The Role YOU Play in Our Work

Photo by: J. Lindsey Photography

This is the time of year when you likely find your inbox and mailbox are fuller than usual with requests for support from worthy organizations like Living Arts.

There’s good reason for it. While big grants from foundations and corporations get a lot of attention in the press, modest donations from regular folks still account for three-quarters of the funds donated across the country. On average, American households donate about $2,500 each year—totalling more than $4 billion—to improve their communities and support people in need.

Living Arts has been successful on both of these fronts. Major foundation and corporate grants and thousands of gifts from individual donors have played a big role in helping us bring transformative arts experiences to 50,000 youth over the past 20 years. 

Every gift makes a difference. You’ve probably heard it many times—because it’s true! 

While most of us would love to win the lottery and make a newsworthy contribution to our favorite charity, there are many other ways you can support an organization like Living Arts in addition to a year-end or monthly contribution:

• Social media is the most cost-effective way for Living Arts to spread the word about our work and the impact we are having for Detroit youth. It costs nothing to “Like,” comment on and share our posts, but it’s a big help in getting our message out!

• Let us know if your employer will match your contribution—it’s the easiest way to double (or sometimes even triple!) your gift.

• Consider making a contribution in honor of a friend who is passionate about a cause in lieu of a holiday or birthday gift—and encourage your friends and family to do the same.

• Play matchmaker and introduce Living Arts to others who might have a heartfelt connection to our mission.

• Explore how you can volunteer. At Living Arts, we have dozens of community members who serve on our board and committees to share their insights, feedback, and professional expertise. We couldn’t do it without them!

At Living Arts, we’re grateful for every gift—and all the ways our community members support our work by sharing their time and their personal and professional networks to advance our mission.

Thanks for supporting our work to bring inspiration and learning through the arts to more Detroit youth!

Celebrating 20 Years of Living Arts

An Evening for Living Arts: Celebrating 20 Years held in the Crystal Ballroom at the historic Detroit Masonic Temple on April 11, 2019. All photos: Julianne Lindsay

Last Thursday April 11th, Living Arts celebrated a milestone 20th anniversary in the Crystal Ballroom of the historic Detroit Masonic Temple. Kicking off the evening with a step and repeat welcome, guests were invited to cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the reception area and to explore the gallery of 20 years of Living Arts work. VIP guests were treated to swag bags filled with goodies from hand tie-dyed towels to chocolates from Bon Bon Bon, a private lounge area, and a tour of the Masonic Temple. 

The program for the evening opened with Executive Director Alissa Novoselick sharing our story of growth and impact. “From one dance class with a handful of students in a church basement to serving over 50,000 youth.” Citing supportive parents, engaging teaching artists, and excited youth, Novoselick also gave a heartfelt nod to the staff and board, as well as the endless hours of grant writing and hustle. 

After encouraging the audience to dream big about the future of Detroit’s youth “where every, single child, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity and ability to connect to the creative process and grow through instruction and guidance from an exceptional teaching artist”, Novoselick acknowledged the evening’s sponsors and supporters and welcomed Sterling Toles, the host for the evening. 

Toles, a Detroit native, DJ/producer, Kresge fellow, and long-standing teaching artist for Living Arts was an excellent host and story teller. With admiration and respect, Toles introduced colleagues with anecdotes that made the audience laugh and cheer. When speaking of Director of Dance, Marianne Brass, Toles spoke about “the pitter-patter of tiny tap shoes, sounding like the cutest little thunderstorm”. When speaking of Karilú Alarcón Forshee, he spoke of his admiration for managing toddlers with grace, whereas sometimes his class would end in light chaos. 

He shared his love of hip hop and the connection of cultural reinvention with hip hop instructor Daishiro Tsushima, and spoke of all the talents and many hats worn by veteran teaching artist Natasha Beste and her animation students. And when speaking of student Diamond Davis, his pride in her development as an artist and young woman shone through. 

The program featured two dance performances for the evening. One by the Youth Dance Ensemble performing a 2013 throwback lyrical dance entitled Caminos to Calle 13’s “Latinoamérica”. The other, a demonstration of popping/locking, breaking, freestyle, and vogue by the hyper-energetic advanced hip hop class. Three videos were also presented: an animation from Beste’s students on how creating art makes them feel; a profile of Alarcón Forshee and her Detroit Wolf Trap classes; and a retrospective reflection video of the people who have made Living Arts a thriving organization over the last 20 years. 

Diamond Davis, a long-standing student with the organization shared her experience of creativity and mentorship. Entrusted to be a peer mentor herself, Davis recalled being tasked with putting together 2018’s Open Arts Fest by Program Manager, Zack Bissell. Davis cites Bissell as a “great blessing” in her life who “has pushed me [sic] to do so much”. She spoke of going off to college, but returning to shadow Bissell to learn more from him. 

Novoselick returned to the stage to then speak about honored guest for the evening, Jason REVOK. Following an agreement with a corporation over the improper usage of his artwork, REVOK gifted the funds to four Detroit-based arts organizations, including Living Arts. “We want to express our deepest gratitude to you, in person, in front of all of these people, for your transformative gift. Your generosity will allow us to enter our third decade, ready to take on projects that would have been inconceivable 20 years ago.” As a token of gratitude, Novoselick presented a framed photo of Living Arts’ students signed by the youth. 

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Rounding out the program, Matt Nahan, Board Member and Development Committee Chair, introduced the connections made possible by the people in the room and those in the Living Arts community. He then announced that with the gift REVOK presented, the organization halfway to their goal of a $100,000 20th Anniversary Fund. The Fund, Nahan explained, would “allow us to invest in the future of Detroit’s youth by creating new community and educational partnerships, build relationships with some of the area's most exciting artists, and provide the tools and resources to make it all happen. ”

Closing out the evening, Toles gave thanks to the attendees, and sent applause to the rafters for DJs Brendan Asante and student-DJ Johnathan. Toles invited all guests to stay for champagne and desserts and to explore the animation station, gallery, and enjoy one another’s company. 

An Evening for Living Arts raised $75,000 in sponsorship and ticket sales and an additional $10,000 toward the 20th Anniversary Fund (bringing the Fund’s current total to $60,000). 

For more information on the 20th Anniversary Fund please contact Tara Toumaala at tara@livingartsdetroit.org.

Support for Detroit Arts Education: An Interview with Dr. Rita Fields

Valentine’s Day is not normally a holiday I celebrate. In my relationship, every day is a chance to show one another love and appreciation, so it’s not a an extra special time for us. But this year, I got the chance to spend some time talking with Dr. Rita Fields, SHRM-SCP. If you’re not familiar with Dr. Fields, get familiar.

Born and raised in Detroit, Dr. Fields overcame extreme adversity, including street homelessness. Though she experienced what some might call set-backs in life, she didn’t allow that to stop her path to success. Today, she’s dual CEO of both 313 Industries, a CNC machining and milling corporation and Copper Phoenix Consulting, LLC where she offers expertise on talent and operations management. She is also a professor at the school of management at the University of Michigan, a healthcare administrator at Central Michigan University, and a dissertation advisor in the PHOD Program at Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand. In addition, she sits on several boards including the South Oakland Shelter and Coalition on Temporary Shelter, is a mother, and all around black excellence. So imagine my excitement when I got to spend my Valentine’s afternoon speaking with a truly inspiring human.

After initially discussing our respective backgrounds and experiences with hardship, the millennial perspective on success (do more, be better), and living a life with gratitude and reflection, we got into the heart of why Dr. Fields is a supporter and sponsor of Living Arts.

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KCR: Can you describe yourself in 5 words?

Dr. Fields: I am living on purpose. Yeah…I think that’s exactly how I’d describe myself.

KCR: I love that! I’m going to adopt that if you don’t mind.

Dr. Fields: Not at all.

KCR: So, let’s dig in. How did you become involved with Living Arts and what has your involvement looked like over time?

Dr. Fields: I connected with Alissa [Executive Director, Alissa Novoselick] a year ago. We went to one of my favorite places to talk and we connected. She invited me to be on the steering committee for last year’s event [An Evening For Living Arts]. I don’t really do that sort of thing, but I’m pro-Detroit and pro-children of Detroit. And I just think the work Living Arts does is absolutely incredible.

KCR: What motivates you to support the work of organizations like Living Arts? Why did you choose to support Living Arts as a business sponsor for An Evening for Living Arts?

Dr. Fields: Like I said, I’m very invested in Detroit, and the children of Detroit especially. I just think that the work Living Arts does in schools, in the community, is so important, so I felt it was important to support the work.

KCR: What makes you passionate about the arts and arts education?

Dr. Fields: Almost all of my life, I’ve been business focused and linear. I’m pretty new to the art world and I certainly wouldn’t consider myself an expert. But I started working with arts education organizations and really started to see how art transforms people. And I started to read business articles about how being creative makes you better at business. Art is so expansive and adds a more vibrant side to living.

KCR: Where do you see the work of Living Arts making a bigger impact in the community?

Dr. Fields: Living Arts will make a bigger impact when more people know about it. I think Living Arts should tell its story and let the children tell their story. This upcoming 20th anniversary celebration will show just how meaningful the impact Living Arts has on the community.