Paper: Houston Chronicle
Date: Thu 12/28/2006
Section: ThisWeek
Page: 9
Edition: 2 STAR

Katy ARTreach program sampled at junior high / Educators want
to reach at-risk pupils
By BETTY L. MARTIN, Staff

Hip-hop artists in rap, dance, songwriting, studio recording, graphics, slam poetry and spoken word are enticing Morton Ranch Junior High at-risk pupils to join them in an after-school pilot project that combines tutorials with creative arts developed in rough streets.

If the project successfully attracts enough youths and funding at the junior high, 2498 N. Mason Road, it could become the model for a districtwide program through the Katy Independent School District's Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program, said Principal Becky Bracewell.

"It's been a dream of the staff and mine that even though we have had after-school tutorials, that we also offer something to our students that allows them to use their creativity and maybe athletic abilities," Bracewell said.

Safe-school effort
Under Katy ISD's Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program, the school's Urban Arts Project is a partnership with art groups that will run for 14 weeks after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Jan. 11. While the tutorial part of the after-school program will still be run and funded by the district, offering lessons as needed in math, language arts and science, the artistic part of the Urban Arts Project will be funded through the school's PTA and fund-raising in the community, Bracewell said, plus donations of time and talent by the artists.

Participating groups
Houston-based Urgeworks, a traveling group in 33 countries of street and hip-hop artists, will join Katy ARTreach as ambassadors of good will to supply artists who will present their creative knowledge to students who sign up for the tutorial and arts program.

"We would love to have the funding to open (the program) up to the whole student body," Bracewell said. "We are going to evaluate the success of the program and accurately budget so we'll know what funds will be necessary for next year."

Urban arts highlighted
Terri Bieber, executive director of the Katy ARTreach program that is helping to bring the urban artists professional artists to the school, said one goal is to teach about 200 at-risk Morton Ranch youth to express themselves in a positive way through art.

"About 40 percent of fifth- to eighth-graders are from low-income households that are, statistically, more inclined to have at-risk students who move a lot, or where the mother works, where no one is home to help with homework when they come home," Bieber said. "We need to encourage them.

"It will be held in conjunction with the math and language arts tutorials, which run for an hour after school," Bieber said. "The kids who have to stay to take the tutorials can take our art classes."

Showing off on campus
On Dec. 11, Morton Ranch pupils got a taste of what will be offered when Urgeworks brought a few of the artists it represents to offer demonstrations in a student assembly.

They came, Bieber said, to "get the kids excited" about the program so they stay off of the street and out of trouble.

Chris Gamez, dancer and owner of Urgeworks, joined studio recording artist "Joe B." Belmarez, slam poetry and creative writer Abdul Kahn, dancer and graphics specialist Mario Jaramillo, dancer Joel Martinez and house, hip-hop and break dancer Kirk Beecher on the junior high's stage.

"How many we bring (in January) will depend on how many sign up," said Gamez, 29. "This is brand-new to Katy, but it's something we've been doing for a while in over 100 schools a year between here and New Jersey."

Other districts involved
Those include Houston, Spring Branch, Klein and Aldine in partnership with Young Audiences of Houston, said Gamez, who lives in the Heights after growing up in northwest Houston and Acres Homes.

"This is an innovative arts partners program and we're really excited," Gamez said. "This is like paying attention to an issue before it gets to be a problem."

Bieber said, "We're hoping the model can also support harder-hit schools that could use a successful model. We're encouraging the community to get involved - and we're making them aware they have a stake in helping."

More funding needed
The project has received some funding from Houston Community College's Town and Country campus and Amegy Bank, said Bieber, adding that $15,900 still is needed for the program.

"We've started a campaign with businesses in the area and we appreciate the support," she said. "These programs make the tutorials work."

For details, contact art. reach@earthlink.net, Bieber at 281-392-5341 or the school at 281-237-7400.

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