Founded by Steve Orr back in 1994, a former Wall Street dude and co-founder of his own consulting firm Orr Associates, Inc. (OAI); he saw the critical need for infrastructure support for New York City’s youth organizations. Since its’ creation, Steve has helped raise over $37 million for NYC youth!

How do they do it?

“By applying best practices from the corporate and nonprofit sectors we empower our partner nonprofits with the tools to achieve sustainable growth.”

It’s a multi-layered board structure at Youth, I.N.C. which includes a formal Board of Directors (governs the organization, providing financial oversight and strategic direction); the Consulting Advisory Board (recruits corporate professionals to serve on the boards of our nonprofit partners); the Sustaining Board (designed to leverage the experiences, insight, and expertise of former board members still committed to building and investing in the future of Youth, I.N.C.); and the Young Professionals Committee (organizes fundraising events, learning opportunities, and volunteer projects for young professionals).

Of Youth, I.N.C.’s most active corporate partners, a.k.a. the Strategic Alliance, key players include: Alvarez & Marsal, Bank of America, Barclays Capital, Deloitte & Touche, LLP, Deutsche Bank, FD, Goldman, Sachs & Co., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Marathon Asset Management, Morgan Stanley, PineBridge Investments, and RR Donnelley.

The Youth, I.N.C. Get on Board Program matches corporate professionals with nonprofit organizations serving youth in New York City. The Program provides board development resources to nonprofits and board training to current board members. In addition, Youth, I.N.C. staff members educate and place interested corporate professionals on to nonprofit boards while providing additional training and support throughout board terms.

The Get on Board Program has trained more than 900 corporate executives as potential board members to date. The program has placed over 100 corporate professionals as nonprofit board members; 75% of placements are still active today and many of them rise to leadership positions.

To help potential board members identify organizations they’d like to collaborate with, Youth, I.N.C. has created a list of its’ current nonprofit partner organizations seeking support:

Youth, I.N.C. provides wonderful networking opportunities to empower and connect its’ nonprofit partners, three of which include Celebration, the Board Advancement Program and continuing professional development/networking opportunities such as the Venture Forward Conference.

Youth, I.N.C. offers service grants (grants of consulting and training services) to youth-serving nonprofits through its’ Celebration Program, providing tailored consulting to make them bigger, stronger, and more financially sustainable.

To date, Youth, I.N.C.’s Celebration Program has helped 88 nonprofit organizations raise over $13.5 million, serving as a catalyst for their long-term growth and success and transforming their futures.

Each year, the program culminates in a fundraising event, A Celebration to Benefit New York Kids. Paid for and produced by Youth, I.N.C., the collaborative special event gives selected organizations a highly visible, low-risk incentive to raise funds and thank their supporters for little to no cost.

Board Advancement Program – Youth, I.N.C. offers consulting services to youth-serving nonprofits through our Board Advancement Program, which helps boards reach the next level of leadership through customized assessments, hands-on consulting, and valuable tools.

The Board Advancement Program provides organizations with the opportunity to:

• Explore and build consensus on the board’s role, responsibilities, and functions
• Address critical and emerging issues related to the board and organization
• Help every board member become engaged in appropriate and meaningful ways

Participating organizations are assigned to work with a  strategic consultant over 18 months and receive the following services:

• Formal board assessment
• Facilitated board retreat
• Customized implementation plan (fundraising, recruitment, succession planning, board evaluation, etc.)
• Recruitment of new board members from Youth, I.N.C.’s corporate network
• Ongoing support from Youth, I.N.C.

Organizations in the program will become a part of the Youth, I.N.C. Partner Network, gaining access to additional benefits that include fundraising workshops, Executive Director Roundtables, and eligibility to apply for capacity-building cash grants such as the Fund of Funds Grants.

In Pentacle’s second year of working with Youth, I.N.C., I’ve really appreciated the opportunities to connect with nonprofit partner organizations, share tools and resources, network with members of the corporate community, and practice my passionate plea to support arts education and creative job opportunities for future generations.

~ Sahar Javedani, Director of Educational Programming at Pentacle and Americans for the Arts – Arts Education Council Member

To read the original post on Americans for the Arts – Arts Education Network and Private Sector Blog:

http://blog.artsusa.org/2011/11/14/youth-i-n-c-improving-nonprofits-for-children/comment-page-1/#comment-23170

Flipping through an issue of Crain’s Business Journal earlier this summer, I was excited to read of President and CEO of JetBlue Airways Dave Barger’s appointment as the new Chair of the Board of Directors for PENCIL, one of New York City’s leading nonprofits focused on improving public education through partnerships with local businesses.

After doing some preliminary research and discovering this brief but impactful YouTube clip of a PENCIL campaign, I was hooked!

PENCIL 2010 Campaign

“I can do anything! I can be anything! I am a success!” Hearing these words come from an auditorium of young African-American students participating in the simple ritual of tying on a tie inspired me.

Look at our future empowered leaders! How can we help them achieve their personal and professional goals? What does PENCIL do exactly?

I called Gayle Villani, PENCIL’s Vice President of Programs to find out.

The two programs that focus specifically on job training/career-readiness for youth are The PENCIL Partnership Program and The PENCIL Fellows Program.

The PENCIL Partnership Program consists of a comprehensive process of outreach, screenings, and intake; to match local business leaders’ resources and skills with school principals’ needs. A dedicated PENCIL Partnership Coordinator is assigned to help the Partners develop goals, provide guidance, establish workshops, and help track the progress of the partners.

The PENCIL Fellows Program brings Business Mentors into schools to provide job/skills training for New York City students. Partner affiliate, Virtual Enterprises runs a comprehensive classroom-based simulated business curriculum (i.e. resume building, interview techniques, etc.) for job ready New York City public school juniors and seniors. The program includes six-week, paid summer internships that help them take the first step toward entering the creative economy.

In closing; a few words by President of PENCIL Michael Haberman;

“The plight of public education in this country, and in New York City in particular, is a complicated one, with debate raging about teacher tenure, charter schools, budgets, testing standards, and so much else. With principals carrying more weight on their shoulders than ever before, they have been turning to more innovative solutions to meet their challenges, including embarking on partnerships with the private sector. We at PENCIL know public-private partnerships are not the ultimate and only solution to the many challenges facing public education. Forming effective, high-impact public school-private sector partnerships is not easy–they are created literally one school at a time. But we have proven again and again that PENCIL’s model offers a real and proven remedy that is an important part of the solution.”

~ Sahar Javedani, Director of Educational Programming at Pentacle and Americans for the Arts – Arts Education Council Member

Thank you for highlighting PENCIL’s work! With more than 350 Partnerships throughout the five boroughs and in Rochester, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, and with nearly 500 Fellows alumni who are better prepared to enter the workforce, we’ve seen the impact that the private sector can have when it gets involved in public education. It’s more than just our future workforce, it’s our future, and the work of our Partners, Business Mentors, and supporters couldn’t be more important. We hope that anyone who is interested in learning more will visit our website http://www.PENCIL.org, or follow us on twitter (@helpingschools) or Facebook (www.pencil.org/facebook). Thank you once more, Sahar!

As Director of Educational Programming at Pentacle in New York City, I am constantly seeking opportunities to partner with organizations that share our mission of educating students on career opportunities in the performing arts through our “Behind the Scenes” program.

Last year, we welcomed a new relationship with Exploring the Arts, Tony Bennett and Susan Benedetto’s nonprofit charitable organization. We have our long-standing relationship of eight years with Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (Exploring the Arts’ original partner school) to thank for providing the foundation for this new partnership.

I believe that we’ve created a successful model of arts education where the collaboration of a school, funding partner, and arts education provider can come to the table with a common goal of better preparing students for entering the creative workforce through hands-on and experiential learning.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Susan Benedetto, co-founder and board president of Exploring the Arts to share her perspective on cultivating relationships with new partner schools and arts education providers:

How do you begin the conversation of connecting private funders, artists, and cultural institutions with partner schools?
Finding artists and cultural institutions to work with our Partner Schools has actually been easy. The artistic community in New York is incredibly generous with their resources and expertise. They are always looking for ways to reach new audiences, to share their work, and to teach their craft and so working with young people is a natural component of that. Finding private funders can be a greater challenge, but again we have been very fortunate to connect with donors who share our values and wish to support public education. Education reform is a hot topic, and donors are eager to invest in models that work. So we begin the conversation by explaining to them: having the arts in school works!

What are the qualities you look for when seeking a partner school and deciding on which arts program is best suited?
All of our Partner Schools must have a demonstrated commitment to arts education and a demonstrated need for support. We work with a range of schools: some offer very sophisticated four-year majors in the arts, whereas others may only have a one-year course in visual art and an occasional dance elective. All of our Partner Schools have a vision for further growing their arts programs that is unique to their school. Perhaps that means developing an arts-rich curricula, bringing master artists to the school, or purchasing needed equipment and supplies to support the arts program…usually a school’s needs includes ‘all of the above.’  ETA always has its’ eye on how the programs, curricula, and professional development that we support will have a lasting impact on the school.

How do you measure the success of these partnerships?
In these tough economic times, sometimes “success” means helping a school sustain what it already has. The more long-term goal is a Partner School with a culture of rigorous artistic and academic standards with the curricula, teachers, and resources to meet those standards. We think that this formula can be a strong part of a school’s ability to graduate college-ready students. We want our Partner Schools to provide rigorous training for those students who wish to become artists, of course, but  we know that having the arts in school helps teach discipline, compassion, critical thinking, literacy…all of these skills are college preparatory. ETA has recently gone through an extensive organizational strategic planning process, including the development of assessment benchmarks for each of our programs.  We have a staff member whose portfolio includes the tracking of key qualitative and quantitative data so we can track the progress of our Partner Schools over time.  ~ Susan Benedetto

As for me, I am proud to continue my mission of supporting students transitioning from their academic life to the real world.

Armed with a brilliant toolbox of skills, training, and knowledge of the multitude of career opportunities, I hope to ensure that youth remain connected to the arts throughout their lives.

~ Sahar Javedani, Director of Educational Programming at Pentacle and Americans for the Arts – Arts Education Council Member

Here are some photos from the 2011 Senior Dance Concert at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts!

I am an artist.

I am an administrator.

I am a teacher.

I am an advocate.

My destined path of arts education and advocacy began at an early age.

As the child of an Iranian architect and set designer, I have actively participated in the arts throughout my upbringing.

Raised in Encinitas in North County San Diego, California, my youth consisted of participating in community theater productions, conferences, and competitions. When it came time to decide on my academic future, I knew with 100% confidence that I would pursue a career in the performing arts.

However, I ended up deferring college for a year in order to serve as a city representative fundraising for the development of my local community arts center.

Flash forward -  after completing both undergraduate and graduate degrees, I returned to my city of Encinitas to help run the newly built center for the first two years of operation. A large focus of my work was in arts education programming for children, youth, adults, and seniors and produced an annual Intergenerational Performing Arts Recital.

With the administrative tools I had learned, I moved to New York City to create a dance theater company and work as a teaching artist with LEAP (Learning thru an Expanded Arts Program, Inc.) in the public schools.

To help facilitate a sustainable life as an artist in New York, I also worked at a nonprofit arts service organization, The Field, helping artists with fiscal and infrastructural support as Membership and Finance Manager.

After nearly three years, I left to focus on my artistic work, choreographing, performing, and participating in residencies, teaching, etc.

And I am back…now working as Director of Educational Programming for Pentacle (Danceworks, Inc.).

The wonderful strength about this new position is its focus on career development for students/recent graduates interested in pursuing a life in the arts.

I am Iranian-American and my profession of “choreographer” does not exist in my country of origin. I am fortunate to have the support of family and friends.

I am grateful for my continued work in the public schools as an administrator and career mentor. Weekly interaction with students stokes that internal fire.

The metaphor of “Sit at the Table or be on the Menu” is simple.

If you are reading this blog, I believe it’s safe to say that you support the arts and the future of arts education.

My passion in working in this field is to ensure that children are blessed with the same bounties bestowed upon me in my education.

As artists, these children are our future audiences!

If we don’t advocate for them, who will?

~ Sahar Javedani, Director of Educational Programming at Pentacle and Americans for the Arts – Arts Education Council Member

WHY ARTS EDUCATION MATTERS NATIONALLY AND IN THE IRANIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY?

March 23, 2011, New York, NY – Did you know that young people who participate in the arts for at least nine hours a week and for at least one full year are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement?  Arts Education Advocate, Sahar Javedani, knows this statistic and is hoping to bring more awareness to Arts Education Programs – both through her work as a choreographer and administrator and by advocating for arts education nationally.

New York-based Javedani, Director of Educational Programming at Pentacle (Danceworks, Inc.) and Artistic Director of compani javedani, was recently elected to the Arts Education Council of the Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading non-profit organization for advancing the arts.  The Arts Education Council represents the Arts Education Network—a segment of the professional members of Americans for the Arts, who work to improve access to and quality of arts education.  The Council provides guidance on the development and execution of programs and services that meet the needs of the Arts Education Network.

“Sahar Javedani brings expertise, skill, and passion to [the Art Education Council]. She will ensure that arts education thrives in our nation’s schools and communities,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

As part of the Pentacle team, Javedani uses her numerous talents and vast experience to strengthen educational programming for dance industry’s future generations of performers, technicians, administrators, and enthusiasts.  As a choreographer, teacher, and arts administrator, she is well aware of the positive impact of arts on a young person’s academic and personal performance.  Javedani has a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography and Integrated Media from California Institute of the Arts and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance, Theater, and French from Hollins University.  Javedani’s family left Tehran before the revolution in 1978 and relocated to southern California when she was very young.  Her dance theater company, compani javedani, is largely influenced by the rich art culture of Persia.

“We have performed many pieces that share the beauty and richness of Persian culture.  My company’s mission is to integrate Persian culture and arts education, bringing it to all patrons, but especially to the Iranian American community,” Javedani explained to PAAIA.  “We, as Iranian Americans, need to encourage our youth that there are viable careers as artists, dancers, singers as well as doctors, lawyers and bankers.  We must not discourage our young people from expressing creativity in or out of school.  Our community needs more creative thinkers.”

Along with other fellow Arts Education advocates, Javedani is heading to Capitol Hill this spring to speak to legislators regarding the importance of funding arts programs in schools and communities.  She is also preparing more programming focused on career development that will bring more awareness of the need for arts education.

The following is a marketing blurb written by the Seniors at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts.  Please check it out, details are listed at the bottom!

Dear Friends,

On May 20th and 21st of 2010, the dance majors at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts will present their senior show in the state-of-the art Tony Bennett Concert Hall. This concert of works was choreographed, managed, produced, and will be performed by the students themselves. The styles on display include Argentine Tango, Ballroom, Contemporary, African, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop. This show will be the inaugural senior dance show at the new high school. Come on down and celebrate our achievements with a rousing evening of dance!

Frank Sinatra School of the Arts is located at 35-12 35th Avenue in Astoria, Queens.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students, available at the door.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112864468737328

The folks at the Youth Advisory Committee are putting on a great event – please come if you can make it!

Emerging Innovations in Dance: New Solutions for Old Problems

Financial stability, self-production, creative programming, audience engagement – these are issues that the dance community knows all too well. Join Dance/NYC’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) and distinguished panelists for a Town Hall, moderated by Melissa Dibble of EmcArts. We will be exploring various innovative models adopted by emerging and established leaders to address persistent problems in the dance field.

Thursday, May 20
6:30-8pm
Ballet Hispanico
167 West 89th Street (between Amsterdam and Columbus Aves)
1, B, C trains to 86th Street

After the event we will move to The Blue Donkey Bar (487 Amsterdam Ave at 84th St) for continued discussion and networking!

RSVP to YAC@dancenyc.org or visit www.yactownhall.eventbrite.com
Facebook event: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=90909901017&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=122235211124824&ref=mf

Dance/NYC Youth Advisory Committee applications open -

http://yacdance.wordpress.com/about/apply-to-be-a-yac-member/

Student’s spreading the word…

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Student Thought’s on Violence; Personal experiences and solutions

The last time we checked in with Gramercy Arts High School, Pentacle had just begun to gain momentum in the school’s classroom.  We were busy trying to get the students to identify an important cause they wanted to address in their Exit Concert and in their Spring Showcase.

This past month both Salena, career mentor and Adeola, choreography mentor have spent time in the classroom helping the students develop their voices both through speech and dance against violence.

The 9th and 10th grade dance majors have chosen their slogan.

“Stop Hate’nn, Just Dance”

The name they have come up for themselves as a collective is,

Signature Against Violence

The students have created and designed posters that are being displayed on all floors of the building.  If you roam the school’s hallways you will catch a glimpse of several students wearing, posting or decorating themselves with yellow caution tape.  This is part of their marketing strategy; using a branding image to bring about awareness of the students intentions to address violence.

The students have organized 3 coffee hours in which they will sell coffee and donuts in the lobby of Washington Irving and Gramercy Arts High School for three weeks straight.

They have organized and created sign up sheets for morning announcements where they will  bring about awareness of their mission, their fundraisers and their dance concerts.

They will have two lunchtime rallies where we hope to get a guest speaker from an anti-violence organization to address the entire school.

There are more tentative events where Signature Against Violence will be present.  Check out the following details including the dance concert date and times.

KEY DATES:
PA Announcements: May 4-14 daily
Coffee Hour: May 12, 19, 26 (7-8am)
Lunchtime rallies: May 19 & June 2 (10:30-11:20am)
Concessions @ school musical: May 13-15
Preview concert: May 20 (6:30-7:30pm)

Exit Project Concert: June 7
Spring Dance Concert: June 8

In the words of the GAHS students,…

STOP  HATE’NN JUST DANCE!!!