EAST BAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (2020-22) Bullet Points for City of Richmond Staff to City Council (April 28 Meeting) East Bay Center for the Performing Arts provides children and youth with tuition-free, multidisciplinary global performing arts training and leadership development opportunities through the following programs: 3,000 students in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) (focused in South Richmond’s Kennedy Family of Schools), 130 students (7th-12th grade) in our main site Young Artist Diploma Program, 150-170 students in our main site pre-Diploma program, as well as recitals, performances, and other productions with student and faculty performers. Combatting COVID: Conducted 387 one-on-one assessments with main site families, creating an emergency fund to combat job loss and support with rent, food security, child care needs, access to technology, and healthcare. § Raised and distributed over $230,000 to approximately 140 Center families and 50 local artists, reaching more than 400 individuals while leveraging an additional $250,000 gift in direct aid to the Richmond community. § Maintained instruction for 300 main site students in music, theater and dance weekly via Zoom, intensely focusing on 100 students in our Young Artist Diploma Program (YADP) through 42 weeks of online learning with live and pre-recorded content. In fall 2021, we returned to in-person instruction. § Sustained instruction for 3,000 school-based students through virtual platforms, returning to in-person instruction in summer 2021. In making the change to online learning, we were able to stream video assemblies on Black history, Mexican Son, and other subjects to thousands more across the district. § Student support services staff managed an increased average monthly caseload from 50 to a total of 150 families, while nurturing specialized groups for parents, graduating seniors, and families in immediate crisis. § All annual in-person student events were replaced by online versions at the main site and in our public-school programs where we produced 32 virtual presentations throughout the year. Young Artist Diploma Program: A six-year, tuition-free, year-round, intensive world arts training program in music, theater, and dance. § In spring 2021, 100% of Young Artist Diploma Program (YADP) graduates received their high school diploma and went on to attend a 2 or 4 year college, or the equivalent in educational, artistic or professional career engagements. § In fall 2021, of the YADP graduates, 97% are now attending colleges throughout the US or abroad. Some of the schools our graduates attend are UC Berkeley, UC Davis, SF State, Tuskegee University, UC Santa Cruz, Boston University, and CSU Long Beach. § Our 2021 graduates received at least $435,000 in financial aid. HS Grad Class Ontime HS Grads College Enrollment Colleges that students attend 2018 100% 100%
UC Merced, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, Wesleyan University, Academy of Art University, Sarah Lawrence College, CSU Chico, CSU Monterey, University of Buffalo, San Francisco State University, DePaul University, Columbia College Chicago, Diablo Valley College 2019 100% 96%
UC Berkeley, Sonoma State University, Berklee College of Music, Stanford University, UC Irvine, San Francisco State University, Royal Conservatoire Scotland, Howard University, Barnard College of Columbia University, UC Riverside, Arizona State University, Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, San Diego Community College, Contra Costa Community College, LA Community College 2020 100 97%
Barnard College of Columbia University, UC Los Angeles, Clark Atlanta University, Pace University, Vanguard University, Howard University, Sacramento State University, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, Contra Costa Community College, Berkeley Community College 2021 100% 97%
UC Berkeley, Tuskegee University, UC Santa Barbara, UC Merced, San Francisco Community College, San Francisco State University, UC Davis, Loyola Marymount University, University of San Francisco, UC Santa Cruz, Boston University, CSU Long Beach § Demographics Snapshot: 62%-Hispanic/Latinx, 16%-Black/African American, Mixed Race-10%, 4%-White, 3%-Asian, 1.5%-Native American, 1.5%-Filipino, 1.5%-Other, .5%-Pacific Islander, 26%-Male, 73%-Female, .5%-Non-Binary, .5%-Other Gender Not Listed. § Student Support Services leverages counseling, professional development for teaching artists, wrap-around services, college readiness, tutoring, crisis management and evaluation practices to support the retention and development of our students while advancing their access to the arts, leadership training, and connection to their community. o Our parent/guardian group meets once a month to help support the Center’s mission, especially by developing connections between our students’ families and the Center. The parent/guardian group is composed of four volunteer committees: community outreach, fundraising, family engagement, and event coordination. Attendance at monthly meetings can be up to 30+ attendees per meeting. o Student Leadership Council members regularly address the Center’s Board of Directors around culture and climate or specific program ideas, as peer mentors and interns in year-round and school-site classes, as leaders in determining production projects, or as key decision-makers in the advocacy/systems change work the Center conducts with our partners and systems. There are 10-15 active members throughout the year.
Sustained Programs in Schools: For the past 45 years, we have worked with WCCUSD/Richmond schools to provide thousands of children and youth with arts instruction. Beginning in 2017, we focused our resources on the Southside of Richmond/Kennedy Family of Schools, in order to have a deeper impact on one of the highest-need geographic regions in the Bay Area. § We serve 3,000 students annually across 13 schools, providing music, dance, and theater instruction during the school day and after school. Of these 13 schools, 11 have remained consistent over the last 5 years. § All programs pivoted to distance learning during COVID, maintaining continuity with faculty and students. Programs returned to in-person in June 2021. § All students participate in performances 1-2 times a year. § We provided professional development in arts integration to 100 WCCUSD classroom teachers in the past year, training them in how to integrate music, dance, and theater into core academic subjects in order to increase students’ engagement and achievement. § We offered sectionals and coaching to 100 band and orchestra students at DeJean Middle School, Kennedy High School, and Richmond High School, providing much needed individualized support. § In the past year, we have presented both virtual and in-person artist assemblies to over 5,000 students for Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. Advancing Justice, Equity, and Belonging in Our Community: § Completed a review and assessment of the Center’s Personnel Manual and Job Descriptions (September 2021) to ensure that they are in alignment with our evolving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and practices. § Launched DEI training for staff and faculty (June 2021) through Joe Mattox and Associates, including engaging staff in Dialogue Circles regarding challenging issues, such as racial injustices that we are faced with today. Legacy of Impact: § # of students served over lifetime of organization – 50,000 § # of alumni currently working as staff and faculty – 7 § # of current staff and faculty working at East Bay Center 10+ years – 15 § # of current board members who are alumni – 3 § Tangible and powerful long-term community partnerships include Healthy Richmond, WCCUSD, 10,000 Degrees, RYSE Center, West County Children’s Mental Health Services, Berklee City Music Network, Building Blocks for Kids, and YES Nature to Neighborhoods. Premiere Commissions: Current/Recent § 2022/23 – CK Ladzekpo – dance composition, “Hogbetsotso – Day of Crossing Over,” focusing on the Anlo-Ewe’s mythic flight from tyranny to freedom through a concert stage dance/drumming production at East Bay Center and Richmond’s Juneteenth Festival (scheduled for mid-June 2023). Commission funded by Hewlett 50 Commissions in Folk & Traditional Arts. § 2020/21 – Howard Wiley – composed 3 new post-WWII musical works centered around Richmond’s unique brand of the Blues, which premiered at Richmond Civic Center Plaza at the Jimmy McCracklin 100th Birthday Celebration (08/14/21). Commission funded by Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation’s Special Award in the Arts. Organization Update: § In spring 2021, we completed Phase One of our strategic planning process – strategic visioning. o As part of this process, we conducted 12 key interviews and 11 focus groups, engaging over 80 stakeholders (parents, staff, faculty, students, alumni, city officials, partner organizations, school principals) to help us better understand the challenges and opportunities faced by our community under the COVID lockdown and how to transition into the changed landscape. o During Phase Two, we will continue to work with our several task forces and stakeholders to articulate and define our strategies to achieve the vision as well as refine the timeline and key milestones of a five-year strategic plan. § In December 2021, we completed a successful major leadership transition, with long-time Artistic Director, Jordan Simmons, retiring, and our Managing Director, Ruthie Dineen, stepping into the role of Executive Director. Quotes: In 2021, we interviewed current students and alumni about the Center as part of our strategic planning process. Here’s what a couple of them said: § “The community, faculty, and staff care about you. They want the best for you. That’s because some of the teachers were students too and they understand. They push us if they see us struggling. You are expected to make mistakes, actually, in order to improve yourself. You stay because you want the support and confidence that the teachers give you. You can speak to your teachers after class and they talk to you like a normal person. They don’t look down on you but rather treat you like a human.” § “The Center is home. I can’t imagine my life without the Center. It has opened doors and also closed some that wouldn’t have been the best path for me. It continues to support me even in my professional life. I’m a stage manager now and it’s because of what I learned at the Center. It has been a backbone in my life.”