FY23 Academy of Government and Law

Jun 19

Written By Ben Houghton

FAST FACTS

School Name: Urban Assembly Academy of Government and Law

Location: Manhattan, NY

Programs: Theater

Participants: 15

Duration: 2 hrs/week, after school, year-long

Teaching Artists: Juanita Castro-Ochoa

Partnered with BAE since: 2019

Paid Intern: Aissatou Doukoure | Read her reflection on her internship

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS (click on the photos to learn more)

REVENUE & EXPENSES

Programming was made possible thanks to support from the NYC Department of Education (DOE), Anna and Stephen T. Kellen Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York City Department of Education, Sing for Hope, Tiger Baron Foundation, Music Man Foundation, LesPaul Foundation, Surdna Foundation, and individual BAE donors.

IMPACT REFLECTION

BAE has developed a close relationship with the Academy of Government and Law for four years, with multiple students freshman founding members of the Broadway Club now graduating this year!

At the beginning of the year, it became clear in pre-surveys and classroom observation that students needed support developing stronger time management skills. This became a consistent challenge with Broadway Club this year for students who were also active in sports, internships, preparing for Regents exams, and college applications. When searching for acting material, Teaching Artist Juanita struggled to find material that was relevant to the student’s understanding of culture, instead of constant re-exposure to Western concepts and values. On top of that, students needed real performance opportunities to showcase what they learned over the last four years.

In response to these challenges, students and Juanita problem-solved together by rearranging their schedules for the club to meet on a day that worked better for everyone. With this switch, students had space in their schedules again to participate in Broadway Club consistently. Instead of searching for material from someone else, the students created Euphoria, a mini-movie that they wrote, developed, and performed live at both AGL’s Multicultural Assembly and BAE’s Art Share at Lincoln Center.

“Real” performances are shows, concerts, and exhibitions with an audience that isn’t required to be there and can experience the performance in real time. Performing in front of a live audience is especially powerful during an era of mass internet entertainment. While young people could simply create media and upload it, reaching an in-person audience raises the stakes in a way that pushes young people towards growth and excellence in a positive way. When youth perform at spaces with a high-production value, it affirms the attention they receive and “signal to students their efforts are valued.”*

By the end of the year, we saw students reflecting on their efforts with pride and a strong sense of accomplishment as a community. The Broadway Club students' improv-style performance highlighted the return of the AGL’s Multicultural Assembly post-lockdown.

*Montgomery, D., Rogovin, P., & Persaud, N. (2013). Something to Say: Success Principles for Afterschool Arts Programs from Urban Youth and Other Experts. In Wallace Foundation. Wallace Foundation.