Please join us this coming SATURDAY May 14 at "The Farm" (across from Sav A Lot Grocery)..We will be opening to the public at 7:OO A.M. Having a variety of goodies i.e.: Jellies, Candy, Cookies, Eggs, Handmade soaps, some vegetables. We will also have bee and bat boxes, bird feeders and bird houses. This is only a sample of what will be available. We also will have some yard sales.
I have called Minden my home since 1971. I’ve spent the majority of my life trying to encourage, expose, teach and promote the arts. With all the studies that show the value of an arts curriculum and how the arts play an important role in brain development of a child, I am constantly amazed how that message isn’t getting to the right people. Or that it has been discounted, down-played and out-right ignored. I’ve even come to wonder if there’s a conspiracy to dumb down our children especially when you consider that we seem to be putting all of our emphasis on teaching children how to pass a test. Aren’t we simply teaching them ‘what’ to think and not ‘how’ to think? With all the studies that show the role the arts play in critical thinking and problem solving, and with no arts curriculum in our schools, there’s no wonder our children’s scores are lacking. And I’m not surprised that our drop -out percentages are as high as they are.
Many of you are parents and you have to be seeing the same thing I am. You have to be wondering who is making the rules and who is turning our schools into prisons for our children. Instead of unlocking their minds, we’re limiting their brain development and we’re limiting their future prospects. I remember a learning environment when I was young that included music, art and theatre. I remember a school environment that made me want to go to school every day because I had something to look forward to and I felt challenged. Today’s children are stressed and the challenges they face appear to be the aggressive nature of another child.
As the founder of the first afterschool enrichment center in Minden, I know first-hand what the arts can do to not only improve a child’s self image but also what it can do to spark a child’s imagination, create a desire for learning and open their mind to unlimited possibilities. Right now, we are simply teaching them how to answer questions. Without a stimulating environment, it’s only a matter of time before more of our children will become statistics.
While considering the future of our country and the many challenges our children and grandchildren will face, they’re going to need more creative thinkers. We may not be able to change the school system but we can change the opportunities we provide to children through community-related activities.
And while we may not be able to solve the current financial challenges that seem to keep the arts out of school, there is another alternative. Community partnerships with the arts. We do have a local non- profit that has been filling the void for nearly two decades. Cultural Crossroads has already been providing what little art enrichment there is in the schools aside from the Gifted and Talented Program. Their annual Spring Arts Festival has provided opportunities for real art experiences free of charge to area children. This all volunteer organization led by a group of dedicated advocates for the arts and children have brought in nearly a million dollars to our parish in the past 15 years in the form of grants and foundation dollars. And they would do more but they are limited, too, limited in their funds and in the community support they receive. They need more volunteers. They need more corporate dollars so they can provide matching money for more grant opportunities. And they need more people to support their efforts.
As the chairman of the board of Cultural Crossroads, I do have an agenda. …to provide more opportunities for children to unlock their minds while increasing their desire for learning through the arts. I know it works. I am living proof.
If you would like to learn more about Cultural Crossroads and their programs visit their website at www.artsinminden. com. And if you would like to become a community partner, call me at 318-393-5991.
Passionate about the arts,
Chris Broussard
This letter ran in the Minden Press Herald in April of this year. We thought it was important enough to circulate on our blog.
2011 SAF CHILDREN'S YARN & THREAD CONTEST WINNERS
5TH-6TH GRADE
1st Place Sarah Walker
9TH-10TH GRADE
1st Place Laece Poe
2nd Place Gerrica Cheatham
11TH-12TH GRADE
1st Place Hannah Pickard Button's Pillow
2nd Place Erica Ruch Bowl
3rd Place Whitney Hudgens Pillow
Hon Men Raven Hall Pillow
LaCandio White Pillow
BEST OF SHOW: Laece Poe
2011 SAF CHILDREN'S POETRY CONTEST WINNERS
1ST-2ND GRADE
1st Place Emily Ramie "The Chicken Day" Glenbrook
3RD-4TH GRADE
1st Place Sarah Renaud "Lions" Richardson
5TH-6TH GRADE
1st Place Jaycee Johnson Springhill
2nd Place Cassiday McKinney "Cassidy" Phillips Middle School
3rd Place Cassiday McKinney "Green" Phillips Middle School
7TH-8TH GRADE
1st Place Bridget Cone "Haiku" Glenbrook
2nd Place Chase Adams "Love" Springhill
3rd Place Olivia McIntryre "Trials & Tribulations“ Springhill
9TH-10TH GRADE
1st place Andrew Evans "I said a Prayer for you" Springhill
2nd Place Kayla O'Neal "Stop Waiting" Homeschool
3rd Place Jasmine Mills "Mid summer” Homeschool
4th Place Kayla O'Neal "Get Back Up Again" Homeschool
11TH-12TH GRADE
1st Place Kara O'Neal "Rain" Homeschool
2nd place Kara O'Neal "Light's Dance" Homeschool
3rd place Leslie Abdelkader "Death of a Firefly" Springhill
4th place Kara O'Neal "There's a Certain Magic" Homeschool
BEST OF SHOW Kayla O'Neal "Once I loved" Homeschool
BEST OF SHOW Alexis Brophy "I know" Springhill
2011 SAF CHILDRENS ART CONTEST WINNERS
PRE K-K DIVISIONS: 65 Entries
Mixed Medium
1st Place Stella Powell "Funky Chicken" Glenbrook
2nd Place Jordan Coleman "Blue House" Harper
3rd Place Paige Beck "Funky Chicken" Glenbrook
4th Place Caden Thornton "Blue House" Richardson
Watercolors
1st Place Kaleigh Foster "Red Sam" Richardson
2nd Place Timiah Hawkins "Red Sam" Webster PreK
Pencil/Crayon
1st Place Anna Lee "Chef Anna" Glenbrook
2nd Place Gracie Purvis "Let's Eat" Glenbrook
3rd Place Maleah Barker "The Chef" Glenbrook
4th Place Ansley Glasscock "The Cook" Glenbrook
Painting
1st place Colin Herndon "Karate" Harper
2nd Place Emile Talry "Lighthouse" Browning
3rd Place Jacob Powell "Funky Chicken" Glenbrook
4th Place Sophie Spiullers "Untitled" Webster PreK
4th Place Elyse Jackson "Flower" Glenbrook
BEST OF SHOW: Paige Lott "Funky chicken" Glenbrook
2011 SAF CHILDRENS ART CONTEST WINNERS
GRADES 1-2 186 Entries
Mixed Medium
1st Place Aidan Harris "Bluejeans & Quilts Glenbrook
2nd Place Jackson Powell "Lights on" Glenbrook
3rd Place Hannah Mosley "On the Farm" Glenbrook
4th Place John Gilbert "Blue House" Richardson
Watercolors
1st Place Jemma Killingworth "Scarecrow & Barn" Glenbrook
2nd Place Grady Brasher "Sunflowers" Glenbrook
3rd Place Emma Earnhardt "Scarecrow & Barn" Glenbrook
4th Place Katelyn McNight "Cat" Richardson
Pencil/Crayon
1st Place Aidan Harris "Self Portrait" Glenbrook
2nd Place Annistan Jordan "Have a Cupcake" Glenbrook
3rd Place Elizabeth Walker "Rainbow Rooster" Homeschool
4th Place Emily Ramie "Carrots Anyone" Glenbrook
Painting
1st place Aiden Harris "Starry, Starry Holy Night" Glenbrook
2nd Place Jake Moro "Funky Chicken" Harper
3rd Place Kaylie Nelson "Bug" Glenbrook
4th Place Rhodes Greer "Daffodil" Glenbrook
Collages
1st Place Connor Humphries "Chicken" Glenbrook
2nd Place Cheyenne Moore "Chicken" Glenbrook
3rd Place Harvey Cole "Mask" Browning
4th Place Katelyn Massey "Chicken" Glenbrook
BEST OF SHOW: Jackson McKinney "Blue Dog" Harper
2011 SAF CHILDRENS ART CONTEST WINNERS
GRADES 3-4 165 Entries
Mixed Medium
1st Place Kerigan Sanders "Spring Cleaning" Glenbrook
2nd Place Kacee Nixon "Ruff Ruff" Stewart
3rd Place Katherine Chumbley "Grandma's Quilts" Glenbrook
4th Place Ally (?) "Barn" Glenbrook
Watercolors
1st Place Emma Whyte "Weird Blown" Glenbrook
2nd Place Daniel Miller "Come on Crows" Glenbrook
3rd Place Savannah Moro "Red Sam" Harper
4th Place Aubrie Dickson "Curly" Glenbrook
Pencil/Crayon
1st Place Eli McGraw "Louisiana Cook" Glenbrook
2nd Place Savannah Moro "Funky Town" Harper
3rd Place Skylar Davis "Want a Snowcone" Glenbrook
4th Place John Curtis Brown "Fleur de lis gardener" Glenbrook
Painting
1st place Hayden Whyte "4 Pears" Glenbrook
2nd Place Shadra Neal "Barn" Brown Upper
3rd Place Katie Hortman "3 Pears" Glenbrook
4th Place Dreunna Washington "Ode to Jocob Lawrence" Brown Upper
Collage
1st Place Avery Dye "I'm such a pretty egg" Glenbrook
2nd Place Michaela Waits "Oh No my egg broke" Glenbrook
3re Place Darbi Walker "I'm so Eggy, right?" Glenbrook
4th Place Hope Kennedy "I wanna play play play all day Glenbrook
Photography
1st Place Logan Bailery "Chicken with Tree" Central
2nd Place Logan Bailery "Chicken with Flowers" Central
BEST OF SHOW: Katherine Chumley "Pears on Plaid" Glenbrook
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