When Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts was relaunched the goal was not only to introduce community focused objectives in education, but also create a hub for entrepreneurial activities for both students and young adults between 18-24 who were no longer in school or employed.
1871 CEO Howard Tullman was a formative part of the discussion surrounding these initiatives and recently introduced the team from Donda’s House to Beulah Mcloyd, Principal of Dyett. Bringing these two organizations together was important to move these certain community initiatives forward.
Donda’s House Inc. is proud to partner with Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts, a Chicago Public School in order to amplify impact & better serve South Side Artists. Most of the Donda’s House artists (roughly 90%) are from the South Side neighborhood of Chicago and they are flourishing artistically and civically. The organization has operated programming city-wide in its 4 years of existence, directly serving 500+ youth but will now anchor programming on the South Side through a partnership with Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts.
Donda’s House has operated satellite programming in a variety of locations including The ARK of St. Sabina, Harold Washington Library through the PROject US Program and Columbia College. Donda’s House will now have a stationary office & programming space while still developing Kanye West’s Childhood Home as an additional programming site and museum. Donda’s House will offer programming during the school day for students including monthly “Lunch & Learns” where students will have the opportunity to be introduced to careers in the arts. Dyett and Donda’s House are also targeting Opportunity Youth in Bronzeville and throughout the South Side during after school hours through the “Now What?” Professional Workshop Series where participants can take advantage of free workshops targeting the business of arts and skill development.
Dyett High School has a strong connection to community with state-of-the-art facilities for students. “As a Bronzeville resident, I am excited about the possibilities that this new partnership brings to the community. Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts is truly a place where arts and innovation intersect, and this partnership will amplify that fact,” says Ms. Beulah McLoyd. Dyett High School is easily accessible due its location in the Bronzeville, mid-South community.
The partnership will launch a podcast in 2018, and will operate year-round programming. “So many youth age out of programs when they turn 18, and we will be able to provide professional and artistic development in a hyper-local way to teens and young adults” says Donnie Smith, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Donda’s House. For more information about how to volunteer or support programming, please visit DondasHouseInc.org. On December 14th, Donda’s House will host a Digital Open House on Instagram beginning at 10:30 a.m.
To learn how you can volunteer, please complete a Volunteer Application here. You will be contacted within 7 business days with further details.
To make a contribution to support programming, please click here.
To contact us, please e-mail hello@dondashouseinc.org.
