This program is an Out-of-School Time (OST) program for African American families living in areas impacted most by the epidemic in Cuyahoga County, targeting Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood. According to recent studies, African Americans are at higher risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19 than other groups in the U.S, especially the elderly with preexisting conditions. This program partners with the Karamu House, Garden Valley Neighborhood House, Stir Studio Kitchen, and ZENworks Yoga to impact families, teach their youth about resilience, and the importance of togetherness in a world of social distancing. Here, students choose from four 2-hour online classes in African drumming, capoeira, yoga, and cooking.

In African drumming, youth build djembe drums using homemade items and learn ‘slap and tone’ while playing to a groove. In capoeira, students learn Portuguese and engage with each other through dance movements in a virtual circle (called a “roda”) to the berimbau’s rhythmic sounds. In yoga and mindfulness meditation, children build strength and resiliency while learning one of the six Āstika (orthodox) schools of Hindu philosophical traditions. In cooking, students embrace the world’s many cultures through food, recipes, and technique. This program culminates in a YouTube music video that montages students’ virtual journey, achievements, and program impact, performed live to the music of Ameris Reids’ 2020 debut single “Familiar.” Through this experience, the youth will learn and grow while maintaining social distancing requirements from the safety of their homes. Together, this program inspires students to achieve through adversity, using the arts and their talents to solve real-world problems. Therefore, In-Home Arts Virtual Learning is an emotional journey for youth and families as we challenge them to endure these trying times, through action and creative solutions.