Arts for All

I've had the privileged for the past several months to become part of an organization that is truly a game-changer in many children's lives. The mission of Arts for All is to create a world in which:

• All children have access to artistic opportunities
• All children gain self-confidence, self-expression, and the ability to work in teams
• All children share in a stronger society and are better prepared to face life challenges and opportunities
• The arts are valued in their own right and as a means of developing skills

Who could ask for anything more?!?!

As a member of the AFA Teaching Artist Staff, my "job" (aka: my honor) is to teach creative writing after school at Hammond Elementary on the southwest side of Chicago. The school is unfortunately on probation for low academic standing but the energy and spirit within it's walls would tell you different :)

My class consists of 5th & 6th graders who electively stay after school every Wednesday from 3-4:30pm to make me laugh hysterically. Well, let's be honest, that's not the reason they are there but that's definitely one perk of the program ;)

After five weeks of listening to all my babble about plot, scene and character development, we've started to write a collective play (which the students will perform live in June. YAHOOOO)

Although they were given many genre options to choose from, the unanimous vote was for "horror!!!" followed closely by "tragedy!!!" (followed closely by a write-in combining the two)
To be ten years old again... sigh

And so it's begun. The creation of "I Dare You!" 

Written, edited, acted, and directed by

the creative intellectual awesomeness of 

Cory, Amber, Adrianna & Yaritza. 

The class started off twice the size but the all-school mural project meets at the same time. Bust!  Today they started on 4th floor -- can't wait to see the final product!

Aaaaaand, I digress; per usual...

The nice part about a small class (or "team" as I call them), is that we joke around A LOT; and because it's an after school program, we're able to be silly while we write and expand our brain cells :)

Here's a lil' snippet of how class went down this afternoon:

Cory

Miss Stacey, say "cheese!"

Me

Cheeeeeese! 

Hey wait, how do you have my camera dude?!

Cory

It was on your other desk! Why do you always sit on that desk when you have a real one over there?

Me

Because my bottom doesn't fit in your mini-midget chairs and I don't like the real desk -- I feel too far away from you guys! 
I brought my digi-cam today to take individual head-shots of everyone for the playbill. Now hand her over and show me those pearly whites :)

{insert the girls giggling in the background while simultaneously squealing because they know they are each about to have their glamour shot taken}

Cory

You know, "we" midgets prefer to be called "little people"...

Me

Yeah, well I prefer to be called a Princess but I allow you to rock "Miss Stacey" instead

{insert howling laughter from the girls (as it doesn't take much to set them off) followed by increased high pitched squeaks as they primp their hair for their Kodak moment} 

Cory

You're craaaazy! Hey, you wanna hear a joke? 

Me
Obviously

Cory
How many kids with A.D.D does it take to screw in a light bulb? {pause} Wanna go for a bike ride?!??! :)

Me

{belly laughing for a solid minute straight until I realize that I am the only adult in the room and need to not revert to adolescence}

END SCENE

I heart these little people :)

  

Stay tuned for video clips of our final masterpiece... 

I dare you; literally ;)