January 2023

Registration - Opportunities - MB Spotlight -

Upcoming Events - December Highlights - Rehearsal Space

Important Dates

Mind Your Beat Dance Battle

Saturday, January 7th

Parent Workshop

Saturday, January 14th

Freestyle Friday

Friday, January 20th

Calendar

New Year, New Opportunities: Register Now!

Spring Season

Whether you are looking for opportunities for your little ones or for yourself, we offer programs for all ages! We also offer free classes and financial aid options so hurry and register before classes fill up!

Click on our Fall/Spring Brochure to learn more.

Fall 2022- Spring 2023 Brochure

Por favor presione aquí para español.

Current Opportunities

Pre-K Availability at Mind-Builders

We currently have a spot open for a Pre-K student. If your little one was born in 2018 and you are interested in enrolling them Pre-K at Mind-Builders, please call us at 718-652-6256 and ask to speak to Gilanyi Batista.

Actualmente tenemos un espacio disponible para un estudiante para el Prescolar de Mind-Builders. Si su niño nació en 2018 y usted está interesado en inscribirlo, llámenos al 718-652-6256 y pida hablar con Gilanyi Batista.

Employment Opportunities

Interested in getting more involved at Mind-Builders? Check out our available positions:

Job Opportunities : Get Involved : Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center.

“It takes a special kind of teacher to be a Mind-Builder."

Mind-Builders Spotlight

This month's spotlight is on Mind-Builders' Drum Instructor, Lon Ivey!

World-recognized drummer/vocalist and our long-time dedicated drum instructor, Leon (aka. Lon) Ivey, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Creative Jazz Organization(CJO)! CJO has presented live music since 1975 and has been a great force for keeping jazz alive.

Mr. Ivey started music lessons at age 6 when his parents recognized his musical talent. One summer, at age 12, Mr. Ivey's father took him to a concert in Harlem as a surprise. The concert featured the Max Roach quintet, followed by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. It was during that concert that the drums called to him in a way no other instrument ever had to this day! Mr. Ivey then began playing in the drum bugle corps at about age 13 and has been drumming ever since.

Over the years, Mr. Ivey has studied with master drummers like Walter "Baby Sweets" Perkins (his first drum teacher), Tony Williams, and Bruno Carr. He's also performed and recorded with Jon Lucien, Angela Bofill, Sam Rivers, Freddie" Hey Girl" Scott, Sweet Georgia Brown, Danny Mixon, and Bakthi Kumalo (Paul Simon band). Currently Mr. Ivey leads Lon Ivey's 4th Millenium Band, recording and performing the best of Smooth Jazz and R&B covers and original compositions.

Congratulations Mr. Ivey! Well Deserved!

Don't miss these upcoming events!

Awakening Youth Ensemble Auditions Begin

MTV's International Celebrity Vocal Coach, Ankh Ra Amenhetep will conduct a community chorus that explores the power of the voice using positive and inspirational music.

Click here for additional Information

Click the photo for a sneak peak.

Mind Your Beat Dance Battle

Saturday, January 7 | 6:30PM-8:00PM

Come watch our youth show off their dance moves and battle it out at the Mind Your Beat Dance Battle. Contestants have a chance to win a $200 Cash Prize!

Featuring: Guest Judges Nate The Great & Dee Ross

Entry Fee: $5 For Spectators (Contestants Free)

click here for additional information

Parent Workshop: Healthy Communication

Saturday, January 14 | 11:00AM-12:00PM

Effective communication between parents and children, helps to build understanding and trust. A trusting relationship supports the well-being and overall development in children.

During this workshop parents will use role-play to explore healthy ways to communicate with their children.

Freestyle Fridays

Friday, January 20 | 6:30PM-8:30PM

Come and connect with other youth through

games, food, and entertainment for this monthly program! There will be a live DJ and opportunities to win special prizes! This is a safe space for creative expression.

Limited spots are available so be sure to RSVP ASAP. Click here to RSVP

December Highlights

December was full of Umoja (Unity)! Check out some highlights:

Kwanzaa Celebration

We held our Annual Kwanzaa Celebration and we must say, it was our best one yet! We had a full house, and the performances were simply incredible.

click on the photo to see more

Joining the HSA Harlemettes

Six of our students joined the Harlem School of the Art’s @harlemettes and opened for Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular!!

Thank you Harlem School of the Arts, for inviting us to audition. Thank you Mr. Ron for coaching our girls to greatness! And thank you Radio City for making these opportunities possible for communities like ours!

click on the photo to see more

I'll Go: A solo performance by Willa Bost

In collaboration with Culture Pass, our very own theater instructor, Willa Bost, performed her showpiece, I'll Go at the Wakefield Library.

The audience couldn't get enough, and she was asked to perform in Queens & Brooklyn!

click on the photo to see more

New York Philharmonic

Earlier this month some of our students had a chance to attend the New York Philharmonic’s performance of Holiday Brass. It was a wonderfully inspiring experience, and our students absolutely loved it!

Senator Nathalia Fernández

District 34 Senator, Nathalia Fernández stopped by Mind-Builders for a visit! We gave her a tour of Mind-Builders and even got to see her showcase some of her classical training in our beginner's ballet class. In fact, we learned that she took tap, piano, ballet and drums as a kid...talk about representation!

Dance Is Healing

Our partners, The Paige Fraser Foundation, held their Annual Dance is Healing Workshop over the course of 2-days and it was a hit! The classes were full, and participants on both days had nothing but praise for the classes and instructors.

click on the photo to see more

SUPPORTING STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH

& FAMILIES IN THE NEW YEAR

Did you know that many of our Mind-Builders staff are certified in Mental Health First Aid? The mental health of our Mind-Builders students and families is very important to us. Please continue to check announcements in future Mind-Builders Newsletters as well as our social media platforms for upcoming Parent Workshops, info for students to join our new Youth Council or Life Skills Group, and other resources to be shared. Additionally, feel free to call (718) 652-6256 as well if you'd like more info, need support, or have suggestions for future Parent Workshop themes.

$5/hr Dance Rehearsal Space at Mind-Builders!

Spread The Word!

Did you know that Mind-Builders received funding from Dance/NYC to provide subsidized dance rehearsal space? The funding allows us to provide $5/hr private studio space! We believe this is an amazing opportunity for dancers in our community to have a safe, comfortable and most importantly, affordable space to practice their forms of movement. So if you know anyone that can benefit from this, please share this information with them. We really want our community to take advantage of this opportunity.

Click the link below to rent dance space!

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