Project Heartbeat
Riverside County has comprised of 23 school districts and services 349,151 school-aged youth, with a school dropout rate of 3.2%, just below the state rate of 3.8%. Anointed Vessel Productions make an impact by providing “Project Heartbeat,” a comprehensive youth development program offered in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The programs provide a platform for creative expression and positive self-identity for increased confidence and improved academic achievement. These prevention & intervention programs were established with a primary focus on reducing school dropout rates to bridge the gap in the learning experience, as a catalyst for youth to conquer their academic challenges and seize all opportunities for future success. The program 1) utilizes acting techniques as visual learning for raising low self-esteem and confidence levels Alternative Education), utilizes theatre techniques for basic life skills through staged real-life challenges for the development of leadership and anger management skills Vocational Education), 3) a platform for creative expression as an alternative to at-risk behavior for early intervention and prevention of social problems, building positive self-identity and empowerment for self-sufficiency.
Our Core Programs...
In School Arts Integrated Curriculum at Alternative Community Schools
In collaboration with the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) Alternative Education Division, this in-school arts-integrated curriculum is utilized as a primary pathway to learning so that the “non-traditional” students can have direct experience, be involved in making decisions about their learning, and be engaged in lessons that are motivating. The program is offered at community day schools and serves as a Positive Behavior Intervention Strategy (PBIS) for students who are either on probation, display oppositional defiant behavior, or have been expelled from their home school and need an opportunity to earn credits for graduation, earn community service credit hours, overcome past challenges and create new beginnings for themselves. This curriculum employs various art mediums incorporating real-life scenarios and role-play through team-based and leadership projects to help the students discover their potential for greatness and learn crucial academic and social skills that will help them return to their home school and graduate. In group discussions, the students collaborate on relevant youth topics for which they collectively participate in the development of a script to be performed for the school. The participants receive a certificate of participation and earn credits toward their diploma.
After-School Performing Arts Educational Program
This 10-week program is offered in underserved communities targeting disadvantaged youth ages 11-17 at a reduced registration/materials fee. The program follow a customized script based on real-life youth challenges as alternative education offering practical solutions and creating a visual platform for raising public awareness on the various youth challenges. The participants’ character trait(s) targeted for development, and their artistic talents are incorporated into the script to enable the participant to pull from within their inner strength for confidence building.
The participants engage in acting and theatre techniques, theatre games, and improvisation for creative expression. The participants engage in creative writing workshops including readers theatre, exercises in character analysis, character development, and scene development. The program culminate in a live public performance that pulls together all the elements covered and showcase the participants talents. The participants receive a certificate of participation. This program is provided to address the school dropout rates in the Inland Empire.
After-School Performing Arts Educational Program
Our 10-week programs follow a customized script based on real-life youth challenges and provide practical solutions as alternative education. Youth engage in acting and theatre techniques, theatre games, and improvisation for creative expression. Youth participate in creative writing workshops including readers theatre, exercises in character analysis, character development, and scene development. In vocational workshops, youth learn basic fundamental elements of producing a stage play from casting to live performance including lighting, sound, and stage management. The programs culminate in a live public performance that pulls together all the elements covered and all participants receive a certificate. These programs are provided to address school dropout rates in the Inland Empire.
Work Experience Program (Tech Theatre: Stage Play Production)
As an entry-level position in the Entertainment Industry (TV, stage, film), this hands-on work experience and job training program provide the participants with practical theatre experience and basic knowledge of stage play production from casting to live performance. The program covers playwriting, script analysis, character and scene development; acting and auditioning techniques; theatre terms, stage direction, costuming, set design and construction, lighting and sound concepts, budgeting, communications, marketing, and public relations.
in a workshop setting, the participants train for the day-to-day operation of a production company. Training includes office administration, resume writing and interview skills. Upon completion of the program the participants are able to perform the role of several characters, design lighting and costume concepts for the production, construct sets and props, manage the front of house and backstage during the production and collaborate with members of the production team to bring the vision of the selected script to life. The participants are co-writers of Anointed Vessel Productions’ stage plays on relative peer-related youth issues, and serve as Production Assistants in the culminating stage plays performed by the participants of our after school performing arts program. The participants receive a certificate of completion and an employer reference letter.
Program Outcome Measures
- SELF-EFFICACY: Youth’s sense and perception of their value, worth, and potential is changed.
- INCREASED CONFIDENCE: Youth thrive better socially, confidence levels are raised, and leadership skills are discovered and developed.
- POSITIVE SELF-IDENTITY: Negative energy is transformed into positive behavior traits and characteristics.
- INCREASED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Youth gain increased appreciation for education.
- LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: Workshop setting which includes improvisation and study of scripts with relatable characters and struggles provides multiple opportunities to react to real-life scenarios without the risk of making a life-altering decision.