Connecting with our Kids

Two of our beloved Board Members, Tina B. and Jose R., have both shown an exemplary commitment to volunteerism within the organization that they help govern.  We know that time is tight when you have a full plate of responsibilities that demand your attention, and that sometimes there just isn't enough time left over for activities and altruistic endeavors that you would like to participate in.  Tina and Jose, however, have risen to the challenge of squeezing time into their extremely busy schedules to volunteer in house.  Both professionals in their respective fields, Board Members for GAAH and parents, they still find time to meaningfully connect with the neighborhood that they advocate for. 

Tina volunteers her time weekly to tutor one of our students in math, reading, and writing.  It's  heartwarming, to say the least, observing the two of them giggling while reading aloud together and practicing the pronunciation of unfamiliar words.  Tina is also a fantastic organizer - she was instrumental in helping plan GAAH's first volunteer Connect meeting.  Jose is also a joy to observe while he's interacting with our students.  Last week he volunteered his time to help engage some of them in the "Reading for Tacos" initiative that sought to give kids an incentive (free tacos from Tacos El Cunado!) for reading.  Aaliyah S., as you'll see in the photo below, was very focused on reading with Mr. Jose! :)

Thank you, Tina and Jose, for committing to engaging with our students!  

Tina B. reading to Ocean B. and Sandra G.

Jose R. helping Aaliyah S. earn some tacos!  

  Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the Cook Arts Center and Cook Library Center.  

        

Thank you Thank you! 

Thank you, Rudi and Julie, for a great year at the Cook Library Center! Both Rudi and Julie served as our Community Partnership Coordinators (CPC's) and were instrumental in helping our students succeed this year. They helped coordinate a fabulous group of Calvin students from Boer-Bennink dorm - we have a partnership with that particular dorm that requires students who are living there and interested in volunteering to volunteer with us at GAAH. It's so great and we're so very thankful for our Calvin volunteers! We'll be wrapping up our school year collaboration with Calvin College this Friday with a field trip to the college. We're definitely excited to be eating in the cafeteria, visiting the dorms, touring the campus, and having fun!

Thanks again, Calvin volunteers, for all that you do for GAAH and the Grandville Avenue community! We look forward to the many fabulous years to come!

Hangin' out and havin' fun! 

Taking a moment during game time to get goofy. 

Rudi being sandwiched by two of our fun-loving students! 

Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the Cook Arts Center and the Cook Library Center.

Library Center Volunteer Spotlight: Patti and Bob 

The Cook Library Center has many fantastic volunteers that choose to give their time for students who frequent the facility. Two volunteers in particular, Patti J. and Bob T., come in every week to spend time with them.  Patti has been volunteering at the Library for five years now (wow!) and has become our official “Quilt Lady.” She shares her love of quilt making with Library students by working alongside them to make quilts that are later auctioned off at GAAH’s annual fundraiser, Dia Del Sol.  Bob, on the other hand, is a rather recent addition (and a wonderful one!) to our volunteer team and has been with our Library Center for only a few months. He enjoys playing games with students such as chutes and ladders, chess, and clue; all of which are some of their favorites.

When asked about what they enjoy most about volunteering at the Cook Library Center, Patti and Bob both agreed that it’s the kids. They love the positive atmosphere and the great attitudes of the students that they spend time with. And oh, how our students love them!  Both volunteers’consistent presence and passions for working with youth have earned them recognition and adoration among Library Center students of all ages.  We’re so excited that both Patti and Bob said that they look forward to volunteering at the Cook Library Center for as long as they can. Thank you so much, Patti and Bob, for all that you do for GAAH, our students, and for our Grandville Avenue community! 

Bob T. helping one of our students with homework after school

Patti J. displaying her beautifully made quilt! 
Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the Cook Arts Center and Cook Library Center.  
This blog was written by Justin Kamp, a current Calvin College student and guest blogger for Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities.

CAC Youth to Turn up Dance floor Heat

Cook Arts Center youth are turning their hats and throwing on baggy jeans for their weekly Breakdancing class. Four of our Breakdance students in particular have taken their love for breakdancing to the next level, having formed their own crew under the name “Aerial Tactic” with the help of their class instructor, Brian Urbane, and our Program Director, Steffanie Rosalez.  The crew has been officially approved for Cook Arts Center sponsorship and will be receiving many more opportunities to perform in the Grand Rapids community and beyond.  We’re all very excited!  

Aerial Tactic is comprised of five members that range between the ages of 10 and 13.  Their names, along with their “Bboy” (i.e. breakdance) names are as follows: Ignacio L. “Ignasty”, Edgar J. “Rezponce,” Antonio J.  “Swidt,” Carlos L. “Skrewlooze” and Noe R. This crew is extremely talented and managed to place in a sizable breakdancing tournament that was held in Kalamazoo during the weekend of February 9th. The crew took 18th out of nearly 100 teams in the Kalamazoo West Michigan University tournament - a major accomplishment!

But these boys don’t just work on their dance skills here at the arts center or during tournament times.  For them, breakdance is a very serious affair.  They all agreed that they breakdance as often as they can, whether that’s at school or in their room listening to their favorite Breakdance music by DJ Fleg.  I’ve witnessed personally that these boys love their breakdancing class more than anything; before I could finish saying goodbye to all of them, they smiled at me and sped off after saying a quick goodbye to go practice some more.

Aerial Tactic crew from left to right: Carlos L., Antonio J., Ignacio L., Edgar J. and Noe R.  

Lookin' good, boys!
Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities administers the programs of the Cook Arts Center and Cook Library Center.
This blog was written by Justin Kamp, a current Calvin College student and guest blogger for Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities.

Tutoring Program off to a Terrific Start

The Cook Arts Center offers a variety of great programs that help enrich the Grandville Avenue community. One of these positive programs offers free tutoring for students that live in the Grandville Avenue neighborhood. These tutoring sessions are held at the Cook Arts Center and seek to provide students with the opportunity to strengthen their academic abilities as well as build meaningful relationships with an adult. Individuals who express an interest in the tutoring program are matched up by the Cook Arts Center with a student who has requested extra help with homework. Tutoring sessions help students engage with their school material in ways that are fun and understandable, while providing them with encouragement from adults who are invested in them.  

I sat in on a tutoring session because I was excited to see this environment for myself. I sat in on a session lead by Mr. Andrew, a senior Writing major at Grand Valley State University, who was tutoring young Martin S. in writing. Mr. Andrew is an experienced writer and has done tutoring with the Creative Youth Center in the past. Did I mention that he’s also great with kids? Right away I was impressed with how Mr. Andrew was able to communicate and teach Martin new skills in writing. Martin was shy at first, but Mr. Andrew was easily able to relate to him. He and Martin were writing a story together in no time! I was impressed with the enthusiasm of the tutor, Mr. Andrew, and delighted to see the smile on Martin’s face as he finished his story and heard it read back to him by Mr. Andrew. There is no doubt that this tutoring program a great opportunity for kids to learn, grow, and have fun at the Cook Arts Center.

Any student living in the Grandville Avenue neighborhood is eligible to receive tutoring at the Cook Arts Center for FREE! Anyone interested in learning more about this new initiative please contact Bethany Sheffer at arts@gaah.org. 

This blog was written by Justin Kamp, a current Calvin College student and guest blogger for Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities.