2009 proved to be quite a banner year at ENACT. With the support of our students, partner schools, parents, and many friends, we were able to secure funding from the NYC Council to continue our year-long partnership programs at three schools here in New York City. Already we have been able to bring our pioneering creative drama approach to 35 schools in the 2009-10 school year, more than half of last year’s total! Through our hard-working corps of teaching artists and the newly-formed ENACT Parent Advisory Committee, we have already reached more parents than ever before.
You can join us in making a dramatic difference in the lives of our City’s youth by making a tax-deductible gift to ENACT. Due to low administrative costs, 82 cents of each dollar you give is spent to directly support ENACT’s programming efforts. Visit www.enact.org to learn what you can do to help keep the ENACT program in schools.
Spotlight: Alex Bell, 11th Grade
Legacy School for Integrated Studies
“ENACT means a lot to me. I have more confidence from ENACT. It makes me want to be an actor. ENACT gives me a good idea of what I want to do in the future. Anytime I act, I feel happy and I enjoy it. Before I act I get shy, but after I finish doing my part I feel good. I’ve got more confidence.”
Like too many students in New York City, Alex Bell had not been able to find anything at school that kept him interested, until he started at Legacy and began attending ENACT workshops every week.
Hazel Reid has seen the transformation in her nephew. “ENACT has had a very positive impact on Alex in enhancing his ability to develop language skills and self-confidence.” Says Hazel, “ENACT gets thousands of students excited about participating in a learning experience, and they tend to carry that sense of excitement to other areas of their school performance.”
Learn more about the ENACT program at Legacy School and our other school partnership programs at www.enact.org/Programs/schoolpartnerships.php.
Special De Novo performance offer
With the purchase of a special benefit ticket ($20) for “De Novo” Part I - Lil’ Silent, catch a great performance and support ENACT at the same time! For every benefit ticket sold, ENACT receives $8 to support our programs. This offer is valid for the following dates and times: 1/9 at 6pm, 1/10 at 4pm, 1/11 at 10:30am & 1pm at the TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor). To purchase tickets, visit www.SmartTix.com and select “ENACT BENEFIT TICKET” or call (212) 868-4444.
Written and directed by ENACT Teaching Artist Jeffrey Solomon, and starring ENACT’s Director of Performance, Emily Weiner, De Novo is the true story of fourteen year old Edgar Chocoy, who fled Guatemala to escape the largest gang in Central America only to wind up in U.S. immigration custody. Crafted entirely from immigration court transcripts, interviews, and letters, De Novo provides a rare glimpse into the lives of undocumented youth. For more information, email DeNovoBiz@gmail.com.
Parent Advisory Committee working to build community
On October 24, the ENACT Parent Advisory Committee kicked off the new school year. 21 parents, students, and ENACT staff members gathered to share the successes and hopes for their children during the year. The Parent Advisory Committee also celebrated the holidays on December 13, with a family outing to see the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater.
The Parent Advisory Committee was created to increase opportunities for parents to get involved with their children at school and to create a community of support for ENACT parents.
Parent Advisory Committee Open House - January 30
ENACT is holding an open house for parents who wish to learn more about the Parent Advisory Committee.
Parent Advisory Committee Open House
Saturday, January 30, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
ENACT (630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 301 NY, NY 10036)
For more information, contact Betty Graham at (212) 741-6591 ext. 217, or Johanna Creswell at ext. 224.
Download the Open House flyer »
ENACT in Drama Therapy textbook
ENACT Founder & Executive Director, Diana Feldman, L-CAT, RDT, and Director of Research & Training, Emilie Ward, L-CAT, RDT, recently published a chapter in Current Approaches in Drama Therapy (2nd Edition, Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, c2009). This chapter describes the 20+ year history and application of the ENACT method in New York City’s public school system.
To read an excerpt from the chapter, visit www.enact.org.
Special thanks to: NYC Council, NYC Dept. of Education, United Way of New York City, Ford Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, The Countess Moira Charitable Foundation, Marion E. Kenworthy-Sarah H. Swift Foundation, The Sexauer Foundation, The Whistler Trust, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, The Rite Aid Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Barker Welfare Foundation, The Morrison & Foerster Foundation, Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation, TJX Foundation, Colgate Palmolive Company, Assurant Foundation, Glickenhaus Foundation, Select Equity Group, Planet Connections Festivity, and other generous funders.
We make a dramatic difference | 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 301 | New York, NY 10036 | (212) 741-6591 | www.enact.org