Our members facilitate after-school arts-based learning experiences that serve K-12 students in Baltimore City. Members also facilitate art making opportunities for community residents, recruit and manage volunteers, and gain valuable professional experience in community art and non-profit work.
CAC also serves at the Community Arts Residency for graduate students in the MFA Community Arts programs, as a means of providing in-the-field experience during their graduate studies. However, it is certainly possible to apply to the CAC program without being a graduate student.
Members will work with their host organizations to design and implement high quality arts-based activities for children and youth. Members will develop curriculum, teach classes and workshops, and assist in the evaluation of classes and program activities. Members will expand the range of after school program offerings, providing outreach to potential program participants, publicizing opportunities and events, and incorporating ongoing feedback from children served into program planning. CAC members will also assist in increasing volunteer opportunities and active networks of volunteers. CAC members will design and implement community-strengthening projects that develop as an outgrowth of the arts-based activities that members will provide in out-of-school time programs.
Service Activities
- Facilitate after-school/out of school-time art programs for K-12 youth in Baltimore City
- Engage communities in art projects for all ages that give voice to local priorities
- Recruit and coordinate volunteers
- Provide programmatic and capacity support to host site organizations
- Participate in professional development training workshops, hosted by the CAC program
- Record working hours on AmeriCorps time sheets
- Record data about art programs and write reflections in Monthly Reports
- Maintain strong communication with CAC Program Manager and Site Supervisors
Community Need Addressed
Baltimore City Public Schools are facing a crisis in social and emotional climate, negatively affecting the way students learn, and their relationship to their schools. Lack of access to art programming and service-learning opportunities also negatively affects Baltimore City Public School students’ growth, healthy learning, and development. In a 2012 study of youth participants in Baltimore City community arts programs conducted by Maryland Institute College of Art researcher Rebecca Yenawine, it was found that 88% of participants report feeling happy or very happy in their arts programs, as compared to only 55% who reported being happy or very happy in their neighborhoods. Further, the 2015 Baltimore City Schools’ Climate survey showed that only 60% of students would choose to stay at their schools if given the option, 58% of students think bullying is a problem in their schools, and 58% see fighting as a problem as well. As an alternative, the positive environment reported in out-of-school time community arts programs offers a place where youth are able to feel safe, joyful, and supported in learning. As noted by the Maryland Out of School Time Network, students enrolled in programs like the Community Art Collaborative (CAC) are: more likely to attend school regularly; more likely to graduate high school; less likely to be involved in risky behavior or juvenile crime; and more engaged in learning. (After School Alliance, October 2009, America After 3PM Report).
Position Outcomes
Community Art Collaborative (CAC) AmeriCorps members will partner with out-of-school time non-profit organizations to provide opportunities for creative expression and art & design skill building for K-12 youth, which will help strengthen their confidence and commitment to learning. CAC members will also work on increasing academic engagement in their students, through innovative art programming, mentorship, service-based learning, skill development, and community building. Similarly, CAC members will be able to use art a tool for activism and community development in the neighborhoods where they will be placed for a year-long residency. They will use art making as a vehicle for elevating community issues to the spotlight, and giving community members a more amplified voice in their city. Through training workshops in the program, CAC members will also gain valuable professional experience in the community arts and non-profit fields, which will support the work at their Host Sites.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Program Benefits for the 2018-19 Year:
-A living allowance of $13,700 for the year (Paid in bi-weekly amounts from MICA)
-Free health coverage (through a special AmeriCorps healthcare plan with Cigna). This includes: medical, dental and vision.
-Child care benefits. (Partial reimbursement for childcare costs)
-A federal Education Award of $5,920 upon successful completion of your service, which can be used to pay eligible student loans or other eligible educational expenses. (For more info, please see this website about the Segal Education Award)
-Deferment of eligible student loans while you are in service, and repayment of the interest that accrues while they are in deferment.
-Ongoing professional development training in curriculum development, classroom management, grant writing, community organizing, and much more!
-Access to tons of valuable resources at MICA, including: Downloading free software (Adobe Creative Suite & Microsoft Office), access to resources at the MICA Decker Library, and access to rental technology equipment at the MICA Tech Center (rental cameras, video cameras, projectors, lighting kits, etc).
-Valuable work experience that can help propel your career forward after AmeriCorps.
-Access to the citywide and national AmeriCorps network for future opportunities and general networking.
-Being part of a cohort team of community arts colleagues that you can collaborate with and learn from.
-The option of staying on for a second year of the program, to further develop projects and relationships at your CAC Host Site.
Skills you will gain
time keeping, program management, teaching, event planning, facilitation, etc.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment