Jubilee Arts hosts hard hat party

By Zaina Adamu Its just wooden boards and glassless windows now, but in September the three-story house at 1947 Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore will be revamped to become the Jubilee Arts Center. The new community center in the Sandtown-Winchester and Upton neighborhoods will be one of the few in the area specializing in children recreational activities including ceramics, visual arts, dance and creative arts. On June 17, 2009, the Upton YMCA Child Day Care Center held a Hard Hat party at the location to promote the opening of the center. The founders idea was a way to create an oasis on this entire block, said Benjamin Hoffman, board member of the New Birth Holistic Ministries. The owner dedicated his entire life in building an arts center. Upbeat jazz music played by Todd Marcus Trio set the tone of the event, while guests were given a tour of Like mother, like child. Danyette Tucker teaches her daughter Dayzha how to paint. the future center. At the top and bottom of each stairPhoto by Cari Nanton case stood Marthas Place, a transitional home for [Marthas Place] strict, but theyre helpful. Being here women who were on drugs. Jubilee Arts is allowing is worth every moment. me the opportunity to be more creative and show my Visitors who explored the second level of Jubilee talents, said Martha angel Gwen Williams. Theyre

Arts were greeted with face painters, artists and volunteers giving helping hands to children who were invited to decorate tiles with Baltimore ClayWorks artists. Volunteer from Baltimore ClayWorks, Herb Massie made tiles from brick-red clay which were then sold to guests. The proceeds will go to funding the remainder of work needed to be done. These tiles will be taken to ClayWorks after they have been carved, decorated and stained, and will eventually be displayed in gardens, he said. Recent graduate from Morgan State University, Danyett Tucker attended the event and was given the chance to showcase her artistic skills in a graphic novel for adolescents. I love art, said her five-year-old daughter Dajzha Tucker. I want be just like my mommy. The funding of Jubilee Arts comes from grants given by numerous organizations. The grants are then implemented directly to the establishment of the center. President of New Birth Holistic Ministries Todd Marcus serves as the main grant writer for all monetary contributions. The ministries will continue to sponsor Jubilee Arts after its grand opening. We got a lot of grants. Todd Marcus spent a lot of time writing, collecting and going after the money to make this all happen, said Hoffman. And there is more to happen. The goals of Jubilee Arts range from youth empowerment to transforming active children into productive adults.

The Greater Homewood Adult Literacy and ESOL Program announces registration for summer ESOL classes
Baltimore, Md. Registration for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Classes will take place July 6 and 7, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day. Students must register and be tested in order to enroll. Eight week classes are available in the morning and evening for Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced learners. There is also an American Culture class. All classes begin the week of July 13, 2009. Beginner, Intermediate and American Culture classes are free. The Advanced class is $120.00. For more information, please contact the Adult Literacy and ESOL staff at 410-261-3524. The program is located at 3501 North Charles Street in the lower level of the University Baptist Church.
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Free online webinar on adopting African American infants

Wynnewood, Pa. Adoptions From The Heart (AFTH), a licensed, nonprofit adoption agency, will hold a free online webinar on Monday, July 13, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Participants will learn about our agency and our programs. The focus of the webinar will be on our African-American and African-American Biracial Domestic Adoption programs. There is a very short wait period for African-American applicants because we have an urgent need for African-American adoptive families for infants. The webinar is open to anyone living anywhere in the U.S. and will be led by an AFTH social worker who will be available to answer any questions. Participants are emailed a link and a phone number that will connect them to the presentation. Registration is required to join the webinar. Online registration is available at www1.gotomeeting.com/register/49244 3897. The Baltimore Times, July 3 - 9, 2009 (www.baltimoretimesonline.com)
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