Change young lives and build stronger communities

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

According to California Alliance for Arts Education, 85% of California public schools are not offering arts education in the quality and quantity mandated in the California education code. The gap only widens within under-resourced communities in Los Angeles.The sad fact is, that schools serving these very communities often lack the resources for any art programs. The profound impact of arts education on economically disadvantaged and system impacted students is well studied - they are 5x less likely to drop out, 4x more likely to receive a bachelor's degree, 30% more inclined to pursue a profession, shows the California Alliance for Arts Education data. In addition,there is not much diversity in the art programs offered in general. Building strong communities requires empathy and shared positive experiences. By exposing students to diverse artistic experiences and educational opportunities we foster their self-esteem and understanding across cultural backgrounds.

A full LA2050 grant would provide upto 80 middle school students from Watts, Inglewood and South Central LA with access a one-of-a kind, high quality art program for 36 weeks. It would also provide well paid work to LA based under-represented teaching artists and support LA based minority owned businesses. Benkadi distinguishes itself from other arts programs, not only because of its uncommon subject area - West African Drum and Dance, but also because it removes obstacles otherwise present to providing or accessing such a program. Benkadi provides equitable and relevant arts education. It packages up and delivers: expert teachers, custom curriculum, authentic instruments in quantity, and unique teaching and learning aids and tools. The Benkadi program is designed to promote creative expression, exposure to African arts culture, improve cognitive development, mental and physical wellbeing and create greater cross cultural understanding and empathy. In 34 weeks (an academic year) the students will learn to play West African drums, dance traditional West rhythms and will be exposed to grade appropriate social studies and arts culture information through a structured and tested curriculum.
In addition to the weekly classes, Benkadi students engage in one-off events that inform their understanding of future careers in the arts and industry. For example: In 2023, 40 students attended a Career Day at Disney Music Group, where they performed to 200 music industry professionals.

In the short term this grant will deliver quality, equitable and relevant social emotional learnings, improvements in mental and physical well being and create greater understanding and empathy in students that need this support the most and are least likely to receive it. What we do is backed by scientific research showing that regular rhythmic music and dance practice has many positive mental and physical impacts that extend beyond the classrooms and endure in the students’ lives generally. In the longer term the grant will support building stronger and inclusive communities. It will give Benkadi greater exposure, further track record of successful outcomes and enable us to raise more support and serve more communities. The award will support six traditional African drum and dance instructors as well as a small minority family owned business, that will host the program in its arts workshop space.

We measure impact through: Observation: A majority of class time requires active participation by the students in both drum and dance. In class testing confirms academic progression with regards to cultural content. Students demonstrate competency and mastery through performances for the school and other communities. Self Reporting: Benkadi gives questionnaires to students, parents and school teachers at the beginning and end of semesters for the collection of subjective and self-reported impact statements. Analysis: Benkadi works with the schools to review before and after grade, disciplinary and attendance records to discern any correlations between class participation and impacts on that data. Our data shows increased motivation in students to learn and attend school, increased focus and patience in given academic tasks, and a positive attitude in handling challenges in school. Students, teachers and parents appreciate the mental and physical health impacts on the students.