NEW ERA CREATIVE SPACE INC

IN 2024, NECS' COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IMPACTED THE LIVES OF 525 CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND 1,403 OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMS AND ATTENDANCE AT PERFORMANCES. ACROSS 69 COMMUNITY OFFERINGS, NECS INSPIRED PARTICIPANTS TO EXPLORE CREATIVITY, COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS, AND STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS TO THEMSELVES, THEIR PEERS, AND THEIR WIDER COMMUNITY. SUMMER WAS FILLED WITH JOY AS WE WELCOMED OVER 30 ENTHUSIASTIC STUDENTS TO OUR NEW DOWNTOWN PEEKSKILL LOCATION, THE HEART OF LOCAL ACTIVITIES. FOR SIX WEEKS, LAUGHTER AND ADVENTURE FILLED THE AIR AS STUDENTS ROASTED S'MORES, PLAYED GAMES, HIKED, SWAM, GARDENED, AND EXPLORED THE WATER THROUGH PADDLEBOARDING AND KAYAKING. DIVIDED INTO EXPLORERS (K-2ND GRADE), DISCOVERERS (3RD-5TH GRADE), AND PATHFINDERS (MIDDLE SCHOOL), STUDENTS EMBRACED NEW CHALLENGES EVERY DAY. THIS YEAR'S SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT WAS OUR GUEST NUTRITIONIST, WHO TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY EATING AND GUIDED STUDENTS IN PREPARING MEALS FOR SENIORS AT THE PEEKSKILL NUTRITION CENTER. OVER SPRING BREAK, OUR YOUTH EMBARKED ON A TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY TO ALABAMA AND ATLANTA, REAFFIRMING THE VITAL ROLE OF TRUTH-TELLING IN TEACHING YOUTH ABOUT JUSTICE. FIVE STUDENTS AND THREE ADULTS TRAVELED TO DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY, BEGINNING IN ATLANTA WITH VISITS TO THE KING CENTER AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM, WHERE THEY ALSO ENGAGED IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND ARTIST MASUD OLUFANI. IN ALABAMA, OUR STUDENTS SPENT FOUR IMMERSIVE DAYS EXPLORING MONTGOMERY, SELMA, AND BIRMINGHAM, WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HISTORY AND LEARNING FIRSTHAND FROM HISTORIANS, ARTISTS, AND ACTIVISTS. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS MORE THAN A TRIP-IT WAS AN ACT OF BEARING WITNESS, CONNECTING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT, AND EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION TO CARRY FORWARD THE WORK OF JUSTICE. MAY 1 MARKED AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER; WE SIGNED A LEASE FOR OUR NEW LOCATION AT 203 ESTHER STREET IN PEEKSKILL NECS IS THRILLED THAT OUR NEW SPACE IS OPEN AND TRANSFORMING INTO A VIBRANT COMMUNITY HOME. WHILE WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND UPDATE THE FACILITY, IT'S ALREADY BECOMING A HUB FOR CREATIVITY, EMPOWERMENT, AND CONNECTION. WE CAN EXPAND OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BY DEDICATING CLASSROOMS AND OFFICE SPACES, THEREBY ENHANCING OUR ABILITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. NECS' COMMUNITY PROGRAM PROVIDED MEANINGFUL PAID WORK FOR 6 EMPLOYEES AND 20 TEACHING ARTISTS/CONTRACTORS, AS WELL AS 206,684 IN TUITION SUBSIDIES, DISCOUNTS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PARTICIPANTS.

NECS'S SCHOOL PROGRAM DELIVERED AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AT THREE SCHOOLS IN THE PEEKSKILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT: OAKSIDE ELEMENTARY, HILLCREST, AND PEEKSKILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. THESE PROGRAMS POSITIVELY IMPACTED APPROXIMATELY 109 YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE PROVIDING MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT FOR SEVEN TEACHING ARTISTS.