|
April was a whirlwind of activity at the Funhouse!
In addition to our regular programming, we hosted Primetime, a Latino family reading program held on Thursday evenings complete with delicious meals, celebrated Día de los Niños with our Community Resource Center, inspired middle and high school minds with Science Saturdays alongside our founder Jim Bredouw, and topped it all of with a magnificent Earth Day inspired Science Fair open to all ages of student participation.
As director, I'm immensely proud of the positive energy and collaboration radiating from our team at the Funhouse Commons. Their dedication is evident in the positive childhood experiences we are creating for young people in our community. Our quantitative data analysis is calculated by the number of smiles, and this past month was off-the-charts!
What truly fills me with pride is the extensive behind-the-scenes work. Our strategic planning sessions and the efforts of our board and team at the policy level have been instrumental in guiding our mission. The culmination of this labor is the Funhouse Commons Code of Conduct, mandatory for all board members, staff, and volunteers. For us, diversity, equity, and inclusivity aren't just boxes to check – they're the driving force behind our mission's success. With that, we're thrilled to introduce our two newest board members!
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Carla Shanks, whose wealth of experience and knowledge of young people on Orcas Island will be invaluable. Carla's upbringing in Bolivia offers a unique cross-cultural perspective, enhancing our efforts to create more equitable pathways for Latino students to feel a true sense of belonging in our community and schools. Her insights will help us better understand and address the challenges we face as we strive for diversity, equity and inclusion.
We're equally excited to welcome Tania Lissistskaia, whose background in business and organizational management, coupled with her upbringing in the former Soviet Union, brings a fresh perspective to the table. Tania understands the vital role that youth centers play in our community and will contribute significantly to our mission.
Today, as part of the Give Orcas Campaign, we're inspired by our shared commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. Please join us in this work, by making a donation to make our building a more welcoming and accessible space for all.
Coming soon to the Funhouse Commons, and something I am stirring with excitement about, is Music Programming that will officially begin this Summer with our Songlab taught by Pedro LopezDeVictoria. Pedro is an inspiring teacher, musician and creator, and has developed a music education workshop for teens that will meet two days a week in the evenings this summer to learn about songwriting, expression, artistry, and recording, with the end result being a full track album made by the students using Garageband.
Stay tuned for more information, and remember that it takes a village and a Funhouse!
| 
