Through our School and Neighborhood Partnerships Program, we aim to:
East Bay Center’s programs in schools promote equitable access to the arts in West Contra Costa Unified School District by partnering with high need schools to provide foundational hands-on experiences for 3,500 students in culturally diverse art forms for children and youth. Through exposing students to world traditions in music, dance, theatre, and 21stcentury digital arts, we provide consistent, sequential instruction, working with school staff and faculty to reach the whole child’s development.
In School Music Program
Every student in our participating schools receives standards aligned weekly music instruction throughout the school year, designed to facilitate long-term positive impact on student learning and school culture. All students perform twice a year at school gatherings, celebrating their accomplishments and developing confidence and pride in their work. These performances are especially designed to support whole families’ experiences, strengthen familiarity with school site resources and develop a sense of shared community.
After School and Summer School Classes
By arrangement, we offer a wide range of intensive, fun, and skill building classes during the school year and summer for some of the highest need schools and community centers in Richmond. Participating students receive weekly instruction in all the art forms of the Center’s DEEP ROOTS WIDE WORLD curriculum: from Afro-Brazilian Capoeira to beginning filmmaking, Mexican Son, hip hop dance and introduction to theater. East Bay Center also works in an afterschool capacity with the district’s Mafanikio program, aiming to address the achievement gap for African American youth, and build historical and cultural knowledge as well as provide social and artistic skill development.
Intermediate Secondary and High-School Instrumental Support
We support existing band and orchestra programs at the middle and high school levels by sending Center music specialists to work with ensembles at local schools. For example, Teaching Artists conduct wind, brass, strings, and percussion sectionals as well as work with small groups or individual students on improving their instrumental technique. Center jazz faculty also visits schools to conduct workshops and master classes, as well as perform for students.
Pre-School Arts Program
East Bay Center’s Preschool Program supports young children and their families through a play-based, culturally relevant, curriculum. The program runs only during selected years. For more information, please contact Michelle Flynn: Michelle.flynn@eastbaycenter.org, (510) 323- 2493.
Professional artists from East Bay Center present intimate or school wide interactive performances for students, highlighting the core art forms of our DEEP ROOTS WIDE WORLD curriculum: from hard driving Bebop Jazz, to Classical West African Dance and Drumming, to regional Mexican Music and Dance, Spoken Word Poetry and Voices from Spanish Language and African American Theater, to Urban Ballet, Chamber Music, and Contemporary Vocal ensembles.
Different levels of training are offered to first time classroom teachers wishing to explore arts integration up to providing new ideas, curriculum and workshops for more experienced teachers. Model lessons and curriculum -including subjects ranging from Theater and Civil Rights, Scientific and Arts Inquiry, Jazz Improvisation and Democracy, African Dance/Drumming Culture and Music and Math Classroom teachers attend workshops and are paired with Center faculty to align artistic disciplines with core curriculum.
