2017-2018 Program Outcomes
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Empower and Engage Oakland Youth
2017-2018 Programs served 208 Oakland public school students through our core programs.
Prescott Circus Performance Program at PLACE@Prescott Elementary, West Oakland. 96 classes
2-Semester After School Satellite Programs
• Lafayette Elementary. West Oakland. 68 classes
• Manzanita Community / Manzanita SEED. San Antonio neighborhood. 64 classes
• Parker Elementary. Eastmont neighborhood. East Oakland. 62 classes
• Sankofa Academy. North Oakland. 28 classes
1-Semester After School Programs
• Howard Elementary. East Oakland. 7 class pilot
• Piedmont Ave. Piedmont Ave. neighborhood. 23 classes
• Laurel Elementary. Laurel District. 25 classes
Saturday Advanced Training Program, 19 sessions
Summer Circus and Academic Program, 28 full days
Commitment to Oakland’s low-income children and youth
96% qualify for free or reduced lunch
African American 63%
Latino / Hispanic 21%
Asian / Asian-American 4%
European American 1%
Pacific Islander 1%
Middle Eastern 2%
Native American 1%
Multiracial 7%
Females 56%
Males 44%
Age Range 6 – 16. Average age is 10 years old.
Empowerment Through Community Engagement
Lift Up! 2018 Showcase. March 10. Oakland Technical High School
In partnership with Oakland Spirit Orchestra and The Museum of African Diaspora
Let’s Go Get It! 2018 Summer Performances. July 14 – 18. DeFremery Park & Malonga Casquelourd Art Center
41 School Year Community Events (Sept.2017 -June 2018)
14 Summertime Community Events (June – August 2018)
Performances and appearances at public and private events: Black Cowboy Parade, Alameda County Foster Parent Assoc. Holiday Party, Pan African Festival, Oakland Rotary, MOAD SF’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Emeryville Senior Center, Berkeley Marina Festival, Bay Area Health Care Center, Oakland Native’s Back to School Rally, and many others.
Special Projects
Island City Waterways. May 18 – 20 2018. 12 performances
Six older youth performed in a site specific production produced by Rhythmix Cultural Works, directed by Jeff Raz. Students performed on stilts to represent Caribbean culture / influence on Bay Area coastal life.
Circus Bella summer partnership. June – July 2018
Students opening acts at eight public performances. PCT Alumni, Damari Gilbert, was provided a paid, two month, apprenticeship. CB Director, Abigail Munn, and South African Gumboot Dancer, Michael Moloi, lead workshops for 2018 summer students
Internal and External Evaluation Results
July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018
Prescott Circus Theatre conducts surveys at the conclusion of each site’s program. Positive survey results show increases in leadership, sense of belonging, and success supporting skills including communication, working towards goals, and staying safe through their participation in our programs:
Skill Building
● 85% reported that their circus skills are better
● 65% have a better ability to listen and follow directions
School Engagement and Satisfaction
● 82% reported that they were happier to be at school
● 81% have a better ability to learn new things
● 99% reported that they benefited from participation
Teamwork / collaboration and Leadership
● 77% have a better ability to work with others
● 58% reported a better ability to solve problems with other students by talking to them
● 68% reported “I am more of a leader in my school since joining the Circus program”
Self-Awareness and Confidence
● 71% have a better understanding of “who I am/what I can do”
● 68% reported a better ability to use accurate self-assessment
● 82% reported their confidence in themselves is better
197 surveys: after school students, families, staff 2017-2018
We had two sisters in our program who were experiencing a lot of challenges at home. At the beginning of the school year, their attendance was very inconsistent but they loved coming to the circus program. Over time, they started attending school more regularly and Mom made more of an effort so that they could attend circus on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
– Texas Holly, Teaching Artist at Parker Elementary
One student, in the beginning, had a tendency to be very disruptive. When he began training in parkour and acrobatics, something really clicked. He began to show investment in the class, cared a great deal when others wasted time. By the end of the program, he would consistently stay on task, training for as much as 30 minutes at a time.
– Walker Staples, Teaching Artist at Sankofa Academy
One of our students at Lafayette this year had been feeling very down on himself because it was his second year in program and he was still struggling with basic skills like forward rolls and stilts. He would get very sad every time we were working in anything because he felt like he was not good enough. Then we found he really gravitated to Poi (a juggling prop) and that he was actually really good at it. We designated him the captain of that prop and gave him the responsibility to teach other students how to use it. We also gave him a solo in the final show highlighting his skill and even him to choreograph his own routine. He took all of that on with so much pride and was so happy after he performed in the show and told us he definitely will be doing program again next year.
– Oriana Doria-Quesada, Teaching Artist at Lafayette Elementary