A is for Arts

Quality Life Center has been putting on performing arts productions for many years. Whether it was singing, dancing or drama, it involved a lot of children and a lot of heart. On a limited budget, staff learned to make do with little. There’s a reason the costumes were usually t-shirts.

In 2015, the Q's proposal scored well enough to get approved for a grant from the Florida Division of Cultural Arts. With this funding, the center helped pay for some expenses, including marketing, costumes, and dance instruction. In addition to Q staff, professional dancers came in to teach workshops throughout the year. The show that year was epic: Lion “Qing.”

The Q has applied for, and been fortunate to have received funding each year since then for its Arts, Character & Education Program. That's 3 action-packed years! Until now. Funding dropped from $35 million in 2015 to $2.6 million for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. The state legislature allotted no funding for the category that funded the Q’s dance program. That is $0.

Increased production values and playing to thunderous applause in a packed house are nice. But that’s not the point. It's about the children. Children like Gennifer.

Gennifer was failing in school, having particular difficulties with math. She was in remedial classes in school. She would become so frustrated during tutoring, she would break down and cry.

Gennifer was enrolled in Quality Life Center's Arts, Character & Education Program. You might think the “education” part of the program was the most important to a student like her who was struggling in school. But the arts part is vital as well.

Research consistently shows that arts education has a positive impact on student success. The arts bolster the development of deeper learning skills. So a student getting dance instruction, for example, is not only more likely to improve test scores, but also improve critical skills, such as creativity, teamwork and perseverance. It's like the arts are superheroes!

These are the skills employers are looking for, and that support a strong economy. A successful community needs innovative thinkers. New jobs will be developed by people with creativity and imagination. Maybe the next big industry. If you want to produce problem-solvers, innovators and collaborative workers, support the arts!

Gennifer participated in dance classes and workshops at the Q over the last few years. In addition to academic gains, her confidence and dance skills have flourished. After a recommendation led to an audition for Cypress Lake Middle School’s arts program, Gennifer stepped up and won a spot in their dance program. Today, she is an Honor student, earning all A’s this semester. She danced with the Moscow Ballet at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, and continues to excel and stand out in the Q's dance program.

“She was a shy, timid, insecure girl who cried when she was corrected,” said Keesha, the Performing Arts Director and COO at Quality Life Center. “Now Gennifer carries herself with confidence and is always at the front of performances. She is not afraid to ask questions or to share her opinion with others.”

As Rafiki said in the Lion King: The past can hurt. The way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. You don’t have to tell Gennifer.

Princesses Behind Cynderella

Every year the Q puts on a show at the conclusion of summer camp. Nearly all of the children enrolled in camp participate in the show. Last year, the show was Ann-ee.

130 children ages 5-18 attended dance instruction daily, and learned choreography for the 10 different dances for the show.

They performed to a full house at Dunbar High School auditorium which has a capacity of 735 people. Ten dances in 8 weeks. That’s a lot of dances.

I know what you are thinking: how is this possible? It’s a lot of work by a lot of people. But there’s no show without these three ladies.

Keesha Allen: Director/Choreographer/Dance Instructor

The driving force is Ms. Keesha. She’s been at the Q since 2002. Although her degree is in childhood education, she has worked in a variety of capacities. She has taught dance and created and put on performances for over 12 years. In the last 7 years, the productions have become bigger and more elaborate. She has played a key role in all of the performances as an instructor and choreographer.

Keesha has been dancing and choreographing dances since she was 14 years old. She attended LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, and trained and performed with Harambee in New York. She worked in several movies and commercials until relocating to Fort Myers and came to work at the Q. As Performing Arts Director, Keesha has created partnerships with a variety of professional dancers to give the children of the Q exceptional dance exposure and instruction.

Angela Franklin: Writer

Angela Franklin’s daughter attends the Q and dances, so she is very familiar with the programs, and the performances. With a degree in broadcast journalism, Angela worked at Waterman Broadcasting before making the shift to teaching. She taught ESE classes for 12 years, and now teaches ACT and SAT prep at Lehigh Senior High School. Angela was asked to help write a script four years ago, and she’s been the official script-writer for the show ever since.

Monicke Bell: Music and Drama

Ms. Monicke was hired part-time to help with music for the Wiz Meets the Wizard of Oz. Her beautiful voice earned her a full scholarship for music at Edison College (now Florida SouthWestern). Like Angela, Monicke is also a Lee County School employee, so the Q is able to utilize her talents in the summer. She has abilities in so many areas – music, drama and dance – she also quickly became a full-time summer employee.  Monicke said she enjoys being a part of the Q summer production because it is unique: “I have been involved in other shows, but never anything like this. The Q puts it all together, and includes all of the kids. It is an experience.”

This year’s performance, Cynderella, is an updated version of the classic story of a girl persisting in the face of difficult circumstances and believing in herself. The show will take place on July 21 at 6 p.m. at Dunbar High School. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children, and are available at Quality Life Center.*

Where else are you going to get all this?

*To purchase tickets on-line, hit the "Donate" button on the Q's website (qualitylifecenter.org), and put: Cynderella, the number of adult tickets, number of child tickets and the name you would like them to be listed under at Will Call. They will be ready for you at Dunbar HS on the day of the show.

The Journey Continues

At the Q we are saying goodbye to some family members. While we will miss them, it is a happy moment. These youths have graduated from high school, and are embarking on the next part of their journey. For all of them, it begins with college. Congratulations to Terrell Brunson, Angel Escobar, Remy Johnson, KeeShaurn McCaulley, Jeremiah Rice, and Zah’Cauria Smart.

Two of these graduates have been named as the recipients of the 2017 Emma Lee Thomas Memorial Scholarship which are presented to outstanding students who have participated in Quality Life Center programs. Remy Johnson and KeeShaurn McCaulley each earned a $1,250 scholarship award.

KeeShaurn was involved in football and track in high school, and has participated in Quality Life Center programs since he was 5 years old.

In addition to academic activities, KeeShaurn has been involved in martial arts, dance, and drama, including standout performances as Rafiki in Lion “Qing” and as Mr. Stacks in last year’s Ann-ee.

KeeShaurn graduated from Bishop Verot High School. He will be attending Webber International University to study sports management on a football scholarship. His career goal is to become a high school football recruiter here in Southwest Florida. He would like to cultivate the talent in his community while also imparting the type of guidance he was provided, possibly through a youth football organization dedicated to a friend, Eddie Buggs who passed away from cancer at the age of 13.

He said many people at the Q influenced him, and taught him important lessons. Among them that athletics is cool, but places like the Q are where you build a brotherhood; and the importance of people who support you. It may be uncomfortable, it may even be painful, but they are the people who bring out the best in you.

At age 6, Remy Johnson experienced the trauma of being torn from her mother and everyone she knew, and being handed over to multiple strangers. It was in foster care that she learned what it means to be strong. At age 18, she is the first in her family to graduate from high school and go to college.

A challenging childhood didn’t stop her from dreaming. She imagined herself as a heart surgeon, a tennis player, a chef. Remy’s future plans crystalized as a freshman at Dunbar High School with a class: the Principles of Biomedical Science. Her interest was sparked and she took every class offered in the biomedical program. She will begin Florida SouthWestern State College in the fall, minoring in Biomedical Science and majoring in Nursing.

Throughout high school, Remy was active in Literacy Club, H.O.S.A (Health Occupations Students of America), Prom Committee, Scholars Club and volleyball. She was also a leader in Quality Life Center’s teen program. She took part in service projects, volunteered with the younger children, helped create and run a business as an academic project at the center, and took on a variety of leadership responsibilities, including speaking at public meetings with community leaders and moderating a school board debate. She was able to earn income for school expenses through paid internships the last two summers, and as front desk staff for the last year at Quality Life Center.

All of our students have different challenges, different strengths and different paths, but they share a strong motivation and sense of community.  To all of the young people, we are proud of you, and happy to call you family.

Suncoast Credit Union Awards $10,000 Grant to Quality Life Center

Suncoast Credit Union has awarded Quality Life Center a grant of $10,000 for its Arts, Character & Education (ACE) Program. The grant provides funding to help support academic programs at Quality Life Center’s summer camp, which serves at-risk children, largely from the underserved Dunbar community.

“Our ACE summer camp program seeks to fight the ‘summer slide,’ said Abdul’Haq Muhammed, Executive Director at Quality Life Center. “Lower income youths lose academic achievement over summer vacation, which is a main contributor to the achievement gap between poor and middle class students. We are grateful for Suncoast Credit Union’s ongoing support and commitment to student success.”

Quality Life Center’s summer camp runs 8 weeks and began June 5.

About Suncoast Credit Union 

Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the ninth largest in the United States based on membership, and the 12th largest in the United States based on its more than $8 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 63 full-service branches and serves more than 709,000 members in the following Florida counties: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Dixie, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $19 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit: suncoastcreditunion.com, Facebook.com/SuncoastCreditUnion or @SuncoastCU.

Celebration of Reading

For a birthday, you have a celebration,

for Dr. Seuss’ birthday, you read with elation.

On March 2, local celebrities came to the Q

They came armed with books, some old and some new

Upstairs they went where the children were gathered

They read to the kids and let them know that they mattered. 

Superintendent Adkins read a book about animals

Some with nostrils or a blowhole, and all with jawbones we call mandibles.

 

Artist Michael Letts read a book about hands,

He drew a picture of his dog, and made some new fans.

Former Q swim coach and now TV show host,

Lee Pitts came back to read to the kids - he's really the most!

Lt. Larry King came from LCSO to read a book about bears.

He let us know literacy is important, and the sheriff’s office cares!

Weatherman John Patrick, wearing a big, striped hat

Gave kids a choice, then read “Pete the Cat.”

Dressed is Seuss attire, Fort Myers Police Officers Harris and Brown

Showed their fun side, read books, and turned frowns upside down.

Tony Sadiku came from Fox4 bearing gifts of books

He read with expression, and a sunny outlook.

We had a visit from the Fire Marshal and firefighters too

They read about fires, and a Seuss character with a crazy hairdo!

Children who spend more time reading, do better in school.

Community celebrities inspired, and gave kids a new tool.

Through their actions, this community they are leading

With their participation, they demonstrate the joy of reading.

The Early Learning Coalition got the books and organized the day too.

For their time and support, all of us here say, "Thank you!"

It’s Crazy Out Here… and What You Can Do

A 4-year old Egyptian boy was given a life sentence for murder. A dude with weird hair says he can shoot someone on the street and still win the Republic presidential nomination. And 35% of black kids dropped out of school last year. Again. 35%!!!

If you are one of those optimistic folks who think change begins one person at a time, and we can all be part of the solution, hurray for you! And keep reading.

Last year, Quality Life Center launched a new tutoring program, combining features from the Australian First Steps Literacy program with Florida Sunshine Standards to create a comprehensive, skill-based tutoring program focused on literacy and math fluency.

Combining in-house assessments and students' individual grades, the Q's academic coordinator, Talissa Soto was able to identify specific student needs and pair students with volunteers from FGCU and around the community.

In addition to helping improve academic standing, the tutoring program builds positive relationships between our students and tutors, who serve as role models and provide emotional support and motivation.

Shy 4^th grader “Kim” began the last school year with C and D grades, despite showing indications that she was familiar with the concepts she was learning in school. As she participated in the Q's tutoring program, Kim's confidence began increasing and she became more comfortable asking questions and participating in class. By the end of the second quarter in January, she earned all A's and B's on her report card.

You may not be able to do anything for the boy in Egypt, but you can make a difference in a child’s life right here, right now. Help your neighbor, help your friend, go volunteer at the Q or another organization that could use a hand. For information about Quality Life Center’s tutoring program, contact Talissa at tsoto@qlcswfl.org or come on in and get started by filling out a volunteer form.

Learning to FLY!

Empowering parents to see themselves as their child’s primary teacher – while allowing parents to take advantage of adult literacy classes and their children acquire early learning education. That is what Family Literacy Yes! (FLY!) aims to achieve.

Preschool-aged children attend early learning classes at Quality Life Center free of charge while their parents take English as a Second Language (ESOL) or GED preparation classes at Dunbar Community School. The final component of the program takes place weekly when the parents and children spend time together reading. Each week, parents are given a book to take home.

This opportunity for early learning development and adult literacy comes about through a collaboration with Quality Life Center, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, the Hunter Institute at FGCU, Dunbar Community School and the Barbara Bush Foundation.

An unexpected benefit of the program has been the diversity that has been added to the early learning classrooms with children from Haiti, Uzbekistan and a variety of Spanish-speaking countries. “The different cultures the children bring to the classroom adds a richness to the educational experience that could not be achieved otherwise,” said Early Learning Instructor Nephtalie Loiseau.

A few new spots will be available beginning in January. To qualify, parents must not have a high school diploma or GED, enroll in an adult class at a Dunbar Community School, family income is at or below the federal poverty level and have a child age 2-5 years old.  For more information, call Larry Aguilar at Quality Life Center, 239.334.2797. Quality Life Center is a Barbara Bush Family Literacy Program Provider.