THE SPIRIT OF HUNTINGTON INC

THE SPIRIT OF HUNTINGTON ART CENTER HAS A MISSION THAT SPANS THE HUNTINGTON AND LONG ISLAND COMMUNITIES, TOUCHING THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES: "TO IGNITE THE PASSION OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND VETERANS FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION THAT TRANSFORMS LIVES." FOR OVER TEN YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION HAS LIVED THIS MISSION BY CREATING A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN ITS CENTER IN HUNTINGTON, PROVIDING SERVICES FOR EDUCATION, VOCATION, AND RECREATION TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY AND VETERANS. THIS IS DONE THROUGH PROGRAMS AND CLASSES IN ART, DIGITAL AND GRAPHIC DESIGN, CERAMICS, MUSIC, PERFORMING ARTS, AND MOVEMENT, ALL FOR A DIVERSE POPULATION OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.STUDENTS CAN ATTEND CLASSES THAT ENCOURAGE A PERSONALIZED SCHEDULE OF COMMUNITY-BASED EXPERIENCES ALIGNED WITH GOALS WITHIN A STUDENT'S PLAN OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING THROUGH THE WITHOUT WALLS PROGRAM. THROUGH CLASSES SUCH AS ARTISTS COME ALIVE AND CLAY COMES ALIVE, STUDENTS ENGAGE IN CREATIVE EXPRESSION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS, IDEAS, AND EMOTIONS IN POSITIVE AND SELF-AFFIRMING WAYS. CLASSES HAVE ALSO INCLUDED STUDENTS FROM THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, BRINGING ADDED DIMENSION TO CURRICULA IN THE NEARBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. STUDENTS ATTEND FROM ALL OVER LONG ISLAND.APART FROM THE CLASSES AND PROGRAMS, THE SPIRIT OF HUNTINGTON HOSTS A NUMBER OF EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND SUPPORTS OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGH ITS ARTWORKS PROGRAM, THE CENTER CURRENTLY PROVIDES MARKETING, STRATEGIC BRANDING, AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO NON-PROFIT CLIENTS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME AFFORDING STUDENTS INTERNSHIP AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN WORKING ON PROJECTS FOR THESE CLIENTS. WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR NEURODIVERSE YOUNG ADULTS APPROACHING 90%, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS PRE-VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO EXPAND THEIR SKILLS INTO AREAS THAT ARE IN DEMAND IN THE WORKFORCE.SPIRIT OF HUNTINGTON HOSTS ARTABILITY, LONG ISLAND'S LARGEST SPECIAL NEEDS ART SHOW WHERE STUDENTS SHOWCASE THEIR WORK, AND THEIR PIECES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC. WE WORK WITH AGENCIES THAT SPONSOR SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDING DAYHAB SERVICES FOR SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH CLASSES THAT PROMOTE CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS ARE ALSO A HALLMARK OF THE CENTER'S OFFERINGS, AND WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL AGENCIES TO BRING CLASSES AND PROGRAMS TO ALL VETERANS BOTH AT LOCAL HOSPITALS AND THROUGH SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.THE SPIRIT OF HUNTINGTON ART CENTER TRULY ASPIRES TO EMBODY THE "SPIRIT" OF "HUNTINGTON, AND TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A COMMUNITY ANCHOR FOR THOSE IT SERVES, AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO GROW OUR PROGRAMS, AND REACH AN EVEN WIDER RANGE OF PEOPLE TO SERVE.