CADRE Program (Creative Arts Designed to Reinforce Education)

Arts-based Out-of-School Programming

CADRE contributes arts and humanities-based activities to out-of-school programs in low-income communities. These programs move beyond traditional arts-and-crafts approach, instead focusing directly on interpersonal and job skills for youth-at-risk, adjudicated youth, or youth in emotional crisis during the time period when they have the least supervision. Unlike specialized programs which present transportation and material fees as obstacles, CADRE is located directly in the neighborhoods where youth live, making it possible to walk to the facility and participate for free.

CADRE’s most compelling quality is its focus on complete accessibility of area youth and true artistic process and expression as a way to build inner strength, discipline, and personal vision. It builds a caring relationship between a professional community artist and a small group of students who are in critical need of mentoring and support. The artists in the CADRE program are active professionals in their own disciplines. Youth will be provided with high-quality experiences in music, theatre, visual arts, dance and/or the Literary arts that can give them a previously untapped connection with their own community and peers, potential entry-level job skills in the arts and other fields, and - most important - a means of creative, personal expression.

CADRE provides communities with an opportunity to use arts as a tool for revitalization and restoration.  Past community collaborations have included artists working with parents in low-income housing developments using arts activities to provide their children with positive interaction and school readiness skills. CADRE is primarily located in BEACON Centers, sponsored in part by Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County.

The BEACON Program Model

• Provide professional artists and quality supplies to BEACON Center sites for after-school programming, with all students at site served equally.
• Each site has a budget (in hours) - a new site budget is traditionally between 250-350 hours.
• Artists are selected by site, from artist roster pages provided by CCE. These pages typically list types of classes offered by each artist.
• CCE contacts, contracts, provides oversight and takes all fiscal responsibilities for each artist placed. Contracts are usually long term, to provide stability for your program. In cases where things aren’t working, out another artist is selected, regardless of contract, because the children come first.
• We know schedules change and our artists are very flexible as long as they are notified in advance. Options for classes vary from one to two “sessions” with the same group of children to long-term projects with the same group of children each time.
• Classes are typically one hour long, with no more than 20 students and must include a counselor provided by site. We need to average at least 16 per session to meet our goal. It is helpful to provide the artists with a class list. We like to send an artist for two hours in succession. Artists need an area suited for their discipline, away from other classes/activities. Artists are responsible for leaving their area the same as when they arrived. 
• Saturdays are available, as are evenings.

 

CADRE ARTIST ROSTER is available to organizations interested in involving artists with their youth.  In this version of the program, the organization (or site) schedules, contracts and pays artists for services provided.

CADRE Sites 2004-2006

Pahokee Elementary, Pahokee Middle/High School, JFK Middle School, Barton Elementary, Forest Park Elementary, Lantana, Elementary, Northmore Elementary, Pioneer Park Elementary, Pleasant City Elementary, South Grade Elementary, Village Academy, Washington Elementary, Westgate Elementary, West Riviera Elementary, Children’s Place at Homesafe, Adopt a Family, Deaf Services, JAY Ministries, My Choice Aftercare, Urban League, Police Athletic League, Riviera Beach Boys and Girls Club, DeGeorge Boys and Girls Club.

Other CCE Services