CommunityWorks for Kids is an innovative after-school arts program that provides a safe and supportive environment for low-income, culturally diverse youth ages 6-11 who lack supervision during non-school hours, a time when they are most vulnerable to community violence and gang recruitment. The program fosters self-esteem, creativity and self-expression through the use of various media, including drawing, painting, ceramics and sculpture. Students are not only learning skills, techniques, use of varied media, art history and art appreciation, but they are also learning to believe in themselves by exploring and developing new talents, while producing artwork of which they can be proud. CommunityWorks for Kids is further enhanced through:

• Field trips for parents and children to museums, musical performances, and cultural events
• Developmental and kindergarten readiness screening for children 0-5, in collaboration with Westside Children's Center;and
• An after school personal health and safety program, in partnership with the UCLA TEACH program
  

Currently, CommunityWorks for Kids provides:

• Tthe after school homework assistance and art classes at two of our affordable housing locations, Tabor Courts in Venice and Washington Place in Mar Vista. These sessions, offered once per week at each location, last for 2.5 to 3 hours, begin with one hour of homework assistance, and include a variety of arts and crafts activities which focus on expanding the viewpoint and experience of young people, through art. Local artists with experience working with at-risk youth and youth assistants provide creative and recreational activities. Youth assistants, who are closer in age and experience to the children, are often graduates of the program themselves and are integral to our program, as they serve as mentors to the participants.
• A personal health and safety curriculum, in partnership with the UCLA TEACH program. These sessions are offered once a week at both Tabor Courts and Washington Place, as well as at the VCHC Transitional Living Center for homeless women and their children.
• Developmental and kindergarten readiness screening, in collaboration with Westside Children's Center, at all of VCHC's affordable and transitional housing.
  
  

Finally, through CommunityWorks for Kids, VCHC also offers bilingual case management services to participants and their families, to ensure that children are growing up in strong and healthy homes.

To qualify for CommunityWorks programs, please download and complete the application below, and email it to sandy@vchcorp.org.

For more information and a current schedule of classes please contact:

Sandy Eiges
Director of Family & Community Programs
Venice Community Housing Corporation
(310) 399-4100 ext. 117
sandy@vchcorp.org