producing a more prepared citizen for the workplace for tomorrow can be found documented in studies held in many varied settings, from school campuses, to corporate America.
m.a.m.a. earth is helping to develop ALTER to establish much needed Arts Programs to underserved youth. The ALTER program will impart skills in both Visual and Language Arts that can literally alter the students’ trajectory for productive citizenry and livelihood. The students will complete the program with the building blocks necessary for turning their ideas into tangible pieces of work.
School districts rarely provide allocated funding for high school arts and after school programs and this is the case at Crenshaw High school and many other high schools in the low-income areas of South Los Angeles. m.a.m.a. earth, as an organization, seeks to provide opportunities to champion Arts Education. We cannot afford to wait until public school budgets catch up with the needs of our youth. The time is now to invest in the futures of our at-risk and underserved youth. ALTER has begun its pilot program at the Crenshaw High School in South Los Angeles. This program will serve as one of the only visual arts after-school or extra-curricular opportunities for the students in that area.
ALTER students, grade 9-12, receive:
• Credentialed and Professional Facilitators
• Materials for the projects (art supplies, printing)
• Nutritious Snacks
Thank you for supporting the global team that is m.a.m.a. earth create powerful partnerships to provide the necessary programs, skills and tools to ensure that all children have opportunities to succeed.
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