Prior to March 15, 2020 some of our DEA EF YDP students across the country had the opportunity to present their new dance skills at final performances for their school community and parents. Students bravely spoke at these assemblies about the power of dance in their life, and the benefit of having a positive after school activity through the DEA EF YDP. However, before we could finish our final performance season in each region, the DEA EF YDP suspended in-person instruction due to COVID-19. As a program that puts the safety and well-being of our students first and foremost, it was imperative that we follow CDC and local health authorities’ guidelines to keep students and their families healthy. The DEA Educational Foundation then determined that it was equally as imperative that we continue to work with the children we serve through virtual dance classes.
During these unusual and challenging times, we feel it is as important as ever to reach our communities. Kids are feeling the pressure and stress of the unknown and many have lost their safe-haven of school where they find structure, meals, positive programming and mentorship. Parents are feeling more pressure than ever with financial concerns, job loss, at home schooling and anxious children. And, as reported in the news in Philadelphia, though the COVID-19 outbreak is making its way through the streets, the illegal drug market has not slowed down; drug dealers have simply adapted wearing masks and gloves.
It is our goal to continue to reach our communities, even if virtually, to bring families and youth critical education, a healthy physical outlet and positive messaging.
The Foundation has developed several programs including “Happy at Home with the DEA EF Youth Dance Program.” This project focuses on having our dance instructors create mini-video clips to reach their students with positive messaging and a short combination to learn. These videos will reach students directly where districts have on-line learning and will be posted to our social media. Soon, our registered students will be able to send posts with their own dance creations back to their teachers as well! We are also piloting on-line dance classes in several regions across the United States to reach currently enrolled spring students who have access to online learning. We are currently reaching children in D.C. Public Schools, Baltimore, Flagstaff, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, and more. Our hope is to continue reaching kids through summer “camp” programs, whether in person or virtually. And, The Foundation is also currently developing an online parent education series and rolling out additional youth mentorship classes.
Of course nothing beats human to human contact when it comes to education, programming and role-modeling, but we can’t give up on making a difference for those who we serve. Please consider a donation to support our ongoing efforts to reach students with positive messaging, get them moving and exercising, and help them process their feelings through the art of dance. You can follow us, enjoy our #happyathome videos, and share our mission with your friends on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter at @deaedfoundation.
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At the end of 2019, the DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program team joined a national conference call to discuss all of the successes and challenges in 2019. One of the most common themes echoed throughout the country is how so many of the children in our programs struggle for even basic necessities in their lives, let alone a means to find a way to express themselves positively and joy. We also discussed how so many are faced with difficult choices and home lives and often face negative outlets. And, despite the efforts of many organizations here in the United States, opioid use declined only slightly in 2019 and other drugs are ramping back up, with methamphetamine production at an all-time high. As we discussed our goals for 2020, and we all agreed that drug abuse education and positive mentorship in the lives of children is critical. We want to reach more children and families than ever through our informative and fun launch assemblies, through our partnership with our impressive law enforcement partner, DEA, and through weekly inspiring mentorship through our caring and impressive Youth Dance Program instructors.
Programmatically, the DEA EF YDP ended on a very positive note. We launched dozens and dozens of programs across the United States in the fall, celebrated National Dance Day, created new partners to help us to expand and reached thousands of children through the joy of dance. Our dedicated Regional Managers and instructors took important programming to schools, community centers, youth summits, and more. In addition, students from Philadelphia had the opportunity to view professional Nutcracker performances and professional dancers taught a workshop to the Young Marines.
We are proud to announce that in 2020 we will be reaching news cities including Las Vegas and Columbus and we will be expanding within many of our current cities. In addition to growing the Youth Dance Program, the DEA Educational Foundation is in the process of developing new youth programming, such as martial arts, soccer, baseball and basketball all based upon the successful model of the DEA Youth Dance Program. We are honored to be a respected partner in communities across the United States and we look forward to an impactful 2020 year!
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Every day we hear in the news about tragic loss of human life to an opioid overdose, young lungs failing due to vaping and reports about some of the latest street drugs being so strong that even one pill can be deadly. Now more than ever we need to offer positive and healthy outlets to youth, led by strong mentors, to show them that there are ways without drug abuse to feel free, express themselves and to be happy through building self-confidence and friendships. This fall, the DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program has continued its powerful work in reaching thousands of kids through the 2019-2020 assembly launch programs, Youth Summits, National Dance Day, The DEA Educational Foundation NYC Gala and weekly dance classes right at their schools. And, in honor of Red Ribbon month, a uniform way for communities nationwide to take a stand against drugs and drug use, this fall DEA EF YDP students have been pledging to stay in school and remain drug free.
The past few months have been so busy, it is hard to know where to begin. With the program launching in nearly 50 cities and through numerous special events, we are reaching communities with important messaging far and wide. At the end of the summer, we reached Knoxville and Tampa for the very first time. And, on September 21st, 2019, The DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program was thrilled to once again be invited as a performing guest at the Kennedy Center on National Dance Day! With our partner DEA joining us to speak with the audience about the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of positive activities, then a performance by a group of our Baltimore students, it was an exceptionally impactful day for those in the Washington, D.C. community and beyond.
In New Orleans we expanded our program and participated in a DEA led youth summit. In New York City, we had the fabulous opportunity to showcase work by one of our professional partners, Rainbow Tribe and students from New York City Schools to law enforcement, business leaders and community officials in the community. In Philadelphia, we brought nearly 150 students from one of the hardest hit communities in the opioid epidemic to experience professional dance classes at the Rock School of Dance. And, in Las Vegas, we began to pave our way for our first yearlong program.
In the words of some of some of our community partners:
“The students of Abington Avenue School were lucky to have received the opportunity to have dance instruction through the DEA Youth Dance Program, funded through their educational foundation. If the assembly, presented by professional dancers, is any indication, our children will develop a passion for dance that will sustain them through their later years. They left the assembly energized and excited, both about dance and about the message of respect and kindness in the choreographed and narrated dance program. The program is open to 25 students. Before school even started the morning after the assembly, students were lined up at my office door, applications in hand. Less than 24 hours after receiving the applications, I had 20 students with completed applications, eager to become dancers. Thank you, DEA EF Youth Dance Program, for opening up this opportunity to my 5th graders!” (Vice Principal)
“I want to thank the DEA EF YDP and Rock School for providing our students from Bayard Taylor Elementary School the opportunity to visit their dance school. I saw students dance who I rarely see raise their hands. I watched them have conversations for days about how cool it is that there are kids who go to school just to be dancer and about how hard what they were doing looked. I had students come up to me to ask for participation forms for the DEA Dance classes that will be held at our school, as well as students showing increased interest in our already established dance program. You opened their eyes to an opportunity they didn't know existed, and every pathway toward the future that they see gives them one more option that isn't what so many of them see in the neighborhoods in which they live. Thank you for this experience, they will never forget it.” (5th Grade Teacher)
As we near the end of the 2019 year, we are thrilled to have reached our goals, one step at a time, in now providing programming in 50 cities since our very first pilot program in 2012. However, the program impact is so strong and the waitlist for programming is long; we have only just begun our important work! Generous donations and funding is more critical than ever as we prepare for 2020. We must maintain our critical programming and reach to the children, we wish to bring programming to schools on our waitlist and to more communities, we hope to build upon our current programming so more kids can join us in long-term dance classes and we want to reach feeder schools in communities for even a longer-term impact. Please support the DEA EF Youth Dance Program to help us continue to bring kids joy, passion and a positive outlet as they navigate the awe and challenges of adolescence in this ever-changing world.
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At the end of our 2019 spring sessions, The DEA Youth Dance Program energized communities across the country through end of the school year student classes and performances. Also during this time the DEA YDP was thrilled to offer a workshop with the Fall River Young Marines in Massachusetts. DEA YDP Instructor Henry led students through a breakdancing and hip hop class with an enthusiastic group of Young Marines, while a DEA YDP Regional Director spoke to the kids about the importance of a positive alternative to drug abuse through a healthy alternative such as dance.
Now, after a fun summer offering continuing classes for students across the country through dance studio scholarships, summer camps, and special workshops, we are gearing up for a far-reaching and exciting fall! The DEA Youth Dance Program new school year launches start nationwide in August! We are thrilled to be expanding our reach to include Knoxville TN, Flagstaff AZ, Tampa FL, Cleveland OH, New Bedford MA, and New Orleans LA as community partner with the DEA 360 Strategy.
This year, National Dance Day will fall on September 21st, and we can’t wait to celebrate with American Dance Movement (formerly Dizzy Feet Foundation) and spread our message of healthy living through dance!
Also, in October, we will celebrate the Red Ribbon Campaign at our fall dance launches to honor the legacy of DEA agent Enrique (Kiki) Camarena who tragically lost his life to drug traffickers in Mexico. We will remember Agent Camarena’s fight against violent drug crime and addiction and help to reflect the National Red Ribbon Campaign in building awareness about the dangers of drugs, and encouraging youth to make positive choices. Students attending DEA Youth Dance Program launch assemblies this fall will receive red ribbons and learn how professional dancers keep themselves healthy to pursue their passion for dance by choosing to say “no” to drugs and violence.
As we embark on our most active year-to-date, we count on your support to further our mission of providing safe and positive alternative to drugs through long-term dance classes for students across the country. Please consider a recurring monthly donation that will help us support children throughout the entire year through free dance classes. Your financial contribution makes a difference in the life of a child who otherwise may not have access to dance, and we are grateful for your continued support!
This spring, the DEA Youth Dance Program thrilled audiences from coast to coast! In schools across the nation, final performance assemblies featuring DEA Youth Dance Program Dancers gave students a positive and exciting opportunity to showcase their new dance skills, with the support and encouragement of their peers, family, and school. The DEA Youth Dance Program was happy to partner with Culture Shock Las Vegas to provide an exciting performance at DEA’s 2nd Las Vegas Youth Opioid Summit, reaching hundreds of students with the positive power of dance as a healthy alternative to drug use.
We look forward to a dance-filled summer, with DEA YDP summer camps and DEA YDP scholarship students enjoying free dance classes at local dance studios! At National Dance Day, we plan to once again join dozens of dancers from across the country in an inspiring performance day celebrating dance and dance education.
In national programming news, our partnership with DEA 360 Strategy is still going strong. A comprehensive approach to fight opioid and heroin addiction, DEA 360 Strategy brings together local law enforcement, DEA, DOJ, and community partners with the same goal – serve communities by working to prevent substance abuse. As a proud community partner, the DEA Youth Dance Program is currently offering programming in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Knoxville, Salt Lake City, and Baltimore, with more new cities to be added in the fall!
As we round out the school year, we look forward to next fall – these students need your support more than ever! Efforts to prevent substance abuse are proving effective in many cities, which is why we need to continue this important work of bringing positive afterschool dance classes to youth as an alternative to drugs. Underserved young people deserve quality programming and opportunities to stretch their wings and fly through dance! Please join us in our mission to spread this message by making a donation today!
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