Jewish Community Center of San Francisco Receives Critical Grant Funding for Citywide Initiative
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Thursday, July 18, 2024
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Jewish Community Center of San Francisco Receives Critical Grant Funding for Citywide Initiative
$1.5 million in funding support over five years from San Francisco Department of Children, Youth and their Families will allow continuation of art enrichment program for local students
SAN FRANCISCO, CA— The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco’s (JCCSF) Citywide Arts Enrichment program, an educational initiative that provides art instruction to young students throughout San Francisco, has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Children, Youth and their Families (DCYF) to continue its important mission for the next five years.
“Our Citywide program has been a staple of the JCCSF for more than a decade and we are so grateful to DCYF for continuing this important initiative,” said Paul Geduldig, CEO of the JCCSF. “By bringing innovative and engaging arts instruction to our local schools, we can help instill a sense of excitement and passion for learning for our next generation of students.”
The Citywide program cultivates the creative confidence and emotional development of K – 8 students enrolled in the San Francisco Unified School District in historically underserved communities such as the Mission District, Bayview Hunters Point, Chinatown and the Western Addition.
The JCCSF, through a partnership with nonprofit organizations the YMCA and Mission Graduates, sends its instructors out to school sites to lead classes focusing on activities such as watercolors, ceramics, printmaking and papier-mâché. The aim is to help bridge historic achievement gaps in the city by creating safe spaces for students to express themselves through art.
“We are so proud to provide a supportive environment for students to explore their creativity,” said Maia Kolbeck, Youth Programs Manager at the JCCSF. “Many families in our community find arts enrichment programs for their children financially out of reach. Citywide is a free, inclusive program that ensures that all our students receive high-quality, culturally responsive arts enrichment.”
The JCCSF has long led this initiative in collaboration with Mission Graduates, which has a goal of establishing a college education as an expectation and goal for every child in San Francisco.
“We’re excited to continue our collaboration with the JCCSF on Citywide,” says Eddie Kaufman, Chief Executive Officer of Mission Graduates. “These innovative arts experiences help students develop a deep, lasting appreciation for learning, supporting our goal of encouraging students to explore their full educational potential. Citywide is an important part of that pathway to college and higher education.”
“The JCC’s diverse art classes are essential to our students’ creative mindset,” said Beverly Escobar-Sudario, Program Director at Marshall Elementary School. “Our students and staff enjoy a variety of offerings, from Stories and Art to Social Dance, giving them the opportunity to learn something new and fun.”
The grant awarded to the JCCSF was part of DCYF’s $460 million investment into educational programs over a five-year period.
“The JCCSF’s Citywide initiative is exactly the kind of program we are proud to support,” said DCYF Executive Director Dr. Maria Su. “By providing free educational enrichment programs in communities that have lacked access to these services, the JCCSF is being intentional in its approach to addressing disparities in San Francisco. The Citywide instructors offer the kind of innovative and engaging arts programming that help make San Francisco a great place to grow up.”
ABOUT THE JCCSF
Urban and inclusive, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco enriches, educates, and celebrates this vibrant City and its people. The JCCSF explores Jewish culture and traditions as a pathway for joyful, meaningful living. In creating a community that welcomes everyone, the JCCSF uses the power of gathering together to share, inspire, support and restore.
Through an array of in-person and online programs and experiences, audiences can enjoy an appearance by renowned performers and cultural icons, as well as to spirited holiday celebrations, and interactive pop-ups inspired by Jewish culture. The Fitness Center supports wellness through exceptional trainers and a daily lineup of classes including yoga, Pilates, and tai chi. Preschoolers discover the vital early love of learning at one of the three exceptional schools, and year-round, the JCCSF enriches the lives of youngsters of all ages and whole families.