Community Partnerships

The Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center’s mission is to use dance as a platform to encourage, inspire, and facilitate the aspirations of young people by engendering within them discipline, pride, determination, humility, respect and an appreciation for the arts. We endeavor to plant seeds of possibility where previously growth and development has been perceived an impossibility.

Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy empowers youth and families of African descent to achieve high levels of educational, professional and artistic excellence.  As a leading Brooklyn-based institution, we inspire future generations to develop a strong African-centered cultural identity and realize their power to transform social inequity.

At Bilingual Birdies, our mission is to encourage cross-cultural awareness through our foreign language and live music curriculum. We teach Spanish, French, Mandarin, Hebrew and English (ESL) through live music, movement, dance, puppetry, and theatre-based games. Our curriculum aims to teach ten to fifteen basic vocabulary words and short phrases in each class. We believe there is great value in educating young children on other cultures and languages through social and emotional play. In our classes children have the opportunity to develop a deeper sense of curiosity and compassion for others.

Studio in a School fosters the creative and intellectual development of New York City youth through quality visual arts programs, directed by arts professionals. The organization also collaborates with and develops the ability of those who provide or support arts programming and creative development for youth both in and outside of schools.

ExpandED Schools is a nonprofit dedicated to its mission of closing the learning gap by increasing access to enriched education experiences.

Change for Kids invests in New York City public elementary schools in underserved communities by bringing critical resources designed to prepare students for success in middle school and beyond.

Through classes and cultural programs, we invite everyone to feel the joy and vitality of rhythms rooted in Africa. Cumbe champions African and Diaspora culture as a vibrant legacy for people of African descent and as an exuberant source of power, spirit and knowledge for all.