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Thank You, Hampton Roads Community Foundation

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Some organizations do so much for the community that it’s hard to overstate their impact. The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is one such organization. Through its COVID-19 relief grants, the foundation has extended a lifeline to many area nonprofits that are struggling financially because of effects from the pandemic.

We are delighted to report that the Foundation has awarded us $15,000 under its special grant to provide COVID-related relief to arts organizations. We pledge to use the money wisely, as we build our programming of virtual arts experiences to meet students wherever and however they’re being schooled. Thank you to the Foundation for its support.

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is southeastern Virginia’s largest grant and scholarship provider. Since its founding in 1950, the regional community foundation has provided more than $301 million in grants and scholarships to improve life in southeastern Virginia.

New Partnership with Newport News Public Schools

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Dancer Joppa Whitehead tapes a Take 10 segment demonstrating the basics of balletFor more than two months now, our program team and participating artists have joined together to create unique and engaging Take 10 videos for families to use while distance learning at home. We’re happy to announce we’re now partnering with Newport News Public Schools’ Family and Community Engagement Specialists (FACE). NNPS will play our Take 10 videos on their website and TV channel—that means students who don’t have reliable access to the internet will be able to enjoy our free programming.

Logo of NNPS Family and Community Engagement Specialists (FACE)

We want to ensure all members of the community are informed about the availability of Take 10, so NNPS will be contacting families by phone and email. Newport News libraries are also offering WiFi at select meal sites, which offers another way for families to access our Take 10 virtual learning.

NNPS Family Engagement believes our programs provide a service that promotes togetherness in this time of home learning, as we all work together to create a digital social network that celebrates the power of the arts.

Click here for more information about FACE and its programs.

You can watch our Take 10 videos anytime on our YouTube channel, with music, dance, storytelling, crafts, and more to choose from.

Take 10 to the Rescue

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For parents of the million-plus Virginia students who are now learning from home, it’s been a challenge—juggling working with childcare duties with trying to help kids with schoolwork. We all have newfound appreciation for our teachers!

 

Most of Arts for Learning’s staff members understand because they’re in the same boat. Chief Operations Officer Anna Heywood Green has an extra busy job managing our A4L program team, while supervising remote-learning for her fourth-grade daughter Mara who attends a Norfolk public elementary school.

Recently, Mara was having a hard day—overwhelmed by class work and a deadline to get it done. Anna heard her crying in her room so called for her to come out and chat. Anna had a suggestion for a quick mood booster—watching a Take 10 video together on Facebook.

“She stops crying instantly and says, ‘Can I’? So I get everything set up and we watched Cindy and Shelly’s Earth Day video together. We sang, she told me about the rain forest, she ‘corrected’ their program, and she did all the hand motions.”

Anna then let Mara design her Facebook “comment,” with emojis that showed an appropriate flair for the artistic.

After posting the comment, Anna asked if Mara felt better. She did—and got back to work in her room.

Do you and your kids need a break from a long monotonous day at home? You can watch our Take 10 videos anytime on our YouTube channel, with music, dance, storytelling, crafts, and more to choose from.

Like what you see? We’re paying our artists to create Take 10 videos, but we don’t receive any money to produce them. Can you give $10 to Take 10? Donate here!