LIVING ARTS BLOG
Southwest Holiday Fest Returns
The 7th Annual Southwest Holiday Fest was held on December 14. Living Arts is proud to once again participate in the event.
Our Youth Dance Ensemble 2 (YDE2, the junior dance company) had their second performance as a group this year at Southwest Holiday Fest and did a great job!
YDE2 performs at SW Holiday Fest
The 7th Annual Southwest Holiday Fest was held on December 14. Living Arts is proud to once again participate in the event.
Our Youth Dance Ensemble 2 (YDE2, the junior dance company) had their second performance as a group this year at Southwest Holiday Fest and did a great job!
The senior YDE created a structured improvisational dance collaboratively. Youth mentor Diamond Davis hosted a two-hour ornament decorating workshop (her first public workshop), and did a great job coordinating the ordering of supplies, setup and cleanup, and facilitation.
SW Holiday Fest is planned annually by a coalition of organizations and businesses in the area including Matrix Theatre, Plaza del Sol, Mexicantown Community Development Coalition, Repair the World, Xochi's Gift Shop, SER Metro, All Saints Literacy Center, Dantos Furniture, The FREC, Living Arts, and more.
Living Arts Presented with Spirit of Detroit Award!
On Thursday, October 17, Council Member Raquel Casteneda-Lopez stopped by the Ford Resource and Engagement Center (FREC-Mercado) to spend some time with the Living Arts community. As members of District 6 (Casteneda-Lopez’s constituency) the Council Member gave an update on upcoming changes in Southwest and answered questions from our families.
All photos by: Diamond Davis.
On Thursday, October 17, Council Member Raquel Casteneda-Lopez stopped by the Ford Resource and Engagement Center (FREC-Mercado) to spend some time with the Living Arts community. As members of District 6 (Casteneda-Lopez’s constituency) the Council Member gave an update on upcoming changes in Southwest and answered questions from our families.
The Council Member also stopped by to present a Spirit of Detroit Award to Living Arts! The award was presented in honor of 20 years of service to Detroit youth and the Southwest neighborhood. Director of Programs Erika Villarreal Bunce accepted the award on behalf of our staff, teaching artists, board members, students, and families.
We’re so proud to receive this significant recognition of our work! Thank you to Council Member Casteneda-Lopez and to the City of Detroit for their support of our work.
Music, Play and Storytelling for Caregivers
On August 31, Living Arts hosted our second workshop for Southwest caregivers! Led by professional recording artist, musician, and Teaching Artist Alesha Brown, those who are involved in the very important work of taking care of our children were invited to learn storytelling through music. Participants were given a guitar to use during the workshop and learned how to match chords and notes with images to engage youth in a storytelling dance.
On August 31, Living Arts hosted our second workshop for Southwest caregivers! Led by professional recording artist, musician, and Teaching Artist Alesha Brown, those who are involved in the very important work of taking care of our children were invited to learn storytelling through music. Participants were given a guitar to use during the workshop and learned how to match chords and notes with images to engage youth in a storytelling dance.
Teaching Artist Karilu Alarcon Forshee with participants in puppet workshop at Congress of Communities.
Over the past few months we’ve partnered with Congress of Communities, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation and Mathematic Policy Group to present these free workshops to caregivers. These activity sessions promote bonding, social-emotional learning, literacy, and communication skills through visual art, drama, music, and storytelling. Congress of Communities recently hosted a puppet-making workshop that used drama and the crux for storytelling.
Our next workshop is Saturday, September 28 from 2-4pm at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center (2826 Bagley St). Childcare and food are provided and all caregivers of children 0-6 are invited.