DMF Youth 2021-2022 Back-to-School Campaign!

DMF Youth is raising funds for our 2021-2022 Afterschool Series, serving four Title 1 schools and three homeless shelters in NYC’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. AND, thanks to Ioby, we will recieve up to $15,000 in matching funds!! With your help, we are hoping to raise $30,000 which goes a long way for our small nonprofit.  Every dollar counts and goes straight toward programming costs that allow DMF Youth to bring quality arts education and life skill development programs to deserving children in NYC's most underserved neigborhoods.  

The neighborhoors we work have higher concentrations of poverty than the rest of the city and were hit hard by the pandemic. During a time of collective anxiety and uncertainty, lessons central to DMF Youth - emotional management, mindfulness, resilience, creativity – were essential in helping our students remain mentally strong. As DMF Youth  transitions back to in-person sessions, our programs will not only continue helping children with mental health support, dance education, and Social Emotional Learning, but also provide childcare for parents and caregivers. According to the National Endowment for the Arts (one of our AMAZING funders), "The arts provide an outlet for students to process their emotions from disaster and trauma to begin the healing process and build resiliency, a key factor to successful transitions back to school."  In the recovery phase of COVID-19 pandemic, many parents and caregivers are financially unstable, not working and seeking new jobs, or going back to work and in need of childcare.  Our back-to-school campaign will help ensure our  programs are funded and remain FREE for all that wish to participate.  .

DMF Youth targets schools in low-income neighborhoods where afterschool programs and  arts education is limited. At the sites we currently serve, on average 85% are near or below the poverty rate, 14% are English Language Learners, and 90% are BIPOC or Latinx.   By teaching young students the life skills needed to rise above challenges, face their fears, and develop grit, we aim at breaking the cycle of poverty and adversity many of our students face.

If DMF Youth hits our $30,000 goal, we will be able to serve 200-300 children weekly and potentially EXPAND our programs in January to serve more schools and students on our waiting list.  

IMPORTANT:

• When making a donation please include your email so we can thank you for your support!
• If you are participating in one of our in-person or virtual fundraising events, you may donate whenever you want and donate on this page to attend!

DMF Youth empowers underserved students through arts education and life skill development programs that build self-confidence, social awareness, resilience, and grit. Driven by the vision of an equitable education system, we work to address several needs identified among the population we serve. The areas that DMF Youth programs seek to address include: 

Lack of afterschool programs 

In New York City, areas of concentrated poverty have limited access to afterschool programs. The neighborhoods that we work in have higher levels of concentrated poverty in comparison to the rest of the city. Providing afterschool services in these neighborhoods is a key factor in reducing the opportunity gap that persists in our education system. Research has shown that participation in afterschool programs is imperative to the success and health of a student. More time spent in afterschool programs leads to improved overall academic achievement, reduced school absences, behavioral improvements, and a greater connection to the school.

Lack of arts programs 

An arts education is another key factor when it comes to providing students with the tools they need to thrive in school and in life. A 2019 literature review on how the arts influence student learning found that art learners benefit with improved psychological well-being and physical health. The study found that giving students space for creative expression “can lower stress, improve memory, and make them feel more socially connected.” In New York City, about 20% of public schools do not offer any arts education programs. This percentage is even higher in areas of concentrated poverty. A lack of arts education further disadvantages low-income students. 

Need for mental health curriculum 

The traditional school day rarely addresses all of the needs of the students. While in-school curriculum focuses on academic skill building, necessary lessons on mental and emotional health are not widely taught.. Lessons relating to mental and emotional well-being are especially important for our students, who face serious challenges including poverty, low educational attainment, and parental incarceration.