Child First Authority, Inc. http://childfirstauthority.org Baltimore will grow and prosper if we develop each child first! Fri, 18 May 2012 18:07:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 CHILD FIRST PRESENTS IMAGINE INNOVATE TRANSFORM ANNUAL ART EXHIBIT AND PERFORMANCES MAY 24th http://childfirstauthority.org/child-first-presents-imagine-innovate-transform-annual-art-exhibit-and-performances-may-24th/ http://childfirstauthority.org/child-first-presents-imagine-innovate-transform-annual-art-exhibit-and-performances-may-24th/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 18:05:54 +0000 gbrooks http://childfirstauthority.org/?p=469 Continue reading →]]>

Child First Authority Presents
Imagine Innovate Transform : Youth + Artists Designing a New Baltimore
An exhibition and performance that celebrates the creative and academic achievements of Baltimore’s young people, while shedding light on their dream of renewed school facilities. Child First Authority partners with Maryland Institute College of Art to celebrate the role of imagination and art in creating social change.

Since 1997, Child First has organized funds to get new playgrounds in 10 city schools. Child First led a Health and Safety campaign in 2007 to make desperately needed repairs to Child First schools, winning over $3 million in improvements. Child First efforts have culminated in a citywide campaign to revitalize grossly inadequate school facilities throughout Baltimore City.

Working in 10 partner schools,  Child First teaching artists engaged K-8 students in art projects inspired by themes of justice, education and space transformation. This exhibition highlights a collective vision of Baltimore City by students, artists, community leaders, teachers and parents. Imagine Innovate Transform affirms the need to transform schools, neighborhoods and attitudes to build a city where children can thrive and flourish.

For More Info or to RSVP Contact cfa.artcore@gmail.com or call 410.367.8520
]]> http://childfirstauthority.org/child-first-presents-imagine-innovate-transform-annual-art-exhibit-and-performances-may-24th/feed/ 0 NORTH BALTIMORE PATCH HIGHLIGHTS CHILD FIRST S.P.A.R.K. PROGRAM AT BARCLAY ELEMENTARY http://childfirstauthority.org/north-baltimore-patch-highlights-child-first-s-p-a-r-k-program-at-barcla-elementary/ http://childfirstauthority.org/north-baltimore-patch-highlights-child-first-s-p-a-r-k-program-at-barcla-elementary/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:13:28 +0000 gbrooks http://childfirstauthority.org/?p=462 Continue reading →]]>

Photo By: Tara Hiltner

On Tuesday the Child First Authority showed off the SPARK program it has helped implement at the after school program at the Barclay School in Abell.

The program, which is designed to promote well being among school aged children, is being looked at as a case study by the Maryland Out of School Time Network as a best practice among after school programs.

Click Link To Read Full Article http://northbaltimore.patch.com/articles/barclay-physical-education-program-draws-attention#photo-9620987

]]> http://childfirstauthority.org/north-baltimore-patch-highlights-child-first-s-p-a-r-k-program-at-barcla-elementary/feed/ 0 CHILD FIRST AUTHORITY RECIPIENT OF 2012 MECU Neighborhood Event Grant http://childfirstauthority.org/child-first-authority-recipient-of-2012-mecu-neighborhood-event-grant/ http://childfirstauthority.org/child-first-authority-recipient-of-2012-mecu-neighborhood-event-grant/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:43:39 +0000 gbrooks http://childfirstauthority.org/?p=458 Continue reading →]]>

We are proud to announce Child First Authority as one of the selected organization of the  MECU Neighborhood Event Grant.

The MECU Neighborhood Event Grants program distributes funds to qualified neighborhood associations and community-based, nonprofit groups for the purpose of strengthening neighborhoods through producing special events.

We would like to recognize Child First staff Kathryn York for her  contributions in leading this grant proposal.

 

 

]]> http://childfirstauthority.org/child-first-authority-recipient-of-2012-mecu-neighborhood-event-grant/feed/ 0 WESTSIDE READING NOOK CELEBRATION http://childfirstauthority.org/westside-reading-nook-celebration/ http://childfirstauthority.org/westside-reading-nook-celebration/#comments Sat, 14 Apr 2012 19:01:09 +0000 gbrooks http://childfirstauthority.org/?p=428 Continue reading →]]> On April 12, 2012, the entrance lobby of Westside Elementary was filled with pride amongst faculty, parents and students as they celebrated their new “Reading Nook,” the newest space transformation project at their school.

Under the leadership of Rolanda Ford, Kathlyn York and Marian Blair Westside students, parents and teachers have been working tirelessly to build a majestic forest reading nook in the entryway of their school. They have tiled and grouted a mosaic wall, built a tree bookshelf, woven cloth clouds and designed weeping willow branches.

View Images Below

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]]> http://childfirstauthority.org/westside-reading-nook-celebration/feed/ 0 BALTIMORE BREW Posts Hispanic parents seek a voice in their community at Holabird Academy http://childfirstauthority.org/baltimore-brew-posts-hispanic-parents-seek-a-voice-in-their-community-at-holabird-academy/ http://childfirstauthority.org/baltimore-brew-posts-hispanic-parents-seek-a-voice-in-their-community-at-holabird-academy/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:05:54 +0000 gbrooks http://childfirstauthority.org/?p=408 Continue reading →]]>

They’ll be eating cake at the celebration, no doubt. But unlike many other graduates, the students who were to meet tonight at Holabird Academy in southeast Baltimore have a lot more on their minds than a party and the next step in their school careers.

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Photos taken by Terra Hiltner

As they mark the completion of a first-rung English class, the Spanish-speaking adults, many of them parents of children at the Baltimore city public school, will be thinking about better jobs and being a voice for their community.

“I want to keep motivating the parents to wake up,” said Helen Cruz in Spanish, her words translated by community organizer Jennifer McDowell.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2012/04/12/at-holabird-academy-hispanic-parents-seek-a-voice-in-their-community/

]]> http://childfirstauthority.org/baltimore-brew-posts-hispanic-parents-seek-a-voice-in-their-community-at-holabird-academy/feed/ 0 CHILD FIRST ARTISTS MARION BLAIR AND KATHRYN YORK UNVEIL WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY PROJECT http://childfirstauthority.org/child-first-artists-marion-blair-and-kathryn-york-unveil-westside-elementary-project/ http://childfirstauthority.org/child-first-artists-marion-blair-and-kathryn-york-unveil-westside-elementary-project/#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:35:08 +0000 gbrooks http://childfirstauthority.org/?p=390 Continue reading →]]>

 

Students, parents and teachers have been working tirelessly to build a majestic forest reading nook in the entryway of their school. They have tiled and grouted a mosaic wall, built a tree bookshelf, woven cloth clouds and designed weeping willow branches. Please join us celebrating school transformation, community and literacy.

Please gift a book to the reading nook during the celebration and receive a customize bookplate in your honor.
]]> http://childfirstauthority.org/child-first-artists-marion-blair-and-kathryn-york-unveil-westside-elementary-project/feed/ 84 Watch CFA Organizer Jennifer McDowell “IGNITE” Presentation on Baltimore City Schools http://childfirstauthority.org/wacth-cfa-organizer-jennifer-mcdowell-ignite-presentation-on-baltimore-city-schools/ http://childfirstauthority.org/wacth-cfa-organizer-jennifer-mcdowell-ignite-presentation-on-baltimore-city-schools/#comments Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:45:27 +0000 gbrooks http://childfirstauthority.org/?p=382

]]> http://childfirstauthority.org/wacth-cfa-organizer-jennifer-mcdowell-ignite-presentation-on-baltimore-city-schools/feed/ 122 BALTIMORE CITY SCHOOLS HIGHLIGHTS 2 CHILD FIRST ARTIST http://childfirstauthority.org/baltimore-city-schools-highlights-2-child-first-artist/ http://childfirstauthority.org/baltimore-city-schools-highlights-2-child-first-artist/#comments Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:03:22 +0000 gbrooks http://childfirstauthority.org/?p=380 Continue reading →]]> Child First Authority’s High Expectations program partnered with students at Excel Academy to redesign and  brighten the school’s cafeteria. CFA teaching artists Marian Blair, Kat York and Roslyn Smith worked with students to develop a strong, affirming concept for the wall that allowed students to express themselves honestly and safely. Using poetry games, students elected to paint a mural with “LOOKING AT MY LIFE BEFORE ME…” as the central theme. Students then traced and painted their silhouettes on to the wall and individually completed the sentence. The finished mural plays host to sentences written by over 30 students. One student wrote “…I want to be more than an average guy from Baltimore”, another “…I see myself with no regrets”, another simply “I am great.”

Click link to read full article http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=13484&ViewID=7b97f7ed-8e5e-4120-848f-a8b4987d588f&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=17277&PageID=14178

]]> http://childfirstauthority.org/baltimore-city-schools-highlights-2-child-first-artist/feed/ 106 THE BALTIMORE SUN POSTS BOTTLE TAX ACTION http://childfirstauthority.org/the-baltimore-sun-posts-bottle-tax-action/ http://childfirstauthority.org/the-baltimore-sun-posts-bottle-tax-action/#comments Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:23:23 +0000 gbrooks http://childfirstauthority.org/?p=368

The Baltimore Sun: Students call on city leaders to pass bottle tax

Read full article at http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-bottle-tax-schools-20120223,0,5497943.story

]]> http://childfirstauthority.org/the-baltimore-sun-posts-bottle-tax-action/feed/ 67 WJZ CH 13 NEWS Covers Bottle Tax Action at Patterson High School http://childfirstauthority.org/cbs-ch-2-news-covers-bottle-tax-action-at-patterson-high-school/ http://childfirstauthority.org/cbs-ch-2-news-covers-bottle-tax-action-at-patterson-high-school/#comments Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:11:41 +0000 gbrooks http://childfirstauthority.org/?p=359

CHANGE FOR CHANGE : Patterson High School speaks to CBS on the Bottle Tax

CLICK LINK TO WATCH VIDEO AND READ FULL ARTICLE

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/02/23/baltimore-teachers-students-call-on-lawmakers-to-fix-city-school-buildings/

 

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