Junta for Progressive Action
Capoeira Dancing
Drawing at JUNTA
CREATIVITY, POSITIVE VALUES, FRIENDSHIP, FUN, DISCOVERY, LEARNING AND MUCH MORE!
In collaboration with Yale Child Study Outpatient Services, Junta provides a free Afterschool Arts program to children in New Haven. Children attend a variety of classes in the afternoon including dance, photography, guitar, drama, painting and storytelling. On Thursdays, the children go on field trips including the Yale Center for British Art and the New Haven Colony Historical Society, where they take part in different art activities.
This program helps working families and has multiple benefits for at-risk children: It gives them the opportunity to share positive experiences with others and offers creative outlets to improve their social, personal and academic growth. In addition, the program provides a safe place for children in the crucial hours when they leave school but their parents are still at work and can not return home to take care of them.
Schedule: Monday to Friday from 2:45pm to 5:45pm
To learn more about the Afterschool Program or to be a volunteer teacher, please contact Sandra Trevino, Program Coordinator at (203) 787-0191 or sandra.trevino@juntainc.org
Summer 2004 at Gillette's Castle
Around the campfire. Summer 2004
In August of 2004, JUNTA hosted “JUNTA at Big Turtle Village”, a summer sleep-away Camp that served 53 at-risk Fair Haven youth. JUNTA’s first such Camp took place in the summer of 2002 when, over the course of one-week, more than 25 children had the opportunity to enjoy a free outdoor holiday full of learning activities. The purpose of the trip was to familiarize the youth – many of whom had never previously explored the world beyond New Haven – to the wonders of the natural environment, including geological formations and locations, Connecticut’s vegetation and wildlife, and the importance of the environment and its preservation.
The camp was a big success as well as a great positive experience for all children, youth workers and adults. JUNTA aims to repeat the success of last year’s camp, offering underserved children the opportunity to enjoy a week of outdoors learning, socializing and fun.
This year, the camp took place from Friday August 8 to Wednesday August 13 near “Devil’s Hopyard”, a beautiful State Park situated in East Haddam, Connecticut. The park offers a host of activities including bird watching, camping, hiking and picnicking. The park also has twenty-one wooded sites near scenic waterfalls and streams. JUNTA aimed to encourage new friendships, build self-esteem and share a community environment while enjoying and learning about the wonders of nature. During the camp, we conducted a series of workshops to teach youth about the natural environment.
There were four main workshops:
To learn more about JUNTA at "Big Turtle Village" or to be a volunteer, please contact Cheila Serrano at (203) 787-0191 or email
In addition to After school classes held during the school semester, The Summer Program at Junta offers a full day of arts and sports for New Haven children during the summer months. The goal of the program is two-fold: (1) to provide a "hook" to disadvantaged children to engage them in positive activities that have the potential to enhance their social, academic and personal growth. (2) to furnish an opportunity for the youth to have a voice to express themselves through the arts and the sport activities.
WHO CAN ATTEND?
Children ages 6 to 13 may come to the program. Regular attendance is required so that the children get to know the artists and staff.
WHERE IS THE SUMMER PROGRAM HELD?
Location is at Junta, 169 Grand Avenue. Parents and Guardians of enrolled children must drop off and pick up their child every day at this location.
WHEN DOES THE SUMMER PROGRAM OPERATE?
The Summer Program generally runs from the beginning of July to the end August. The program's hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The Summer Program is FREE for all participants.
WHAT IS REQUIRED OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS?
Parents and guardians must attend a workshop that meets one hour a week for the duration of the program.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY AT THE SUMMER PROGRAM LIKE?
Children spend half of the day engaged in sports and the other half of the day in art activities. Monday through Thursday activities include football, horseback riding, sailing, soccer, martial arts, drumming, painting, drawing, creative writing, dance, drama, photography, woodworking and guitar. On Fridays, children go on field trips to museums and art institutions including The Yale Art Gallery, the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Center for British Art, Eli Whitney Museum, the Eugene O´Neill Theatre Center, The Goodspeed Opera House, The Westport Country Playhouse and the Guilford Craftsman Center. All participants will receive two meals during the day, breakfast and lunch.
This program helps working families and has multiple benefits for at-risk children: It gives them the opportunity to share positive experiences with others and offers creative outlets to improve their social, personal and academic growth. In addition, the program provides a safe place for children in the crucial hours when they leave school but their parents are still at work and can not return home to take care of them.
QUESTIONS? Call Sandra Trevino at 203.787.0191 or sandra.trevino@juntainc.org