Mission Statement
City Hearts Kids Say "Yes" To The Arts The Mission City Hearts: Kids Say "Yes" To The Arts is committed to intervene in a loving, supportive and nurturing way to break the cycle of poverty, neglect, abuse, homelessness, delinquency and violence that destroys the lives of our children. Through the discipline and healing of classes, workshops and performing experiences in the Arts, City Hearts provides positive role models, enrichment and inspiration for our children to learn to be productive, creative, law-abiding members of society.
Description
• City Hearts is a non-profit organization which has offered free visual and performing arts classes to children in Los Angeles for over 17 years. Established in 1984 by criminal defense attorneys, Sherry and Bob Jason. City Hearts was founded on the belief that the Arts are the most powerful tools to communicate with and rehabilitate troubled youth at risk from gangs and drugs. City Hearts has come to be an integral part of the preventive and rehabilitative effort in Los Angeles' inner city, and serves as a model for youth diversion programs across the country. • The 2001 schedule served 500 plus children per week, ages 5-18, with FREE after-school and weekend classes in Theater, Dance, Music, Photography, Circus Arts & Shakespeare. • Our Summer Camp of the Arts 2000 reached 200 of our youngest students ages 5-10, starting these inner city children on the road to discovery and love of learning. • Programs include our Arts and Literacy For Tomorrows Education (A.L.I.T.E.) Project, providing after school literacy coaching in an Arts-infused environment. As well, we have programs developed specifically for high-risk youth in crisis, classes and workshops "For Girls Only" and our ground breaking "SENTENCED TO THE STAGE" program for youthful offenders on probation. • AWARDS - City Hearts is honored to be one of the inaugural recipients of the "Sunny Days Award", given by The Sesame Street Parent's Magazine and the Children's Television Workshop. We are also proud of being one of the 200 outstanding Agencies nationwide named in The President's Committee On The Arts and Humanities report, "Coming Up Taller". City Hearts received the PASS Award (Prevention For A Safer Society) from the National Council On Crime and Delinquency, as a model program of prevention. As well, we have received recognition from the California State Legislature, The Los Angeles Mayor's Office, City Council and Board of Supervisors, and appeared on NBC Nightly News, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, as well as receiving attention from Newsweek, and various national and international magazines and publications. " In 1977, as a new lawyer, I toured Central Juvenile Hall where I watched in sadness and fascination as a convicted 13 year old murderer took his first piano lesson. He was a prodigy, the music of Mozart touching his soul. I wondered what would have been his case history if he had met the piano before he met gangs. The operative theme of City Hearts is: "They need not have a penny in their pocket; they need only the desire to Dance or Sing or Dream". The children of City Hearts begin their young lives in an inner city island of despair. We know that through the magic of the Arts, we can and do inspire them. " - Sherry Jason, Founder. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• City Hearts Office: P.O. Box 1314, Topanga, CA. 90290. (310) 455-2898 City Hearts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Tax ID# 95-4036895.
