Our Youth Programs
Promote Learning and Leadership Through the Arts
SCORE! - An Original Student-Created Opera
Students Collaborate as Playwrights, Composures and Choreographers
SCORE! provides students ages 10-13 with the opportunity to create, develop, and produce their own original opera production over the course of a year. Through the program, SCORE! students learn “life-skills” such as the value of collaboration, group dynamics and leadership skills. The overall goal of SCORE! is to empower children and their families with an orientation for success through the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities around a tangible public product.
SCORE! is always looking for youth, partners and volunteers. To see what opportunities are available please contact us!
Girls in Motion
Building Self-Esteem and Awareness in Young Girls
Girls in Motion extends the regular classroom core curriculum into the after-school environment for girls through a variety of interactive arts-based strategies, with the support of high school mentors who participate in their own professional development program and develop their own arts integrated lesson plans. We focus on self-esteem and body awareness includes fitness instruction with a Certified Personal Trainer, dance and movement specialists.
Girls in Motion is always looking for youth, partners and volunteers. To see what opportunities are available please contact us!
Arts & Achievement
Arts and Achievement programs are tailored to meet student and school needs. Grounded in arts education and positive youth development best practice, Arts and Achievement programs are developed in collaboration with school stakeholders and aligned with Common Core and Illinois State Board of Education Learning Standards.
BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM & AWARENESS IN YOUNG GIRLS
Extends the regular classroom core curriculum into the after-school environment for 4th – 5th graders through a variety of interactive arts-based strategies, with the support of high school mentors who participate in their own professional development program and developed their own arts integrated lesson plans. Focus on self-esteem and body awareness includes fitness instruction with a Certified Personal Trainer, dance and movement specialists.
A THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE FOR GIRLS & BOYS
Our two core productions "I'm Just Sayin'" and "WHASSUP!" are designed to promote and enhance students’ self-esteem and body awareness, presentation skills, and reading skills, youth are provided with a safe environment to explore the concepts of expression, observation, inspiration and empathy and to create, develop and present their original written work. Includes fitness instruction with a Certified Personal Trainer, dance and movement specialists.
CREATE
Creative Relationships and Empowering Arts Transforming & Equity-Building.
CREATE is an initiative driven by the COFI-Supported team of parent leaders in Elgin, Padres con Poder.
Art SPACE
Art Self, Purpose, Agency, Creative Expression & Energy.
Art SPACE supports young people’s healthy development of identity, sense of belonging, and perceptions of agency or efficacy. Young people in grades 3-6 are exposed to and explore different art forms from diverse resources, perspectives, and cultural traditions. Students hold culminating showcases in which they present their portfolios, artist statements, and visions for ways their art can contribute to the community.
SUMMER LITERACY FUN!
Students engage in various activities created to develop academic skills and bridge the Summer learning gap. Students analyze stories and create their own original work while gaining skills in goal setting and (creative) communication. Families can also join the fun!
Based on Development by Design, students are encouraged to develop academic skills in story development, story analysis, and composition as well as personal development skills in goal setting and (creative) communication by “jumping in” to storybooks and fairytales. In the family component, parents/guardians/older siblings are provided creative ideas for supporting their child’s learning through fun art activities and stories through concurrent workshop series.
MECHANICAL MAYHEM
Students will utilize mechanical terminology while applying machinery physics principles through arts based products and experiences. Students create compound machinery, both physically and artistically (ex., force/fulcrum/load/friction/incline plane) while increasing presentation skills in a creative and fun environment.
