With these funds I will work with others so that the student body produces MLK's 2015 Arts Extravaganza, to be performed for the school as well as for the larger school community and purchase needed items to launch the MLK Dance, Drama and Video Club so that the students have the means to put on a production in subsequent years and the ability to produce short videos on topics of interest to them.

Last year, I was able to receive a grant from PhilaSoup to work with a group of my Spanish students do a play in Spanish. After getting a taste of the theater bug, more than a couple of students have asked me if we can do it again. Having learned from last year and received a pledge of support from several educators already working with students at MLK, this production can set a new bar for the school. Funds raised through PledgeCents will enable the school to put on a larger and more professional production that will draw on the excellent work that so many teachers and outside partners are already doing in the school. As well, funds raised through PledgeCents will seed the launching of a Dance, Drama and Video Club at MLK.

2015 Arts Extravaganza

In addition to a student-led production team, students will work with the relevant teachers and partners to offer the following: a Spanish skit; a French skit; 2 skits in English; 3 Dance performances; and 3 Musical selections. From the Drama and Language teachers at MLK to the professional dance and music instructors that are working with our students thanks to the wonderful generosity of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church and The Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, the elements are already in place to enable the students to know the satisfaction and growth that comes from successfully performing dance, musical and theatrical short pieces.

Dance, Drama and Video Club

As mentioned above, Enon Church and the Lindback Foundation are currently providing valuable instruction in the areas of music and dance, respectively. As the MLK in-house teacher working with Ms. Renee Dennis, dance instructor par excellence at The Rock School of Dance (funded by the Lindback Foundation), I am seeing first-hand the excitement and commitment of the 30-plus students that consistently attend the dance class and who are willing to go beyond their comfort zone by taking ballet and modern classes, learning about dance history and helping Ms. Dennis to choreograph a piece. The students are also working with renowned Roger Lee who is teaching the students hip hop, a genre already familiar to them and one which needs no "selling" to the them. With the funds raised (see the budget below), MLK will be able to purchase the equipment needed to enable the students of the video component of the club to video segments of rehearsals and the final production and then to use state-of-the-art video editing software to produce high quality DVDs. As well, these students will use highly ranked miniature video cams to record other events at the school and interview students, teachers, staff and administration. The potential for what the students can do with the equipment is tremendous! I feel excited just thinking about it. (I already have specfic people in mind whom I know are excellent videographers with a history of successfully teaching and working with high school students of MLK's demographic).

Impact of Money Raised

This money will directly impact me by enhancing my ability to help my Spanish students do the following: improve their ability to Communicate in Spanish; broaden their understanding of Hispanic/Latina Culture; enhance their capacity to draw Connections between Spanish and other disciplines; develop thier aptitude for developing insights into the nature of language and culture by drawing Comparisons between Spanish and English. The same can be said of how the participating French students will benefit. (PA World Language Standards)

Regarding the writing the students will do in all three aspects of the DDV club, the money will directly impact th students' ability to write for different purposes and audiences by improving their ability to write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content. (PA English Language Standards)

In addition to the above, the students who participate in the production (including behind the scenes) and the DDV Club will benefit in the following ways:

IMPROVE the students' understanding of the discipline and hard work that is required to accomplish a meaningful goal;

ENHANCE the students' skills in the specfic areas of dance, drama and videography (and all that that implies) as well as their memory skills, study skills, team building skills, and interpersonal skills;

FOSTER in the students a sense of what it means to expand one's horizons and broaden one's perspective;

DEVELOP the students' ability to go out of their comfort zone by providing exposure to the unfamiliar;

ENABLE the students to see very clearly the connection between input and output; cause and effect; action and consequence;

ENCOURAGE the students to see themselves, regardless of their circumstances, as multi-talented, capable, pre-professionals who have unique talents and gifts to offer the world.

The students at MLK deserve the resources to have this experience no more or no less than any other young person in this country. All students deserve the opportunity to have the option of participating in a meaningful and adequately resourced arts production and to participate in an after-school club that enhances the curriculum.

BUDET FOR

2015 MLK ARTS EXTRAVAGANZA

AND LAUNCHING OF

MLK DRAMA, DANCE & VIDEO CLUB

$3,999

MAC PRO DESKTOP TO BE SECURED IN A ROOM IN THE SCHOOL THAT IS EXCLUSIVELY DESIGNATED TO BE USED BY AUTHORIZED ADULTS & STUDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE VIDEO CLUB COMPONENT OF THE DRAMA, DANCE  & VIDEO CLUB. PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO SAFEGUARD THIS EQUIPMENT WILL INCLUDE  THE INSTALLATION OF AN ALARM SYSTEM (TO BE PAID BY THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT); INSTALLATION OF A NEW COMMERCIAL LOCK

$500

5 POLAROID CUBE ACTION CAMS @ $99 EACH TO BE USED BY STUDENTS TO VIDEO UP TO 6 HOURS OF EVENT COVERAGE, INCLUDIING REHEARSALS AND FINAL PERFORMANCE. THESE CAMS WILL PERMANENTLY BELONG TO THE SCHOOL TO BE USED BY THE DDV CLUB FOR ANNUAL PROJECTS. CAM RANKED #1 BY PC MAGAZINE  IN JAN 2015 WHICH SAYS  THIS “…IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE AS A BARGAIN-PRICED ACTION CAM, OFFERING NO FRILLS, BUT SURPRISINGLY GOOD VIDEO.”

$300

VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE (APPLE FINAL CUT PRO X 10.0.3) TO ENABLE STUDENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO DO TRANSITIONAL EDITING, CHAPTER POINTS AND A SINGLE MENU SCREEN.

$1,600           

HEALTHY SNACKS & REFRESHMENTS FOR THE COMPLETE CAST OF 60 STUDENTS (20 REHEARSALS @ $60 EACH) AND 20 STUDENTS OF VIDEO SECTION OF CLUB (20 MEETINGS @ $20 EACH) 

$200            

A COMMEMORATIVE, PERSONALIZED LOGBOOK, PROFESSIONALLY BOUND, WHICH WILL INCLUDE INPUT (WRITINGS, PHOTOS) OF EACH PARTICIPANT'S JOURNALING ASSIGNMENTS, PHOTOS AND MEMENTOS FROM PRODUCTION.  

$250            

PAPER SUPPLIES & COPYING (POSTER BOARDS FOR ADVERTISING, PAPER, PRINTING & COPYING OF PROGRAMS AND SOUVENIR BOOKLETS).

$750           

PROCUREMENT OF PROFESSIONAL, REPUTABLE INSTRUCTORS OF DRAMA, DANCE AND VIDEOGRAPHY TO TEACH THE STUDENTS IN THESE RESPECTIVE AREAS. (25 HOURS @ $30 AN HOUR)

An accounting of exactly how much is raised and how funds are spent will be indicated on this site.

Back Up Plan