Help Children of Incarcerated Parents Thrive

In January, new cohorts of children began MindLeaps classes in New York City, with 26 children ages 8-10 in the Bronx, and in Philadelphia, with 30 children ages 8-13.

In the Bronx, we are continuing our partnership with Children of Promise to serve children of the incarcerated. In Philadelphia, we are working with Sunrise of Philadelphia in their after-school program at Bregy Elementary. Children in under-resourced communities must deal with challenges every day. In the NYC program, children of incarcerated parents can face instability at home, negatively impacting them psychologically and emotionally. In Philadelphia, we are addressing issues ranging from school dropout rates to the effects of gun violence on the streets. MindLeaps is now also in the early stages of exploring a partnership with an organization working with formerly incarcerated youth in Philadelphia.

Our teams of instructors are specifically trained in the MindLeaps curriculum, with their backgrounds ranging from dance educators to professional stage performers. They all know the difference dance made in their lives as children, giving them grounding, hope and goals. All of our dance instructors share the MindLeaps core belief that dance is a tool that can bring about positive behavioral change, and promote child development and emotional well-being through movement.

The MindLeaps program provides a safe, supportive space where children can gain confidence, develop skills, and build self-esteem. We see the eagerness of the children in the program, as they experience the encouragement of their teachers and the reinforcement of being part of a group. Cooperation and trust are being built among these children as they learn and go through their dance moves together. Their smiles tell us they are also having great fun!