Bronx Academy of Letters

Jun 30

Written By Ben Houghton

FAST FACTS

School Name: Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters

Location: Bronx, New York

Programs: Dance, Vocal Music, Theater, Creative Literacy

Participants: 85

Duration: ~30hrs/week for the entire school year

Teaching Artists: Amanda Santiago, Megan Lomax, Sabrina Joseph, Bismillah Ba’ath

Partnered with BAE since: 2019

STUDENT FEEDBACK

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

IMPACT REFLECTION

The 23-24 school year marked BAE’s 5th year at the Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters, providing dance and creative literacy courses during the school day, leading afterschool vocal music club, and supporting the school’s Spring musical!

A large challenge of our presence at the Bronx Academy of Letters is being responsive (and not dismissive) to students expressing that they don’t enjoy going to school and don’t see the value of attendance/engagement. As providers of some of the students’ favorite subjects (music, dance, and creative writing) and as cultivators of a safe environment to express big and sometimes inconvenient emotions, it was our responsibility to show - not tell - the value of education, the value of discipline, the pride that comes form developing and mastering a skill, and the power that comes from using those skills to build community and create something that has never existed before. Our team of teaching artists were able to do just that, concluding the school year with several incredible incredible accomplishments under their belts, including:

an all boys dance class, who started the year terrified of performing in public, stealing the show at the BAE art share
the 10th anniversary publication of the One Pen x Raven Magazine
a production of the Spring musical Once On This Island

Creative Literacy teaching artist, Amanda Sanatiago, reflected:

“In 2023-2024's school year, the theme for our Creative Literacy class was to “Be comfortable in your vulnerability.” While it isn’t the easiest process to crack open the shell of a teenaged high schooler, I realized this was a two-way street. Having the chance to share openly and creatively about myself as an artist, educator and human being to my students, only showed them what transparency and authenticity looks like on a person. Instead of shying away from all the factors that make up me, I openly encouraged my students to be driven by their curiosities.

One thing that isn’t mentioned about being a Teaching Artist, is the nonstop juggling of challenging orthodox teacher ideologies and simply being a creative collaborator in the classroom. Showing up as myself was, indeed, a radical act. Giving students the space to ask, question, admire, and challenge me is how we were able to simultaneously grow individually and together throughout the school year. Through this exchange of honesty and vulnerability, many of my students shared quite a handful about themselves; verbally, vocally and spiritually. This was the beginning of a very special dynamic.”

from Vocal Music teacher, Megan Lomax:

“I loved being able to work with the students and seeing their growth over time. They went from being unsure to singing in front of their peers to bringing their favorite songs and singing them out. They become curious about genres they would have probably skipped in the past. For the musical a lot of kids grew in their confidence on stage. They all wanted a space where they didn't feel judged. By the end, if someone expressed discomfort, a student would jump in and check on their fellow artists. Not only that, they would assure each other and say, ‘everyone is accepted here, there is nothing to worry about’.”