December News & Updates

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2023 - HELP US CONTINUE OUR WORK IN 2024

As 2023 comes to an end, we at Casita Maria are reflecting on our accomplishments, developing new programs, and planning exciting activities to commemorate our 90th Anniversary in 2024. We are extremely grateful to you - our donors, partners and families and friends - who have remained committed to helping us fuel our mission and touch countless lives. Thank you for your strong support, interest and generosity, without which we would not have been able to provide our South Bronx and East Harlem children and families with vital after school educational programs and enriching arts and cultural experiences.

Thank you for helping us:

1. Pave the way for including expressive arts, social emotional learning, and therapeutic recreation in our after-school programs through the generous funding from the Affinity Legacy grant

2. Identify our new Executive Director, Felix A. Urrutia Jr., who joined the Casita Maria team in March with an eye towards the 100th anniversary.

3. Present Read to a Child by Tijay Mohammed and Naturaleza Mutable by Carlos Wilfredo Encarnación in the Casita Maria Gallery.

4. Present both the South Bronx Culture Festival 2023 & BronX BandA featuring Arturo O'Farrill for free in the community.

5. Provide free Summer Day Camp to K-8th graders.

6. Fund our Arts & Education fusion in the fall after-school with an evaluation component.

7. Reinvigorate our community engagement by hosting the 41st precinct council at Casita Maria, present the Parranda Navideña and inviting to us to march and sing in the Fish and Halloween parades.

8. Celebrate during out 89th Fiesta! gala.

9. Continue to provide four academic scholarships each year through the William E. Simon Scholarship fund.

10. Present high quality culminating events featuring the young artist of Casita Maria.

During this season of joy, hope and giving, we invite you to continue this journey with us by making a year-end donation to support our programs and services. No amount is too small and your donation is an investment in a brighter future for the vibrant community we serve.

Thank you again for your generosity! Casita Maria wishes you and your families a very happy, safe holiday season, and a healthy, prosperous New Year!

YOUNG ARTISTS EXPLORE FOOD, CULTURE & IDENTITY THROUGH THE CULINARY ARTS
This year, our young artists embark on a delicious journey of exploration, honoring, and celebrating Food, Culture, and Identity through a unique Culinary Arts Program. The goal is to teach young chefs about cooking through the lens of the scientific method by treating recipes as experiments while building life skills and learning about nutrition, mental health, global culture, history, technology, mathematics, art, and food systems along the way. This course will empower young chefs to approach and love cooking as a valuable life skill, an art form, and a possible career path.

EXPRESSIVE ART THERAPY & LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
Integrated into each lesson plan in the Art Studios at Casita Maria are Expressive Art Therapy exercises. These exercises are strategically designed to nurture essential cognitive, social, and emotional skills, laying the groundwork for a successful future. Our expert Teaching Artists leverage these exercises not only to cultivate these life skills, but also as a dynamic conduit for introducing intricate subject matter. By seamlessly incorporating movement, active listening, creative expression, and written exploration, our Art Programs ensure that the combination of subject content and Expressive Art Therapy empower our young artists with the multifaceted skills necessary for success in life, the arts, and education.

MET OPERA VISIT TO CASITA & FIELD TRIP

Thank you to our partner, the Metropolitan Opera, for visiting Casita Maria to teach around Florencia en el Amazonas, the first Spanish language opera presented by the Met in over 100 years and for providing us with free tickets for a Casita family field trip!

During their two visits to Casita, we learned about the opera’s narrative and inspiration behind the set and costume design. Soprano Gabriella Reyes performed for us accompanied by pianist Juan Lázaro. Following the opera we met Gabriella at the stage door for pictures, hugs and autographs.

CASITA MARIA GALLERY
Casita Maria presents the solo exhibition Naturaleza Mutable by Bronx-based artist Carlos Wilfredo Encarnación, on view in the Casita Maria Gallery through March 1, 2024.

Many visitors have already enjoyed the exhibition which features 18 mixed media paintings and collage artworks fusing imagery from tropical flora, fauna and Puerto Rican popular and pre-colonial arts.

On Wednesday, December 6, artist Carlos Wilfredo Encarnación led a Gallery tour followed by a hands-on printmaking workshop with High School program participants. The Young Artists learned how to work with stencils to create a personalized tote bag.

Don't wait until it's too late to schedule your visit or book a tour by emailing [email protected].

LEARN MORE

JOIN OUR BOOK CLUB

Casita Maria is partnering on a bilingual (English/Spanish) and in-person Book Club facilitated by the New York Public Library at Hunts Point. We will be meeting five more times over the course of the academic year on the last Wednesday of the month from 6-7:30 pm to read classic novels by Latino authors. Free books will be provided in your preferred language or both languages and refreshments will be served. A children's reading circle will also be offered for up to ten children for each session.

Book Two: Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas

For those seeking inspiration get ready for our upcoming book ‘Down These Mean Streets’ by Piri Thomas. This book invites readers to confront universal themes of identity and belonging in the face of adversity. Mark your calendars for our next meeting on January 31, 2024.

Stop by to pick up your free books Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm.

The next meeting date is: Wednesday, January 31

Location: Casita Maria Gallery, 928 Simpson Street, 6th Floor, Bronx

REGISTER