Changing students’ lives and building stronger communities

Community safety

Central LA South LA East LA

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

Benkadi has been serving under-resourced communities in LA for the last four years. We have seen firsthand the disparities in access to opportunities for students across Watts, Inglewood, and South Central compared to more affluent neighborhoods.
Low-income communities often experience underfunded schools, limited community programming, and a lack of resources that support children's holistic well-being. This contributes to challenges in social-emotional development, mental health, and a reduced sense of cultural identity and appreciation.
Families in these areas face challenges securing affordable and enriching after-school care for their children. This leaves students without structured environments during critical out-of-school hours, potentially leading to missed opportunities for positive development. It also burdens working parents who may not have viable childcare options. Benkadi provides fun learning opportunities for youth while supporting their families.

Benkadi's 36-week after-school program in West African drum, dance, and culture classes is led by dedicated drum and dance instructors. These experiential sessions engage students creatively, physically, and cognitively as they learn traditional rhythms on authentic instruments and explore their corresponding dances. The participants are introduced to 5-6 distinct rhythms per semester, allowing 3-4 per week per rhythm, building foundational competence in individual techniques, ensemble playing, soloing, and structured improvisation. The energetic dance component further enhances gross motor skills, spatial awareness, and physical expression. The program culminates in a performance for the parents and broader community.
Benkadi's program is a comprehensive solution comprising expert instruction, authentic well maintained drums and a unique program of accompanying social studies curriculum with teaching aides, assessments, written and video materials providing social and cultural context for the art forms taught This total package delivers not only a unique and enriching arts education but also serves as a crucial after-school support system, fostering the holistic development of students and strengthening the communities it serves. A single class accommodates students from all backgrounds, all abilities, ages, and experience levels. Students with limited English can also thrive because so much is visually demonstrated. The program is really fun and engaging.

Short term, the program provides a safe, structured, and culturally responsive environment for students to gain lifelong creative, physical, and cognitive skills. These students will be 5x less likely to drop out of school, 4x more likely to receive a bachelor's degree, and 30% more inclined to pursue a profession (California Alliance for Arts Education data).
Long term, the program will help close the gap in access to the arts and culturally relevant art programs, and increase the availability in underserved areas of a safe, engaging, and positive environment for holistic youth development.
The majority of funds directly support the teachers and their families who live in our communities. It also helps address the lack of exposure and opportunities to experience the rich arts culture from a continent which comprises 25% of the world’s countries and population, and to which we have almost no exposure. That increases cultural competence and empathy within our community.