We are proud to be partnering with GlobalGiving for the United Nations International Youth Week 2017 (August 7th – August 11th), the theme of which is “Youth Building Peace.” Students participating in The DEA Youth Dance Program learn important skills of team-building, self-esteem development, and healthy lifestyle habits to create peace in their communities by resisting drugs and violence.
Recognizing the national drug crisis and how it preys on the children of our country, we are using the occasion of the DEA YDP’s Fifth Year Anniversary to launch “Inspiring Youth, One Step at a Time,” a national initiative to strengthen DEA YDP’s impact to provide students with the healthy outlet of dance as a positive alternative to drug abuse and violence. Emerging trends in drug usage among young people are very frightening, and prescription drug abuse is now the fastest growing drug problem in America today. This initiative not only celebrates our commitment to healthy, drug-free children who learn and succeed in school and life, but it will allow us to strengthen our impact of providing environments for children during the afterschool hours when they are most at risk for unhealthy behavior and choices. Simply stated, never before has our need to educate young people on the dangers of drug abuse been greater because every child deserves a chance to succeed.
There is a critical, urgent need to provide positive after-school arts education programs for at-risk and underserved youth. Your contribution will help us to reach our goal of “Inspiring Youth One Step At A Time.”
To Donate to our International Youth Week Campaign, please visit our page on GlobalGiving at:https://goto.gg/10083
All recurring donations will be matched 100% by GlobalGiving!
Thank you for your continued support of The DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program!
DEA Youth Dancers proudly performed for their schools and communities in 47 cities to close out the spring season. After 20-weeks of free dance classes, students grew in self-confidence, developed team-building skills, and learned the power of dance as a positive alternative to drugs and violence.
The DEA Youth Dance Program is proud to partner with DEA in bringing important programs to communities, in particular with the 360 Strategy, a comprehensive approach bringing together local law enforcement, DOJ, DEA, and community partners to combat heroin and opioid drug addiction in select cities nationwide. As a community partner with DEA 360 Strategy, DEA YDP provided a year of free dance classes in 5 cities in 2016. In 2017, we will continue to serve students through the DEA 360 Strategy in Albuquerque, Charleston, Dayton, and Manchester.
The DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program proudly celebrates five years of inspiring youth, one step at a time! The program continues to spread the message of the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of healthy lifestyles through the art of dance. The celebrations kicked off with Payne Elementary, the first school to offer The DEA Youth Dance Program in 2012 to deserving at-risk and under-served youth. We will continue celebrating our 5th year anniversary around the country throughout this 2017 year!
We are so proud of the work our teachers have done with thousands of students over the past five years, and we are seeking support to assist us in continuing our reputable work in the community and to help us to reach our extensive waitlist. Together, let's continue to bring kids a healthy outlet through dance!
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The DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program proudly launched programming in 44 cities across the country this past fall and winter, providing high-quality, positive after-school programming to thousands of students nationwide! Students are about mid-way through their 20-session series learning hip-hop, modern, ballet, tap, jazz, and more with local, professional teaching artists.
Also in 2016, The DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program was honored to be asked to be a partner of the DEA 360 Strategy in eight cities throughout the United States. The 360 Strategy is a holistic approach to combating the heroin and pharmaceutical opioid epidemic, as well as accompanying violence. The strategy leverages existing federal, state and local partnerships on three different fronts: law enforcement, diversion control and community outreach. The DEA Youth Dance Program is a proud partner, bringing positive and healthy after-school programs to at-risk children. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and The Youth Dance Program is working to raise funds to be able to continue offering dance education in each of the initial eight cities. With these regions, we have also added incredible new dance company partners, who have received comprehensive training through our Training Director and are now spreading important messages about dance and anti-drug, anti-violence education to very deserving youth.
Stay tuned for more exciting news from The DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program as we approach our Five Year Anniversary this May, 2017!
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In a dimly lit school gym in Van Nuys, CA, a dozen students rehearse their dance over and over again. They are practicing to perform for their parents and peers at their end of year assembly, and ultimately for hundreds of people in Los Angeles on National Dance Day. A young dancer, full of promise and potential, turns to the instructor and says “Dancing makes me feel free and happy. I feel like myself.” The DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program proudly provides young people, like Nicole, with free dance classes after school as a positive alternative to drugs and violence.
The DEA Youth Dance Program was founded on the idea that children can and will resist the temptations of drugs when offered compelling and meaningful ways to express themselves, education on the dangers of drug-use, and a safe place to explore themes such as peer-pressure and self-esteem. The DEA Youth Dance Program provides all this and more, at no cost to students, many of whom will have no other opportunity to study the art of dance.
This year alone, The Youth Dance Program reached thousands of students through assemblies, free dance classes, and performances. Many of our dancers were given special opportunities, such as National Dance Day, to showcase their work and dedication to dance. This fall, the DEA YDP proudly partnered with DEA 360 Strategy, a comprehensive approach to the heroin and opiate addiction issue plaguing our country, and the Compton Violence Reduction Network, to provide youth programming to cities in critical need of outreach education. These are just a few examples of the impact The DEA Youth Dance Program is making in the lives of students in-need and at-risk.
Already in 44 cities across the country, The DEA Youth Dance Program needs your help to maintain our current programs, and meet a growing waitlist of over 100 schools nationwide. For $25, you can provide one student with free dance classes for one year. For $500, you can sponsor a dance assembly featuring professional performers highlighting the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and the beauty and artistry of dance. For $5,350, you can give the incredible gift of dance to 25 students for an entire year. Any donation you can make is gratefully and humbly accepted in service of our goal: a positive and healthy activity for young people after school.
Every student we reach is an opportunity to save a life, inspire a budding artist, and imprint life-long lessons about health and the importance of arts education. Your generous donation will go directly to dance programming for at-risk youth.
Thank you in advance for your support!
The DEA Educational Foundation Youth Dance Program proudly announces the launch of new programming in Compton, CA in conjunction with the Compton Violence Reduction Network. Bringing together law enforcement and community programs the Compton Violence Reduction Network provides communities with essential outreach and support in pursuit of safe neighborhoods. October’s launch assembly in Compton featured a dynamic dance performance and positive messaging from the DEA YDP partner, Culture Shock LA, and an important talk and presentation of community efforts by agents from the local DEA Field office. Students were treated to a unique experience of bringing positive community programming and skilled law enforcement together into one room where they could practice their “healthy lifestyle” dance skills and try on tactical gear and test equipment to learn about careers in law enforcement and making a positive impact on community. The DEA Youth Dance Program will now continue with a 20 week program out the Compton school and looks forward to a fantastic year providing free dance classes to students.
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