Kern Dance Alliance

California Creative Corps:The KDA Creative Corps (KDACC)is proud to release our final report, marking the successful conclusion of a transformative $4.2 million pilot program funded by the California Arts Council. Since its inception in October 2022, KDACC has created significant job opportunities and engaged artists and cultural workers in public service projects that enhance the quality of life across the Central Valley and Eastern Sierra regions.The KDACC initiative has made a meaningful impact across 14 counties and 154 zip codes, covering 46,217 square miles in underserved regions of California. Some of the major highlights of the report include:Job Creation and Workforce Hours: The KDACC projects generated over 972 jobs, equating to an impressive 60,605 workforce hours. This job creation has provided critical economic support to Central Californias creative sector, allowing artists and cultural workers to contribute substantially to their communities.Economic Impact and Regional Reach: With $4.2 million allocated to support diverse projects across the Central Valley and Eastern Sierra, KDACC made a lasting impact across historically underfunded areas, including Kern, Kings, Tulare and Fresno counties. These projects have reached communities within the lowest quartiles of the California Healthy Places Index (HPI), bringing investment and visibility to regions with traditionally limited access to arts funding.Empowering Underrepresented Populations: KDACC specifically focused on programs that engaged vulnerable groups, such as incarcerated youth, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, elderly residents, the unhoused, LGBTQI+ communities and Indigenous tribes. By providing new platforms for creative expression, these projects have empowered diverse groups and fostered greater inclusivity in Californias arts landscape.Enhanced Civic Engagement: KDACC-funded projects have spurred greater civic engagement and public service involvement through the arts. The program has strengthened social bonds by connecting artists with local communities and contributed to improved public health, mental well-being and civic pride.

Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACYSummer 2024~ Number of Performances: 42~ Number of Locations: 20~ Number of Artists: 216~ Number of Participants: 3,869~ Number of Assessments: 973~ Number of FREE Books Given Away: 2,763Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACY, an award-nominated, evidence-based summer reading program that uses dance to promote literacy by focusing on Common Core Standards for Reading Literature returned to libraries across Kern County this summer. KDA, the Kern County Library, and12 Kern County dance organizations were proud to launch Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACY with the goal of reducing summer slide by encouraging reading and promoting healthy living through movement and dance.Families were invited to visit Kern County library branches between July 8 August 3 to watch dance performances based upon 12 childrens books. Featuring books like Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess and Little Red Riding Hood by Mara Alerpin, children experienced the magic of a book brought to life through an artistic performance. To further enhance learning, children also learned a short dance that coincided with the books theme and created an accompanying craft to promote role playing.