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OUR STORY
WHAT IS CULTURE FOR ONE?
Culture for One was created in 2010, when our Founder Linn Tanzman invited Kadijah, a young woman in foster care, to a Broadway show and out for a meal, in partnership with a local foster care agency. The impact this event had on both Kadijah and Linn motivated Linn to expand this opportunity to many more children in New York City’s foster care system. That year, 2010, Culture for One served 53 children. Today, we serve over 2,000 of New York City’s children in foster care each year. We offer four programs for children living in residences and in foster homes: CULTURAL EXCURSIONS, CREATIVE ARTS WORKSHOPS, ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS, and FAMILY ARTOGETHER. There is no other non-profit in New York City devoted to ensuring that children in foster care have access to arts and cultural programming.
WHAT IS CULTURE FOR ONE'S GOAL?
Culture for One’s goal is to change the trajectory of the lives of New York City children in foster care through the power of the arts. A significant body of research demonstrates that engaging in the arts promotes healthy social, emotional, and cognitive development among children at every developmental stage. Yet, children in the foster care system only receive basic care, including housing in either a residence or with a foster family, and social services. They do not receive extracurricular enrichment activities, such as the opportunity to participate in the creative arts. This is a gap that CFO fills. Each year, approximately 2,000 NYC children in foster care participate in our programs. We wish to continually increase opportunities for children in care to experience the arts, provide greater awareness of the needs of youth in care, and increase private citizen and corporate involvement to help us change the outcomes for children and youth in foster care.
who are the CHILDren WE SERVE?
Culture for One serves children in foster care in New York City from ages 21 months to 21 years. Some young people continue to receive extended services beyond that age if they enrolled in college or in a GED program. We work with children at every developmental stage. We provide arts experiences to children who are newly separated from their families, who have been in care for a number of years, who live with special health needs and disabilities, and who use English as a second language.
OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Culture for One provides services to children who are living in foster homes, who are adopted from foster care, or who live in residential care. Our foster care agency partners are the referral source for requested programming, and our goal is to customize our programs to best meet the needs of the agency and the children they serve. Our outreach to new families and youth in residence has continued to grow as a result of recommendations from case workers, administrators, and other agency personnel with whom we work.
OUR FOSTER CARE AGENCIES
Culture for One partners with foster care agencies throughout New York City and in Westchester County. Our agency partners represent children in the NYC foster care system and provide residential housing as well as services for foster families. Because of the positive outcomes of our programs, several of our agency partners have implemented them into their regularly scheduled instruction.
““If it wasn’t for Culture for One’s help, I know I never would have had a great experience of being part of this class... and that just kept motivating me to keep going and push through any and every obstacle I faced.” ”
What are the greatest challenges facing children in OUR program?
Loneliness, isolation and the resulting trauma are some of the greatest challenges children in foster care face, along with a lack of opportunities as compared to their peers. Children in foster care have fewer connections to adults, and this can limit their opportunities as they grow into adulthood. Young people who have been in care are significantly more likely to experience homelessness, poor educational outcomes, unemployment, illness, incarceration, teen pregnancy, and violence.
· 20% will be instantly homeless when they age out of care.
· Only 50% will have some form of gainful employment by the age of 24.
· About 25% will not graduate from high school or pass their GED.
· Less than 3% will earn a college degree at any point in their life.
· 70% of girls will become pregnant before the age of 21.
· Nearly 60% of young men will be convicted of a crime.
· Despite all these challenges, 70% say that they would like to attend college one day.
Why art as a focus for intervention?
Exposure to the arts and positive role models help vulnerable youth build confidence, life skills, and new interests, as well as improve their academic performance. In fact, students who have had training in the arts are 29% more likely to apply to college. The College Board recognizes the arts as a key aspect of college preparation in its Arts Framework, noting the increasing search for creativity and innovation in applicants by college admissions boards. Exposure to and engagement with the arts also brings them rare instances of joy, helps them find meaning in their own lives, allows them to begin to make sense of their experiences, and provides life-long tools for self-nurture, expression, and employment.
OUR IMPACT
One way to measure success of our programs is by numbers of youth we serve: each year we serve more than 3000 children in foster care.
More important than the numbers, we see first-hand how our programs can change lives, and how the longer a young person is in our programs, the better they do.
“Through art, the children are able to therapeutically channel their feelings regarding their current situation. They learn new and sustainable ways of expressing their emotions and positive coping methods. Afterwards, they exhibit pride in their accomplishments.”
