TheGifted Arts Plans to Offer Day Programming for WCPSS Students Learning Virtually This School Year. Here’s How To Help.
Some parents recognize that their students thrive in structured educational settings and are privileged to be able to make that decision. Others — like parents who fall into the low-income category — work full-time and have no other choice but to send their child to school, a place where they would normally be safe.
Wake County Public Schools (with approval from Governor Cooper), recently announced plans to re-open in August, with students operating a three-week rotation schedule. Under this “Plan B,” students will experience in-school learning for one week and participate in a virtual learning experience for two weeks before starting the cycle over again. While that may be a decent option for keeping students physically safe while engaged in their education, the plan doesn’t provide solutions to support working parents who can’t afford to lose income in order to continue serving as their child’s primary educator.
TheGifted Arts, a performing arts and leadership-focused nonprofit operating in Raleigh and Garner, wants to help — but they need a permanent space for their organization first and they need to raise $50,000 to get there. Their deadline is Thursday, August 6. That financial goal won’t just mean that TheGifted Arts can continue supporting Black and Brown students with after-school arts-based programming that teaches leadership skills, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. It means they’ll be able to open up day programming that will give students of full-time, essential workers a safe place to go for on-site tutoring and mentorship. In total, the organization expects to be able to serve 355 students in the 2020-21 school year
As of July 20, they’re 30% of their way to that goal. You can help by donating now!
To see TheGifted Arts in action, tune in to their annual live show — happening virtually this year due to COVID-19 — on Thursday, August 6 at 7 pm.
