Youngsters at the Hoboken Housing Authority will have a new, free summer arts program thanks to a partnership between the city’s Division of Cultural Affairs and the Dance with Derrick program.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The summer arts program will offer workshops in hip hop, spoken word, percussion, photography, acting, mural art, fashion, and entrepreneurship.
This initiative is a direct response to feedback from the HHA community, who have requested more programming following the tragic killing of 21-year-old resident Damon Murray in late April.
“We are committed to providing our youth with positive and constructive opportunities that foster their creativity and personal growth,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“This new arts program aims to empower our young residents by offering them a platform to express themselves and learn from accomplished artists and instructors.”
The program will feature a lineup of presenters and instructors, including Quadir Ladson, Shakera Frazier, Chris Linton, Jason Quinones, Robert Rosa, and DJ Dugspin. These experts will guide participants through various artistic disciplines, helping them develop
new skills and explore their passions.
Sessions will be held in the 7th & Jackson Street Gym, which will be named after Murray at a date to be determined, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and are divided into three sessions:
Session 1: June 24 – June 28
Session 2: July 1 – July 3
Session 3: July 8 – July 12
Residents are welcome to sign up for any single session or all three, depending on their interests and availability. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
This program is offered at no cost to HHA residents, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent youth from participating in these valuable experiences.
For more information and to register, HHA residents can click here and registration opens on Monday, June 17th, at 6 p.m.
Almost sad how they don’t listen the residents who said they want more programs like this through recreation so that our kids can be with all parts of town, not more programs meant to keep them in one place. Not sure how anyone can debate this at this point, new rec person hired 3 years ago said she’d bring arts programs once again it’s piled on cultural affairs. Why can’t Hoboken recreation offer arts? That would mean the kids in all of Hoboken would mix. Oh nooo! Definately only have teen programs for hha. Our rec person doesn’t want to work in summer & not ravi either.
Why the city had to create something new- rather than invest in the non profits who offer services to the entire community puzzles me.
This is done through recreation in every other town. Why isn’t art in the park just for Hha too because it’s a favor? Let the kids mix Ravi. Expand these programs, hhs kids have friends outside the hha. Alex spoke up for these programs too and doesn’t live in housing. Let out teens mix!
More programs for teens are needed and this is a great start. A municipal pool in Hoboken would go a long way toward serving residents of all ages who don’t have access to a private pool and could even be integrated with a city-run summer camp. The perpetual- whining troll comments are stupid. Gotta start somewhere. The pop up dinosaur event Southwest park was a hoot- would love this kind of event in other parks around Hoboken. Seeing the creative influence of Dir Cricco-Powell already, more, more, more.