FY23 Institute of Math & Science for Young Women

Jun 21

Written By Ben Houghton

FAST FACTS

School Name: Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science for Young Women

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Programs: Podcasting, Dance

Participants: 70

Duration: 14 hrs/week, in school, year-long

Teaching Artists: Emily Boghossian, Ashleigh Stoneman, Chuchi Samuel, Patty Als, Brett Tubbs

Partnered with BAE since: 2021

Paid Intern: Yelani Joseph, CENTER BAE program

VIDEO COMING SOON
VIDEO COMING SOON
VIDEO COMING SOON

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’s second year at the Urban Assembly School of Math and Science for Young Women was full of engaging lessons, field trips, performance opportunities fueled by student passion for Dance and Podcasting. BAE was brought on mid-year in FY22, so this was our first opportunity to conduct pre-surveys with our participants. Across the board, when asked what goals they had for themselves, a majority of students struggled to conceptualize beyond “be successful” or “get good grades.” Students also actively expressed a need to feel more connected to the teachers and larger community, and passively displayed a need to improve their time management skills.

In addition to finding ways to get students to think more boldly and creatively about their futures, Teaching Artists also set goals to create more real performance opportunities (especially for returning students), to engage with media that reflected and aligned with students’ religious backgrounds, to build community and minimize the presence of cliques, and to find ways to engage with their sibling school, UA School of Law & Justice.

In response, we tailored a year of learning and special events:

By “meeting students where they are at”, Teaching Artists helped students create projects that sustain their interest over the course of a year and emphasize process over product. Podcasting students interviewed each other and dancing students worked on group projects together.

In Podcasting, students not only learned the art of podcasting but also gained valuable skills in storytelling, interviewing, audio editing, and graphic design. With a fully hands-on approach from project creation to pilot episodes, students spent time exploring their own interests and discussing ways to connect with other audiences that share those interests. Students created podcasts on unique topics such unpacking current teen’s perspectives on horror films, interview conversations about mental health, and interviews exploring Arabic culture and community.
Dance students spent a lot of time exploring the concept of visual storytelling without words.The process of developing their own choreography cultivated a sense of ownership and artistic autonomy, encouraging students to reflect and experiment with different dance styles. Further, students had the chance to teach their choreography to others, developing leadership skills and enhancing their ability to communicate and collaborate effectively. Through multiple public performances and a music video recording session, students faced real-life challenges with accountability and communicating with others when recording a professional engagement.

By the end of the school year, we noticed students more confidently pitching their ideas in group settings, and being open to and valuing peer feedback around their artwork. Especially in podcast, after spending a year interviewing each other and sharing each other’s stories, teaching artists noticed a marked decrease in cliques and a strong sense of community and compassion.

Their work speaks for itself. While many students requested that their work remain confidential, we are pleased to share our favorite highlights from the year below: