Each week my column in the Harlem News will feature a local organizations and people doing great things to help people in our communities. Many of these resources go unnoticed or are underutilized so this is a great way to introduce our readers to the organizations and the people who make them work. The Harlem News is a free community newspaper available in Harlem, Queens, Brooklyn and the South Bronx. www.harlemnewsgroup.com
The Harlem School of the Arts — Filling the void in arts education for our youth.
When you first meet Yvette Campbell the CEO of the Harlem School of the Arts you are immediately drawn into her positive gravitational field. She is a “can do” person who jumped right into an enthralling conversation about her passion for the arts and its importance for young people. Ms. Campbell, an accomplished dancer with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, knows something about how the arts. She knows the arts can be transformative for people, especially for young people who may not have easy access. She spent years dedicated to her pursuits as a dancer and brings that steely determination, drive and discipline to her role leading the school. Ms. Campbell is also no slouch on the business side of things as she holds a degree in applied mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley. She says her inspiration is “the families the HSA serves and restoring the HSA as a vital resource for this valiant community.”
Campbell has in a little over a year brought hope back as she has led the school back from the brink of well-publicized financial troubles for the school. The school almost closed in 2010 but was rescued by a reorganization of the administration and Board of Directors and by generous donations from several well-known benefactors. Part of the reorganization was a rethinking of the school’s mission and the realization that the school had to update its business model for future success.
The HSA is another one of those community gems that you can easily miss if you walk past it on St. Nicholas Avenue at 141st Street. You may not realize the wide variety of classes including music, dance, theater and visual arts offered to over 2400 students from pre-K to the 12th grade. Founded in 1964, by the famous soprano Dorothy Maynor, the school was for decades a respected training institution for the arts. The school has been in its current location since 1979 the schools roots are grounded in Harlem’s iconic tradition of music, theater and dance. The sounds of piano, song or dancing feet greet you as you walk into the building. The energy and buzz inside is inspiring and addictive. Families have the option of enrolling in a variety of classes ranging from modern dance, sculpture, ballet and musical theatre. The confidence and pride that the young people posses is evident and it is inspiring to witness their talents firsthand. So, I suggest you take part in one of the many performances, recitals and open houses happening at the school and around town throughout the year.
The Harlem School of the Arts is filling the void in our community from cuts in funding for the arts in or local schools. Without HSA, many children would simply never have access to the types of classes or exposure to the arts that are so critical to the development of well-rounded people. HSA needs our continued support to thrive and our children need a place to develop their talents.
Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify. The children come from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and incomes. Enrollment is open to all children 2 to 18 years of age (without an audition) from the five boroughs. The school is open year round and offers individual classes, an after school program and a summer program. Registration for the Spring & Summer sessions is now open.
For more on the application process, class schedules and other information about the organization please contact Nadege Noel, Educational Outreach Director at (212) 926-4100 ext. 332 or via e-mail at nnoel@hsanyc.org.
Vince Morgan is a concerned resident, activist, community development banker and aspiring public servant. He resides in Harlem with his wife and two small children. If you have a non-profit organization or manage a government agency that is a resource for the Harlem Community and want to be featured in this column, email him directly at harlemnow@gmail.com.
