All posts by Carmen Lawrence-Billé

News

Leveling the Playing Field: ABC on Panel for National Girls & Women In Sports Day

ABC's Sally Grimes Invited to Speak on "Women In Sports" Panel at the University of Cincinnati

On Saturday, January 28, 2023, the University of Cincinnati celebrated National Girls & Women In Sports Day at Fifth Third Arena, before their women’s basketball team competed against Wichita State. UC Athletics honored the occasion by hosting a “Women In Sports” panel, with prominent women around Cincinnati who work in the sports industry. ABC’s Sally Grimes had the honor of being invited to speak at the event, along with other distinguished women from around Cincinnati.

Other panelists included Madison Mullinger of the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackie Regruth and Emily Robinson of FC Cincinnati, and finally Betsy Ross, the President and Founder of Game Day Communications, who also previously worked 5 years as an anchor at ESPN.

The panel was lead by Jen Strum, the Associate Athletic Director of Leadership and Learning at UC. Strum asked each panelist several question about their careers, such as what strengths they find important, challenges they have overcome, the work environment they currently encounter, and what led them to pursue a career in sports. In addition, the panel gave advice to and took questions from the young women in the audience, many of whom are looking to pursue a career in athletics. 

Thank you to the University of Cincinnati for hosting such an amazing event! ABC is honored to have our own Sally Grimes included on this panel, acknowledging National Girls & Women in Sports Day!

News

ABC Welcomes New Members to the Board

Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC) added two new members to their Board of Directors, expanding its reach into the Cincinnati arts and athletics communities. The new board members include Sydney Fine, Senior Director of Impact at ArtWorks, and Alexandra Simons, Director of Community Engagement at the Cincinnati Bengals. Both are long-time allies and friends of ABC who regularly collaborate on efforts to increase access to extracurricular activities for Cincinnati-area students.

As part of ABC’s strategic planning process, the organization conducted an analysis of the board. “We have an exceptional board, and we are always attentive to bringing new perspectives to the table representing all the programs we have across ABC,” shared Dick Friedman, President of ABC’s Board. “Sydney [Fine] will bring a wealth of knowledge about the Cincinnati arts scene, just as Alex [Simons] will on Cincinnati athletics. As we grow our arts programs and broaden our athletics initiatives, their perspectives will be critical.”

Sydney Fine

Senior Director of Impact, ArtWorks Cincinnati

Sydney Fine spent the beginnings of her career as a camp counselor and teacher with Teach for America before she pivoted to the youth development non-profit sector. Beyond education, her background includes fundraising and creating workforce development programming for teens and young adults. “Ensuring that youth have access to extra-curricular enrichment opportunities has been my number one passion for the past decade,” Fine shared. “I’m thrilled to be a part of an organization that does this so effectively and is committed to expanding access to the arts.”

Sydney serves at ArtWorks as Senior Director of Impact, where she leads the strategic direction, management, and evaluation of ArtWorks’ you and artist programs, public art outcomes, and community engagement initiatives. She also serves as a board member of ish, an organization exploring Jewish cultural traditions through the arts.

Alexandra Simons

Director of Community Engagement, Cincinnati Bengals

The 2022 NFL season marks Alex Simon’s 13th season with the Bengals. She spent her first five seasons responsible for Paycor Stadium’s 150+ private events. In 2015 she moved to the corporate partnerships team where her understanding of the business side of sports started to take shape. In 2018 she began leading the Bengals Community Engagement efforts.

Prior to joining the Bengals, Alex spent four years in marketing and communications. Alex is an integral supporter of ABC, helping with major projects including the AAA Pathway and the rebuilding of the South Avondale Elementary field. “The positive impact sports have on young people is invaluable and I am excited for the opportunity to help ABC continue its mission of ensuring young people have access to sports and extracurriculars that will equip them with key life skills that are the building blocks to success on and off the field,” Alex said.

News

Alpha Delta Boule Adopts Winton Hills Academy, Provides Enrichment Opportunities to Students

A Plaque Dedication Ceremony was held on 11/22/2022 to honor Alpha Delta Boule's adoption of Winton Hills Academy. The crowd is addressed by Kenneth Parker, United States Attorney for the Southwest District of Ohio and Sire of the Alpha Delta Boule

Alpha Delta Boule is a national non-profit organization, with a local chapter that is heavily involved in helping students at Cincinnati Public Schools through various programs and opportunities. Alpha Delta Boule has been very active at Winton Hills Academy over the past few years, forming a strong relationship with Shelby Zimmer, ABC’s Resource Coordinator at Winton Hills.

In Cincinnati, the name Jim Anderson is commonly associated with the Bengals, given his 29-year tenure as the running backs coach. However, since retiring, he works tirelessly with the Cincinnati chapter of Alpha Delta Boule. Coach Anderson has been an incredible advocate for the students of Winton Hills Academy, showing great dedication to the students and families in the area.

This connection between Shelby and Coach Anderson has created numerous opportunities for students at Winton Hills, such as Donuts With Dudes and Muffins With Mom events, the Achievement Behavior Consistency Awards Ceremony, providing students with the opportunity to attend the Men of Honor Ceremony, leading a coat drive for students in need, and many more endeavors that benefit the students, families, and community of Winton Hills.

Alpha Delta Boule Adopts Winton Hills Academy, Honors School with Plaque Dedication

On November 22, 2022, the Alpha Delta Boule (ADB) held a ceremony to formally adopt Winton Hills Academy. Kenneth Parker, the United States Attorney for the Southwest District of Ohio and Sire Archon of the ADB, spoke to the crowd and presented Winton Hills Academy with a plaque, commemorating Alpha Delta Boule’s adoption of Winton Hills Academy.

Coach Jim Anderson gave an introductory speech, welcoming the audience and thanking them for their attendance. Coach Anderson pledged Alpha Delta Boule’s support of Winton Hills, making sure everyone in attendance knew that this adoption is more than just a display, but a vow that the Alpha Delta Boule will do everything in their power to support Winton Hills for years to come.

Following Coach Anderson’s introduction, Attorney Parker addressed the audience, speaking of how excited he is to try and reach students at a young age, and provide them with programs that instill hope. Attorney Parker said that in his work, he sees that many of the troubled individuals face socio-economical conditions that impact their ability to achieve a quality education. Because of this lack of education and lack of opportunity, too many times students lose hope.

Attorney Parker stressed that the staff in attendance are community problem solvers, helping to keep students focused and motivated to pursue their education. He also stressed how important it is to keep the students from losing hope, and “keeping the light from going out in their eyes.”

Attorney Parker echoed many of the same statements as Coach Anderson; that this formal adoption of Winton Hills means that the Alpha Delta Boule will be truly dedicated to supporting students at Winton Hills. He stressed that the faculty can come to the Alpha Delta Boule when they have a need or can create an opportunity, and the Alpha Delta Boule will utilize their expansive network of connections to make something happen.  

Attorney Parker then presented a plaque to the faculty at Winton Hills, with ABC Resource Coordinator Shelby Zimmer on-hand to accept the honor. The commemorative plaque is on display in the main atrium of Winton Hills Academy.

ABC Resource Coordinator Shelby Zimmer accepts the plaque on behalf of Winton Hills

ABC is incredibly humbled to by the abundant support of Winton Hills Academy from the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Alpha Delta Boule. We are very grateful to have allies in the Cincinnati community like Alpha Delta Boule, who share our mission to provide opportunities for students in need.

And of course, we are grateful for Shelby Zimmer, our amazing Resource Coordinator at Winton Hills! Shelby helped foster and grow the relationship with Alpha Delta Boule, and is a valued advocate for the students of Winton Hills Academy. 

ADB Supports Donuts With Dudes Event on 10/20/2022

Joe Kelly, of the Cincinnati Bengals, addresses the audience at Winton Hills Academy

On Thursday, October 20th, Winton Hills Academy hosted a former NFL great, as well as 130 students and paternal figures for the 2nd Annual Donuts With Dudes event.

The mentorship and guidance of parental figures can be profoundly impactful on the development of children. Studies have shown that more parental involvement can directly contribute to increased confidence, better communication skills, and positive cognitive and social adjustments. With this in mind, Shelby Zimmer, ABC Resource Coordinator at Winton Hills Academy, teamed up with Alpha Delta Boule (ADB) to create an event called Donuts with Dad.

The inaugural event took place in October of 2021, and the concept for the event was so popular, that all of the 50 registration slots were filled within four hours, and a second session was added. The first event was well received, with nothing but incredibly positive feedback from the staff, students, and parental figures.

After the success of the 2021 event, Shelby and the Alpha Delta Boule teamed up to bring it back for 2022, with one small tweak. Shelby and the ADB wanted to make an effort to include paternal figures such as grandfathers, step-fathers, and other men who have stepped up to mentor and inspire the children at Winton Hills. For this reason, the 2022 event was renamed Donuts With Dudes.

Upon arriving at Winton Hills for the event, students and their fathers chose what items they wanted for breakfast from a large assortment of Servatii’s donuts, juices, coffee, and water. After a greeting and introduction, the speaker took the stage.

The speaker for the Donuts with Dudes event was former linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Kelly. Born in south-central Los Angeles, Kelly shared the great amount of adversity in his life on his way to the NFL.

Kelly spoke of how his mother stressed the importance of getting an education, and would not let him participate in sports if he did not have the grades. Kelly stressed the importance of an education to the students, sharing how he utilized his education to start his own business, Kelly Youth Services, when his 11-year playing career came to an end. He encouraged the children to listen to the advice of their parents and paternal figures, and encouraged each to pursue their own dreams.

Kelly continued by speaking about the influence of caregivers, stating that the paternal figures in the audience can be more influential than any celebrities. He commended the paternal figures for their active attendance at the event, and commented on how excited the children were to see them arrive. Kelly stressed that little things like this can go a long way, and urged the adults in the audience to continue to support and be actively involved in the lives of their children.

After he was done speaking, Joe Kelly cordially took questions from students before participating in a photo session with the audience. The high level of engagement from the students and the nature of their questions made it very clear that they had taken the messages from Kelly to heart.

This event would not have been possible without the tremendous efforts of Coach Jim Anderson, Marty Dunn, and the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Alpha Delta Boule. Coach Anderson was vital in arranging Joe Kelly to speak at Winton Hills, and the Alpha Delta Boule supported the event financially as well. 

We are also grateful for Shelby Zimmer, ABC’s resource coordinator at Winton Hills, who was vital in organizing the event. From helping organize the sign-up process, coordinating the staff at Winton Hills, and being the point-person to ensure that the event went well, Shelby did exceptional work in the organization of the Donuts with Dudes event, and we are incredibly grateful to have her on the ABC team. 

Jim Anderson, of the Alpha Delta Boule
News

Aiken High School Band Wins Downriver Showdown

We’re reminiscing back to warmer weather, and wanted to remind everyone of the triumphant success of Aiken High School at The Downriver Showdown in Ecorse, Michigan back in May, 2022! Over 7 high school marching bands from across the Midwest competed in Ecorse for bragging rights: which marching band would walk away number one?

Marching band isn’t for the feint of heart. It’s an incredibly physically trying art form that requires a fair amount of stamina and endurance- and it’s even more physically taxing if you participate in color guard or dance teams. Marching bands are a beautiful part of our United States cultural experience. This competition was for much more than bragging rights; it was a celebration of all things Americana and artistic.

The overnight band trip was an even greater opportunity for our students because it was a new adventure. “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of our students, as most of them have not left the city of Cincinnati. Our students in the band thrive on competition and have a hunger to be the best. This opportunity inspired them to practice harder than they ever have. It taught them to hold themselves and each other accountable for their actions in and out of the band classroom,” shared Aiken Band Director, Steve Barton, Ed.D. “As we were performing and listening to the other bands, I saw a focus and sense of pride I have never seen before. In the end, not only did the Aiken High School Band have their best performance of the year, but they brought home first place!”

 

While the students adventured northward, they stayed at a hotel and visited Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, OH. However, the highlight of the trip was most certainly the competition. It was the greatest experience I ever had, I learned so much from all the bands,” shared Christian, one of the students. 

“What I learned from this trip is to be more locked in with what I want to do,” said Elyjah, another student. “It taught me that there will always be somebody better than you and that you can always improve, no matter where you go.”

Thank You To Woodward Trust

Special thanks to Woodward Trust for making this experience and this victory possible. Aiken’s Band Director specifically said, “I want to thank you so much for giving our students the opportunity to perform in their very first band competition. Given the pandemic, it was a much needed reward for them and their hard work,” said Barton.

News

ABC Adds Staff for 2022 School Year

ABC has undergone major growth for the 2022-23 school year. We are expanding the number of schools where we offer our ABC programs, as well as expanding the number of CPS schools where we will provide direct support to athletics and act as the lead agency. In order to properly support our mission, ABC has created new positions within our organization. 

We are very excited to introduce our new staff members. You may also see some familiar faces in new roles within our organization. 

Program and Office Staff

  • Ricky Miller is the new Senior Manager of Athletics at ABC. This new role at ABC oversees, manages, and assists ABC’s high school athletic directors at Cincinnati Public Schools.
  • Vanessa Macy has been hired as the Member Services Manager. In this role, she will provide direct support to the members of ABC’s Fiscal Agency program (formerly known as Donor Directed accounts), such as the Ben Carlson-Berne Fund and Fourthwall Youth Studios.
  • Kaitlin Schiltz is the new Enrichment Coordinator at ABC. In this role, Kaitlin will advocate for children in the foster care system, attempting to connect 340 children with extracurricular activities. This includes managing the Kids In School Rule! program at Cincinnati Public Schools.
  • Austin Gullett has started a new role at ABC as the Athletics Coordinator. Austin works closely with the programs staff to execute ABC’s elementary athletic programs, such as soccer, martial arts, cross country, and more.
  • James Lacey has also begun a new role with ABC, in which he will be the Senior Manager of Resource Coordination. This new position oversees, manages, and assists ABC’s resource coordinators at Cincinnati Public Schools. James is also still very active at Woodford Paideia, where he previously served as resource coordinator.

Athletic Directors

  • David Miller (Gamble Montessori) and Chris O’Brien (Oyler) are not new to their positions, but starting this year, they are both now a part of ABC’s staff. We are honored and thrilled to have them both join our team, and excited to support athletics at Gamble and Oyler.
  • Gage Bley is the new Athletic Director at Riverview East Academy. ABC is excited to support athletics at Riverview East, starting this school year.
  • Davis Schaefer is the new Athletic Director at Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students. ABC is excited to begin supporting athletics at Spencer as well.
  • Jake Buchannan and Elijah Bugg are the new Assistant Athletic Directors at Walnut Hills High School. They will support head AD, Shauniece Steele, in her work at Walnut Hills.
  • Chloe Mayfield-Brown is the new Assistant Athletic Director at Western Hills/Dater. Chloe will support head AD, Phil O’Neal, in undertaking the athletics at Western Hills and Dater.

Resource Coordinators

  • Ashley Davis is the Resource Coordinator at Woodford Academy. She will work with ABC and the community to organize and support enrichment activities at Woodford.
  • Angel Griffin is the Resource Coordinator at Frederick Douglass Elementary School.  She will work with ABC and the community to organize and support enrichment activities at Douglass.
  • Karen Hordinski is the Resource Coordinator at Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students. ABC is delighted to be the new lead agency at Spencer Center, starting this school year. We look forward to supporting Karen and extracurriculars at Spencer Center.
  • ABC is thrilled to be the lead agency at LEAP Academy and Hartwell Elementary. We are currently looking to hire a resource coordinator to support enrichment activities at both of these schools. Please visit the “Join Our Team” page of our website for more information on these openings.
News

Partners Unite to Celebrate Elementary Soccer at TQL Stadium

Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC) is partnering with FC Cincinnati Foundation to host an invitational for its elementary soccer program, teaching children basic soccer skills, at Stargel and TQL Stadiums on November 10 from 10 am – 1 pm. Upwards of 350 elementary students from across the Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) district will partake in the event, featuring master classes and skill clinics, scrimmages, and tours of the world famous TQL Stadium. The event will be one of the largest celebrations of elementary soccer the city has ever seen, involving partners such as Mercy Health, the University of Cincinnati, and Xavier University.

This event marks the second year of collaboration between ABC and FC Cincinnati. Soccer Unites, presented by Old Spice, is an FC Cincinnati Foundation program which brings soccer programming to youth who may not otherwise be exposed or have the opportunity to play the sport. ABC partners with FC Cincinnati Foundation to deliver this program in CPS elementary schools, eliminating remaining barriers to access. “The uniqueness of this collaboration is that it delivers everything directly to the students: the transportation, the uniforms, the cleats, all of it. We make it easy to play, because everyone deserves to learn the skills and joys of team play,” says Executive Director of ABC, Sally Grimes. The free event, sponsored by First Financial Foundation and TQL Foundation, will take place during the school day with transportation provided by ABC, and meals and gifts provided by FC Cincinnati Foundation.

“FC Cincinnati Foundation’s mission is to improve the lives of children through soccer. We are proud to partner with Activities Beyond the Classroom to bring our Soccer Unites program to students across Cincinnati Public Schools,” said Kate Solomon, FC Cincinnati’s Vice President of Community Relations & Executive Director of FCC Foundation. “Today we celebrate all of the students participating in the program and their hard work and growth over the year.”

News

Barcelona Beats: ABC joins CPS students in Barcelona for jazz education

“Anything is possible, if the opportunity exists.”

From September 1-8, 2022, Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC) partnered with the Kennedy Heights Arts Center and Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) to take eleven students across the Atlantic to a jazz festival in Barcelona, Spain. 

In addition to several parent chaperones, the CPS Middle School Jazz Combo were accompanied on their trip by Dr. Isidore Rudnick, the Fine Arts Curiculum Manager and Director of the CPS Jazz Academy, as well as ABC’s Executive Director, Sally Grimes. “This is a tremendous, once in a lifetime experience for these students,” said Dr. Isidore Rudnick of the excursion.

The opportunity would never have been offered without the Jazz Festival, an annual event hosted by ABC to connect students across Cincinnati with local and international jazz artists, master classes and workshops, and performance opportunities on the main stage at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. In May 2022, the featured jazz artist was Joan Chamorro, internationally acclaimed jazz artist and educator. He enjoyed his time so thoroughly with our students that he invited them to participate in the 2022 edition of a prominent jazz festival in Barcelona, the Jazzing Festival de Sant Andreu.

With the generosity of a passionate arts supporter, eleven students (and many of their parents) were able to travel to Barcelona to play on an international stage, take classes with musicians from around the world, and experience an entirely different culture. Most of the students on the trip had never left the United States before, and most reported that their greatest anxieties lie around flying for the first time, being away from home, and making mistakes in foreign places. But they also shared their excitement to be learning new jazz skills from people very different from themselves, as well as seeing and experiencing a new culture for the first time. “I’m excited to learn about what it’s like to not be in the United States,” shared Carolina, a seventh grade percussionist from Walnut Hills.

CPS Middle School Jazz Combo Performance in Spain

Check out this video of the CPS Middle School Jazz Combo, featuring the opening song from their performance at the Jazzing Festival de Sant Andreu 2022 in Barcelona. ABC is so proud of what these students accomplished in Spain, and are pleased to share it with our audience.

Jazz Students Make Memories to Last a Lifetime

The students performed at the Jazzing Festival de Sant Andreu on Sunday, September 4th to a packed audience of jazz enthusiasts. The students also attended intimate workshops led by professional musicians throughout the weekend, gaining valuable insight to their craft. Throughout the weekend, the CPS students had the opportunity to socialize and perform with student musicians from Barcelona and the Canary Islands, forming new friendships that cross international boundaries.

The students packed their few days abroad full of amazing experiences. Evelyn, a seventh grade vibraphonist from Clark Montessori, shared her favorite parts of the trip were, “getting to see the view of [Barcelona], performing and practicing with new people, and most importantly being with my band mates.” In fact, many of the students proudly remarked about the bonding experience of doing new things with their peers. “I have a different relationship with everyone,” Tia, a sixth grade flautist from Parker Woods, shared, “I feel like everyone’s closer now.”

“I was only kind of friends with [my fellow Jazz Academy peers], but now I am really good friends with them,” shared a seventh grade saxophonist from Walnut Hills. “We are now going to hang out outside of [the Jazz Academy] too!”

While they certainly learned valuable skills in jazz musicianship and performance, they also shared how excited they were to learn about things completely separate from the jazz experience they’d come for. “I learned that I really enjoy flamenco dancing!” Carolina shared; Tia shared her piqued curiosity in architecture, particularly in La Segrada Familia Catedral; and Ben, a sixth grade trumpeter from Kilgour, learned that soccer is far more than a game in Europe. “Futbol is very important here.”

We at ABC are most proud of the social and emotional skills they honed in Barcelona. Students were reflective on their flight home and shared some of the deeper lessons this trip taught them. “I like adventure,” Jonas, a seventh grade trumpeter from Clark said. Ruby, a sixth grade clarinetist from Parker Woods, shared, “I love flying to new places and exploring their cultures.” Tia proudly shared, “I can be responsible without [the supervision of] my parents.” And finally, one student shared this profound thought: “With the right skills, anything is possible if the opportunity exists.”

ABC Supports Arts Enrichment

ABC is incredibly grateful for the partnership of Dr. Isidore Rudnick, the Fine Arts Curriculum Manager at Cincinnati Public Schools, and all that he contributed to this trip for the students. Dr. Rudnick’s international connections in the jazz world helped create this opportunity in Barcelona, and ABC is proud to have helped turn his vision into a reality. “Thank you to Dr. Rudnick for your incredible dedication to the students you serve,” said Sally Grimes, ABC Executive Director. “We are proud to partner with you on this trip, the International Jazz Festival, and future endeavors supporting musical education for students!”

Please click here to visit and subscribe to our YouTube page, where ABC will upload all of the videos we have obtained during this experience.  You can also click here to access our Facebook page, where our Executive Director kept a public travel diary of the experience as it was happening.

We are so proud to be able to provide opportunities like these to our students across Cincinnati. Do you want to support Cincinnati students having access to experiences like this in the future? Contact our Advancement Department to learn how you can make a difference in students’ lives today!

News

ABC and Adopt A Class Reaffirm Partnership Heading Into New School Year

As students and families embrace a new school year, ABC is excited to strengthen our partnership with Adopt A Class throughout the 2022-2023 school year. Adopt A Class connects teams of volunteer mentors from local corporate organizations and civic groups with schools in the community. Through their group mentoring program, Adopt A Class exposes students to a breadth of life and career readiness experiences, enabling thousands to engage in enrichment activities they otherwise wouldn’t be able to experience. They share ABC’s goal of bringing extra opportunities to students in need and inspiring students to explore new career paths that they may not have ever thought possible.

This school year, Adopt A Class will place teams of volunteer mentors at six elementary schools where ABC is the lead agency: Cheviot, Hartwell, Rockdale, Silverton, Woodford, and Winton Hills. Over 45 classrooms of students at these schools will get to explore a wide array of career paths through engaging, educational activities focusing on college and career readiness, STEAM, and essential employability skills, provided by mentors the volunteers during classroom visits. Students will also experience enriching field trips back to mentor teams’ places of employment or with an Adopt A Class community partner. Organizations such as VEGA Americas, Kroger, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Paycor, Cintas, Macy’s, and many more, participate in the Adopt A Class program, supporting students throughout the entire school year.

Adopt A Class Supports Cincinnati

In addition to the 6 CPS schools where ABC is the lead agency, Adopt A Class has also connected over 240 teams of corporate volunteers to classrooms across 36 schools in the Greater Cincinnati area, including 23 CPS schools. With the help of over 140 partner organizations, Adopt A Class reaches over 6,500 students in our communities.

At the end of the previous school year, Adopt A Class named ABC’s Cheri Jordan the 2022 Resource Coordinator of the Year for her exemplary work at Silverton Elementary. Cheri was honored during their end of year awards ceremony on June 7, 2022, at the Greenacres Arts Center.

ABC is grateful for the work of Adopt A Class and we look forward to a prosperous partnership this year and beyond!

News

Cincinnati Public Schools’ Middle School Jazz Combo to Perform at International Jazz Festival in Spain

The CPS Middle School Jazz Combo was the only student group invited to perform from the United States

Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) Middle School Jazz Combo will perform at the JAZZING Sant Andreu International Jazz Festival in Spain. The group, led by Dr. Isidore Rudnick, is the only student group from the United States invited to perform at the festival.

Eight sixth-grade students and three seventh-grade students from seven schools across the district, along with two CPS teachers and six parent chaperones will head to Barcelona, Spain to jam with their European Jazz counterparts, take jazz workshops with prominent guest artists from Europe and South America, and perform in two concerts on the Education Stage.

“Our students have worked extremely hard over the summer to prepare for the festival,” said Dr. Isidore Rudnick, CPS Fine Arts Curriculum Manager and Jazz Academy Director. “They will have a truly life changing experience performing on an international music festival stage and exploring the unique Catalonian culture of Spain”.

The middle school combo is part of the Youth Jazz Cincinnati partnership between CPS, Activities Beyond the Classroom and Kennedy Heights Arts Center. CPS students in the jazz academy, which has grown to over 100 students, range from grades four to 11. They receive weekly high quality jazz instruction at no cost at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center’s Lindner Annex. The program is funded in part by a grant from Impact 100. Additional ongoing support for the program is provided by the Mayerson Foundation Artistic Excellence Fund.

The CPS Middle School Jazz Combo group leaves for Spain on September 1, 2022 and returns on September 8, 2022. Students will perform on Sunday, September 4 at 12:00 p.m. and on Monday September 5 at 12:00PM. For more information about the festival, please visit: https://jazzingfestival.com/jazz-education-stage/.

News

ABC Doesn’t Take a Summer Break

Once upon a time, many years ago, ABC staff used to call summer our “quiet season.” While schools were out on break, ABC staff would slow down and plan for the year ahead.

When the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Cincinnati students back in 2020, we decided that education and enrichment can’t be put on hold. Futhermore, recent data reflects that the average student loses 17-34% of the prior year’s learning gains over summer break, and that learning loss is exacerbated for students in low-income households. 

Nowadays, there is no “quiet season” at ABC! We don’t want summer to be a time of loss and struggle; it should be for fun, experiential learning! We are proud to provide programs and support to our students year-round. With the help of our many partners and the individual schools we work with, we’ve served over 4,600 students this summer alone. Even compared to our impact during the school year, when we serve approximately 15,000 students, this is no number to balk at!

Take a look at some of the fun we’ve been having this summer.

Summer Scholars at Cincinnati Public Schools

Throughout the month of June, ABC partnered with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) in their Summer Scholars initiative.

CPS launched the landmark Summer Scholars program to provide additional educational and enrichment opportunities to students throughout the month of June at no cost to the students or their families.  While students spend their mornings focusing on academics and social/emotional learning, their afternoons are filled with enrichment activities, provided through partnership with ABC and other nonprofits.

Enrichment curriculums were designed mindfully and carefully to cater specifically to the needs and interests of each school’s student population. Some examples of the programming offered include music, visual arts, performing arts, STEM, team sports, American Sign Language, financial literacy, yoga, martial arts, and environmental learning.  

In total, ABC provided enrichment activities to 4,560 students at 19 different CPS schools. This totaled 312 activities per week and 2082 total hours of programming to students during Summer Scholars.

Big City Jazz

This June, ABC helped eleven students in the CPS Jazz Academy have some once in a lifetime experiences. Students participated in an all-expenses paid excursion, first to Pittsburgh, where they had the unique experience of recording their own playing in the MCG Jazz Recording Studio and later played in a jazz club. From there, students traveled to New York City and had the opportunities to play at the historic Harlem Nights Music Club and Lounge, take a Jazz workshop at the Lincoln Center, see a world-class ensemble play Duke Ellington’s top hits, and meet internationally acclaimed Jazz artist and educator Wynton Marsalis.

“Marsalis is perhaps the most recognized jazz artist and educator in the world today. He really doesn’t have any peer. He’s done so many amazing things for jazz education in his life and he’s the model that all of us jazz educators look up to. He’s a brilliant player, amazing composer, multi-Grammy winner, he started the jazz at Lincoln Center program, and directs that orchestra- so for me, one of the real highlights was the students getting to personally meet him,” Dr. Rudnick, Fine Arts Curriculum Manager at Cincinnati Public Schools, commented. 

While in New York City, students also had a chance to visit historic and iconic landmarks, including Times Square, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty. “Very few student groups get an opportunity like this,” Dr. Rudnick said. This opportunity was especially remarkable, given that it was free to participating students. “We don’t want any student to be excluded due to financial situations.”

ABC consistently supports the Jazz Academy throughout the school year. “Students are always taught about Beethoven and Mozart, but to qualify this as the only culturally significant music is a Eurocentric fallacy. It’s just not true,” said ABC Executive Director Sally Grimes. “Especially in Cincinnati, where we have such a rich history of jazz. That’s why the Jazz Academy is so important. We need to show kids role models of different colors in music; how are kids supposed to be something they can’t see?”

Basketball Camp with NBA Expertise

Over the July 22 weekend, a basketball skills training camp took place with instructors including Tim Hardaway Sr., five-time NBA All-Star Champion, and his son Tim Hardaway. Jr, current shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks. “I’m here, I’ve got my son here, I’ve got my nephews teaching here; this whole opportunity for this camp came about when my brother met the camp director, Daniel Ross. It’s great to have this time with my family, making an impact with so many other families,” Tim Hardaway Sr. shared. 

In partnership with The Ross X Factor, the organization running the camp, ABC offered scholarships to 23 students who otherwise could not have attended the pay-to-play camp. “I want this partnership with ABC to last for years to come,” said camp founder and director Daniel Ross. “This is too good an opportunity for any kid to miss.”

"It's a wonderful thing, [ABC] is doing," said Tim Hardaway Sr. of scholarship opportunity.

The three day-camp took place at Seven Hills High School and included students of all genders grades 3-12. Students honed their skills in speed, agility, and basketball technique as well as built social-emotional skills, such as self-confidence. “These kids could be at home, sitting around, getting into trouble but instead, they’re here. [On day one of camp], we’re wearing them down and getting their blood up; [days two and three], we’re going to teach them about endurance and perseverance,” Tim Hardaway Sr. explained. “These kids didn’t come to goof around, they’re here to work.”

Our special and most ardent thanks to Coach Daniel Ross, Tim Hardaway Sr., and Tim Hardaway Jr. for giving our students such a fantastic opportunity this summer!