And the Angels are Singing

St. Patrick's day is now a day I will never forget. Not because of the brilliant greens or the crazy hats people wear, but because it's the day that Taugh asked Jesus into his heart.

The kids sat down at their tables that were prepared for the third art project of Urban Arts Class. Since it was St. Patty's day we brought green bug juice and chips. and as the kids snacked my mom began to tell the true story of Saint Patrick. The kids were listening intently. Now if you know my mom, you know that she is able to weave the salvation message of Christ into almost any story. This story was no different. As she neared the end, she asked if anyone had never asked Jesus into their heart. Taugh raised his hand. He came up in front of the class and prayed to receive Jesus as his Savior. It was a beautiful moment.

Crazy For Christ

The theme for the Urban Art kids at CDC this semester is "Crazy 4 Christ". We are talking about how we can show others every day, in every action, how crazy for Christ we are. The previous week we encouraged the kids to bring something in that they enjoy doing and share how they can be "crazy for Christ" while doing it. We had one girl come up before class who shyly showed us her musical recorder. She asked if she could share a song on the recorder. As simple as it sounds, Tyana wanted to use what she learned on her little plastic recorder and play for God. She is 1 in 50+ kids. If she is the only one who "gets it" this semester, it will be totally worth everything I do.

Even boys like valentines:)

Red soda with ice cream, pepperoni and cheese pizza, heart balloons, cute napkins and a really cool valentine card was what made up the party that we threw for City Mission urban art kids on Tuesday. It was a lot of fun! We didn't tell the kids in advance, but surprised them with all of this and they were just grinning from ear to ear. Of course, we had art to work on, but after all that sugar it was pretty interesting to get see them try to stay focused on the project at hand. (that's why the typical snack is HEALTHY!) But they did pretty well working on their "dot art". It's really coming along! I can't wait for the final project. After we had cleaned up, I handed out my valentine cards to the kids. The boys got really cool cards that turned into a b-ball court and b-ball. Guess who ended up putting them together:) Yep! I helped them out and we had a fun game of basketball!

Summer in February

Here's a quick update on what Urban Arts is looking like for this summer. We are again, partnering with City Mission and Central Detroit Christian for 2 weeks each. Both organizations will be able to offer a week of elementary day camp as well as a week of middle and high school day camp. An additional week is pending with a ministry in Highland Park, MI. (just on the outskirts of Detroit)

It's crazy to look out my window at piles of snow and ice cycles as far as you can possibly see, but it takes so much preparation to get commitments from volunteers, line up people to help prep for the crafts, create a program, and find the funding among many other things! I'm really excited about the 2009 camps! I have the theme, but I'm going to keep that a secret for a little while longer:) You'll just have to check back!

Keep us in your prayers! Grant proposals are being mailed over the next few months!

Early Art Forms Emerge Again

Two Urban Art tracks are offered to the 6-12 graders at City Mission this semester. One track is visual arts and the other is drama. Did you know that the art form of block printing started in 200 AD! Well, we are taking it to the next level here in 2009! Students are going to design and create their own stationary with original block printing. I'm thrilled to have my mom teaching this art form! In the drama track we are going to explore something that was created a little closer to the present day...like 1845...well, it's better than 200! We are digging into monologues. Dramatic and comedic. I'm looking forward to teaching my group how to explore their character and engage the audience!

Second Semester in Full Swing

Urban Arts is back from Christmas break! I have the same group of kids at City Mission but this semester we are focusing on visual arts! They are learning so many cool things. The theme for Central Detroit Christian Urban Arts this semester is "Crazy for Christ". We will be focusing on drama, music and dance with the kids. They are going to help write an original drama script for the performance in May! Enjoy the pictures of the City Mission kids working on their art projects.

The Littlest Star in Brightmoor

My Tuesday afternoon class of Urban Art students at City Mission not only performed at Kensington but they performed for the tutoring classes at their Christmas party. They performed The Littlest Star. We had a ton of fun and the kids did a great job reading their parts!

Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

Tonight was the City Mission Urban Arts performance at Kensington with the New Community Kids. It went really well and my kids were on their best behavior! I am so proud of them:) Here are some pictures to enjoy.

Rehearsal Rehearsal

Have you ever needed to be in two places at once before? Well, we all know that it's really not possible but if there was a night I could have picked to be in two places at once, it was tonight. My City Mission kids had their dress rehearsal for the performance at Kensington Church and my Central Detroit Christian kids had their dress rehearsal for their performance the following week. I ended up at CDC. We had a lot of work to do, but the volunteer teachers were amazing and helped me out soo much! After a very long rehearsal, I think we are ready for the performance next week!

God Works in Monetary Ways

I have to wonder what other people are thinking when they see a person listening on their cell phone and the individual gets a HUGE smile on their face. I would probably get happy and smile right along with them! Well, I was that individual that people were probably staring at today. As I was listening to my voicemail, the message that was left said that a family from New Community Kids is donating $200 to cover the expenses of purchasing new dresses, pants, and dress shoes for our Urban Art kids to perform in the Christmas performance in December. What an AWESOME blessing! I wasn't sure how we were going to get the outfits, but I knew the kids would end up wearing something. Now, these girls and boys have a brand new Christmas outfit that THEY OWN! Don't worry, pictures will be posted as soon as we get them:) And THANK YOU to whoever the family is who is so generous by giving the money!

Working Hard

I love these kids! They're practicing for the Christmas program at CDC.

Mixing it Up

You have 45 minutes to complete the tasks on this piece of paper. GO! A video scavenger hunt was in the works for Urban Art students joined by kids from New Community Kids at Kensington Community Church. This was our first time mixing it up with other students who love performing arts. The kids had a great time getting to know their new friends and learned how to work together as a team. For many of the students it was their very first time doing a video scavenger hunt. After the hunt we had doughnuts and cider while we watched the videos. Just looking at the faces of the kids was precious. They were so excited to see themselves on camera! (what child wouldn't:) A good day was had by all. We had an awesome team of volunteers come to make it happen! Thanks guys!

What We Take for Granted

How many of you guys out there own a white button down shirt? a pair of black pants? a pair of dress shoes? I would guess that most of you would have this in your wardrobe, even if you don't wear it all the time. And ladies, what about a nice "Sunday" dress, dress shoes, a pair of tan pants?

This past week, I was working with my elementary kids at City Mission and they wanted to know what the costumes were for our performance in December. Since we are partnering with KCC, we are matching their costumes. It's pretty basic: girls wear pretty party dresses, boys wear white shirts and black pants for the first set. The costumes for the second set are tan pants and a solid color shirt. As I explained the two different costumes, I began to see some worried faces and a few hands began to raise. I knew then, it wasn't going to be as simple as opening up the closet door and pulling out one pair of many tan colored pants. These kids don't have that luxury. Once again, my heart broke for these children. But, they will not go without this Christmas performance if I can help it! Thrift stores here I come!:) If any of you would like to help out by letting a child borrow a piece of clothing or buy them a new item for this performance it would be the best Christmas present they could get!

The Grinch

Last night I held auditions for the Grinch play at City Mission. This is the program that the junior and senior high students will be performing at Christmas. We only have 3 rehearsals but I have a feeling it's going to be a smashing success...as long as the kids are quiet long enough to hear the instruction..(that would be a prayer request:)

Rooftop Networking

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet others who have a passion for the city of Detroit and the people who live there. I sat at the 'arts' table and listened to the struggles, hopes, desires, and gifts of each individual. It was encouraging and inspiring. I was able to share a little about Urban Arts and had a few people interested in volunteering. I can't wait to see how the Lord will use these new friends I have made!

The Best Story So Far...

So on Tuesday night, I handed out 54 CD's to the kids at CDC so that they would be able to practice their music at home. I wasn't really sure how well the music was going over with the kids after the second week, but after hearing this story, I know! Laura, who is helping teach the classes with me, relayed this story to me after talking with a CDC staff member. This staff member was driving a van full of kids home after the program and as soon as the kids hopped in the van they started saying, "Mark! We got our very own CD's! We get to take them home and keep them and listen to them and practice with them!" They then proceeded to ask Mark to put the CD in so they could jam to it. So as the kids were being dropped off at their homes, they were singing along to the Christmas songs!:) I guess they are liking it!:) That was such an encouragement to me and put a smile on my face, so I just wanted to share it!!

Do we have to add the little kids?

Since we only had 9 kids at City Mission's Urban Arts last week, I felt the led to open it up to the third grade class for the fall. When the six kids walked into the class, the first question from a fourth grader was, "Do we have to add the little kids?". Of course, I was smiling inwardly, but I had to keep a straight face as I explained that we did "have to add them" and said how it would be even more fun with them! After we began playing our first drama game, I think all 15 kids were happy to be together.

We handed out the practice CD's for the kids to begin listening to and learning the music for the Christmas program. I was actually a few CD's short and felt awful, but promised the kids they would get them next week. They were very understanding. One little girl came up to me after class and asked what she should do if she didn't have a CD player at home. I wasn't sure if she was telling the truth or not, but I believe she is and it broke my heart. I'm going to confirm with her teacher at school and see if I can get her a cd player.

Meet & Greet for Urban Arts @ City Mission

This past Thursday was the first night of the mentoring/urban arts program at City Mission for the junior and senior high students in the Brightmoor neighborhood. There are 35 kids signed up for the program. I've been working with the director of the mentoring program to smooth out a schedule for all these kids since I am the only one teaching on this night. The way that everything falls for this term it looks like we will have 5 non-consecutive weeks to provide the program and then have a performance in December. With God all things are possible, right!:) Technically, i'm not starting until Oct. 23, so i'm still working on choosing the content that will work the best for this schedule. It's not been easy, so i'd love your prayers! Also, please pray that each of the kids in this program would have the desire to be there and have a good attitude shown through action and word. It makes a world of difference to the atmosphere of the class!

Opening Day for Urban Arts After School

Yesterday was the kick off for the after school programs with Urban Arts. I did double duty in the city starting with the program at City Mission in the afternoon and then jogging over to central Detroit to teach at CDC. Both programs ran pretty smoothly. My friend, Laura, who is helping me on Tuesdays did a great job team teaching with me!

At City Mission, we are working with the 4-6 graders at the academy. It's a small group of kids, but they are wonderful! We are focusing on drama and vocal music this fall. A good friend of mine directs a children's program called New Community Kids at Kensington Community Church. We have decided to partner with them and give the City Mission kids a chance to experience a performance on a "real" stage with the kids from NCK. I think this is going to be such a great experience for them!

Central Detroit Christian has us working with kindergarten through 6th grade. We have a lot of kid! Two grades rotate at a time to us for a 30 minute period. The other two segments they get are Bible and Academics. It's really a neat way to provide all three elements for the kids. The only downfall is the 30 minutes feels like about 10 after we start working with them. I know I am going to be asking the Lord to multiply my time!

In both programs we are focusing on our Christmas performance at the beginning of December. City Mission is learning a Christmas medley that will tie in with the kids at KCC and then will be working on another Christmas song and short drama for their local performance. Central Detroit Christian kids are working on a 5 song Christmas medley with choreography and props. Both are going to be pretty cute!

Writing curriculum-sounds like fun, huh:)

I had a good meeting today with CDC, Central Detroit Christian. I was asked to create the curriculum for the K-5th grade arts portion of their Breakthrough Enrichment program that is held on Tuesday nights. I was planning on teaching an Urban Arts class for middle school girls already, but when I was approached with this task, I prayed about it and felt like this was a greater need in CDC's ministry. Since I am partnering with different ministries in Detroit, I believe strongly in being sensitive to the needs of the ministry. So, for at least the first term, through Christmas, I'll be focusing on the elementary kids.

I am going to miss my summer staff. I have only one volunteer who is available to serve with me on Tuesday nights. Thank goodness though! She will be focusing on the music and I on the drama. As I type this, my brain is going in a million directions thinking about what the kids will perform for the program. Pray that the Lord continues to give me creativity in designing a program for this fall and for the next term. (and of course, those of you who have creative minds, feel free to comment with any ideas you may have!)