ACCOMPLISHMENTS

CREATE Project 2020-2021

  • Initiation of CREATE Project “Curriculum for the Community” Video Series featuring talks by child-field specialists and local cultural tradition-bearers. First video features Jim O’Rourke presentation about Irish heritage; Carol Ludwig presentation about “the Importance of Play”; and renowned Uilleann pipes musician, Tim Benson, performs Irish tunes.
  • Installation of “Child Nature,” a public art sculpture, at the front lawn of the Dunkirk. In 2019, CREATE Project receives NCCF Environmental Fund Grant for initiation of CREATE Project Public Art Program. This resulted in a unique community collaboration, design and fabrication of the “Child Nature” sculpture.
  • Grand Opening: Dunkirk Library CREATE Project Room and CREATE Project Book Donation Program initiated  
  • Initiation of “Culture Days” featuring “curriculum for the community,” local tradition-bearers and child-field specialists. Puerto Rican Traditions; Ritual and Identity Development; “African American Traditions” and “The Trans-generational Transmission of Trauma”
Jason Hammond and library staff members show off CREATE Project book donations featuring Puerto Rican Culture
CREATE Project book shelf featuring African American culture and topics, donated by local tradition-bearer Loretta Slater Torain

REMEMBER . . .?

  • The entity formerly known as the “Folk Arts Program” and later the “Free Community Project”, expands its focus and mission, and changes its name to the “CREATE Project.”
  • Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation becomes 501-C3 Fiscal sponsor for the CREATE Project
  • Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County, established as Lead Community partner
  • A Celebration of Native American Traditions
  • A Celebration of Polish Traditions (Wigilia celebration at Blessed Mary Angela Social Hall)

Years 1 & 2

  • Outreach to over 80 community tradition-bearers and over 30 child-field organizations, educational institutions & human service agencies
  • Community Leader Meeting convenes
  •  CREATE Project promotional Video Part #1 designed & produced
  • Carol Gates at her spinning wheel and Dell Gates doing dry needle felting
  • Tradition-Bearer Rachele Howard showing her handmade quilts
Community kids and adults create “Culture Quilt” together at Quilting Traditions Event
Joe Kwiatkowski, contra dance caller, and the Viol Habits (Kathy Peterson, Cheryl Ritch, Kerry Askin) perform for community dancers

Year 3  – June 2017 – June 2018

  • CREATE Project promotional Video Part 2 designed & produced
  • CREATE Project brochure printing and distribution
  • Child-rearing educational brochure printed & distributed
  • CREATE Project featured on one-hour public television show, “Fresh Perspectives”
  • November 2017 – A Celebration of Quilting Traditions featuring over 30 area quilter tradition-bearers
  • November 2017 Tradition Fest featuring over 50 tradition bearers with featured presentations from Native America, African American, Polish, Mexican and Puerto Rican traditions and traditional and folk arts displays and demonstrations by tradition-bearers from Pakistani, Irish, Backpacking; Foodways; Swedish; Agricultural; Alpaca; Textile Arts; Italian; Dance; Music; Greek and Italian traditions. Also present at this event were over 30 area service agency and educational representatives
  • CREATE Project invites community to help create a “Community Culture Quilt”
  • Summer arts camp 2018, in partnership with Dunkirk City Schools, funded by 21st Century Grant: featured World Music; World Arts & Crafts; Storytelling and Puppetry
  • After-school arts program initiated in 2017-2018, in partnership with Dunkirk City Schools, was funded by 21st Century Grant. The initial program featured classes in movement and music, African drumming, World music; Crocheting & textile arts.Community programming: Creative sewing, Woodcraft, World arts and crafts, Music (*Artists and tradition-bearers share their traditions and arts, integrating positive child-rearing practices, to adults and youth at community gathering places).

Year 4  – August 2018 – August 2019

  • WNYARC Grant for Community Programming received
  • New Partners: City of Dunkirk, SUNY Fredonia, Dunkirk Housing Authority
  • After-school arts program, 2018-19, in partnership with Dunkirk City Schools, funded by 21st Century Grant: World music, Arts & Crafts, World music; Crocheting & textile arts
  • Community Programs: Creative sewing, World arts and crafts, Community Music; Puerto Rican Folk Singing; African American Gospel Singing (*Artists and tradition-bearers share their traditions and arts, integrating positive child-rearing practices, to adults and youth at community gathering places).
  • CREATE Project Music Therapy internship program. Two SUNY Fredonia music therapy students (with academic supervisor present) led community-based music therapy individual and group workshops
  • May 10, 2019:  “A Gathering of Caring Community” event
  • Summer arts camp 2019, in partnership with Dunkirk City Schools, funded by 21st Century Grant: Arts & Crafts, World Music
  • Publications: CREATE brochure, Connect the Dots; No Spank; Play & Play Disruption; Our Tree will Grow
  • Community Music Therapy Program – led by SUNY Fredonia Music Therapy students and their supervisor, Rebecca Warren

YEARS 5 – 6:  September 2019 – December 2020

COLLABORATE:

  • Lead Community Partners: NCCF, City of Dunkirk, Boys & Girls Club, DunkirkHousing Authority
  • Public Art Program Partnerships with: Dunkirk Public Library; P-Tech Career and College Academy; Mudslingers Pottery Studio; Hae Jude Custom Signs; A. Carpella Masonry; City of Dunkirk;
  • Initiation of CREATE Project Library Program featuring the CREATE Project Room and accompanying programming at the Dunkirk Library (see above)

SHARE

  • Community, Fall 2019-Spring 2020 Programs: Music; Arts & Crafts begins September funded by NYSARC grant
  • Volunteer & Paid Tradition-Bearer share programs include: Fiddle, Creative Sewing, Tai Chi, Woodcraft, Puerto Rican Folk Song; African American Gospel singing
  • Community, Music Therapy Program, Fall 2019-Spring 2020, continues
  • SUNY Fredonia School: Fall 2019-Spring 2020 Program Art, Music, funded by 21st Century grant, via Dunkirk City School
  • Curriculum for the Community” development: child care; tradition-bearers, artists development: child care; tradition-bearers, artists

REACH

  • Website development – and CREATE Project social media presence through Facebook.
  • Events, current press releases, marketing, outreach
  • Membership & Audience development; Marketing plan; Content development
  • Mapping; Neighborhoods, churches, schools, parent groups, grandparents,
  • Outreach
  • Dunkirk City School – CREATE Project members participated in Trauma informed training behavior management
  • CAP (Child Advocacy Program) – CREATE Project members participated in “Stewards for Children” training.
  • Dunkirk City School –after school program
  • Community Music Therapy Program – led by SUNY Fredonia Music Therapy students and their supervisor