Chess matches are held simultaneously as part of the Center for Creativity Education program at Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Paltz, New York (Photo provided)
NEW PALTS, NY — Midtown Kingson's Center for Creative Education, known for its art, music, dance and child care programs, has expanded to a new home at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Route 32 near New Paltz, NY .
Bryant Drew Andrews, executive director of the Center for Creative Education, said the facility has served about 20 to 25 youth in the three weeks since it opened in February.
Andrews said CCE decided on New Paltz as its next location after conducting research that found many New Paltz parents were bringing their children to the nonprofit's programs in Kingston.
“CCE prides itself on making the arts accessible, affordable and equitable,” Andrews said. CCE's research showed there was a real need for such programming in New Paltz, he added.
“A lot of underprivileged people live in New Paltz,” he said.
As for why CCE chose Redeemer Lutheran Church, Andrews said it has rooms for activities and a kitchen to prepare meals for the program. He pointed out the art room, which doubles as a space to make musical instruments, and the music room next to it.
Space is provided for dance courses in the church's fellowship hall.
Although the church's modern sanctuary lacks traditional pews, Andrews said the space is an ideal space to host performances because it can be reconfigured in a variety of ways for future performances. I said that there is.
“And they're open and community-oriented,” he said.
Andrews said the New Paltz Central School District and NYU-New Paltz are good partners, with the district helping to bus elementary school students to CCE's after-school programs and the center offering internship opportunities to NYU-New Paltz students. He said he is offering.
On a recent afternoon, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church hosted an after-school program known as “Find the Fun,” which runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.
CCE hosts drop-in classes every weekday.
Monday will feature creative karate from 4 to 5 p.m. and arts and crafts from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday's schedule includes hip-hop dance from 4-5 p.m., holistic drumming from 5-6 p.m., and musical theater also from 5-6 p.m.
Wednesday classes include fun fitness from 4pm to 5pm, instrument and chess making from 5pm to 6pm, and tutoring in math is also available. Thursday's schedule includes hip-hop dancing from 4 to 5 p.m. and Dungeons and Dragons from 5 to 6 p.m.
Friday's schedule includes Tippy Toes Ballet from 4 to 5 p.m. and Open Hip Hop from 5 to 6 p.m.
The New Paltz program is run by Wallkill director Vanessa McKinney.
“I’ve been working with kids all my life, so I looked here because I thought there was an opening,” she said.
McKinney said she strives to create a space where everyone feels comfortable and can find their favorite activities.
On a recent Friday afternoon, Kingston resident Kamora Hauser was helping supervise a dance class for the Find the Fun program. She has worked at the center for 10 years, first as a student and now as a staff member, she said. The after-school program offers homework help, arts and crafts, and more, she said.
“It’s a family-centered environment,” she said. “It's easy to grow up here and then work here.”
New Paltz resident Raffaella Zaccaria was with her 9-year-old daughter Victoria on a recent afternoon. Ms. Zaccaria said that while her daughter is in her energy dance company at CCE, she is taking her adult dance cross fitness classes in Kingston, so her family also follows her. She said she is familiar with CCE.
She said she is grateful for the new store because it is only five minutes away from her family's home near Highland, while the Kingston store is 16 minutes away.
Find something fun Coordinator Kimberly Gualpa, a Kingston resident, staffed the arts and crafts room. She said her role ranges from helping children with their homework to craft activities such as making cards and letters.
To do that, she said, you need to be ready to change things quickly. “If something isn’t interesting, we’ll change it,” she said.
Gualpa added that her role is also to create a welcoming atmosphere for all the young people mentioned by Andrews. “Are the kids hungry? Or do they need to go to the bathroom?” she added.
Specialty classes cost $20 per class and Find the Fun (including specialty classes) costs $80 per week. Monthly unlimited specialty class membership is $90.
