Riverzedge Arts Project Awarded By the First Lady
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Local Woonsocket program, the Riverzedge Arts Project, is one of the 15 nationwide being recognized with a top national award by First Lady Michelle Obama. The ceremony will be held tonight, as Mrs. Obama will give praise to Riverzedge in its effectiveness in developing creativity and fostering academic success.
Formally the “Coming Up Taller” Award, the 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award is the highest award that an after-school or out-of-school program can receive in the US. It is given to community-based programs that make a marked difference in the lives of their participants by improving academic scores and graduation rates, enhancing life skills, and developing positive relationships with peers and adults.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIt is clear that Riverzedge has been quite effective thus far. 100 percent of the program’s seniors have been accepted into college, including some of the nation’s leading art schools, since 2004. Also, over its eight years of running, the program has engaged over 700 of Northern RI youth in arts & business entrepreneurship, workforce development and environmental design programs.
Jamel Williams, a 17-year-old participant in the program, will be accepting the award from Mrs. Obama on behalf of Riverzedge.
Along with the award, Riverzedge will also receive $10,000 to continue its programming and engage more of the surrouding community.
The Riverzedge program gives disenfranchised youth (ages 12-24) in Northern Rhode Island paid employment in the arts and a voice in their community.
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