Events pair various artistic disciplines with English language arts and STEM subjects for children and families in Hispanic/Latinix communities
The Van Wezel Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation in support of the Foundation’s virtual Bilingual Family Art Nights, the nonprofit has announced.
“At Suncoast, we recognize the value and dimension that art brings to all of our lives, while providing a creative portal for individuals to express themselves,” said Cindy Helton, executive director of the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, in a news release. “Supporting Bilingual Family Arts Night is a natural fit for Suncoast, as we both share the similar goal of promoting the education, health and well-being of children in our communities,” Helton added in the release
“Virtual Bilingual Family Art Nights serve to align children, caregivers, and families in the Hispanic/Latinx communities with targeted learning objectives, while providing them with tools and lessons they can continue at home to expand learning,” the release explains.
“We’re grateful to the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation for investing in this integral virtual program to help us extend access to bilingual arts education opportunities,” said Van Wezel Foundation CEO Cheryl Mendelson in the release.
Virtual Bilingual Family Art Nights “pair a variety of artistic disciplines (dance/movement, visual arts, drama, and creative writing) with English Language Arts and STEM subjects, with all materials now translated in Spanish,” the release points out.
“STEM education is the intentional integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and their associated practices to create a … learning environment in which students investigate and engineer solutions to problems,” the Florida Department of Education explains on its website.
“Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 10th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $14.3 billion in assets,” the release notes.