AmeriCorps: Healthy Futures

Started in 1985 Arts for All, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide accessible education, training and experiences in the arts to children, particularly those with special needs. Arts for All provides classes in ceramics, visual arts, dance, music and drama for children with and without disabilities and adults with disabilities.

Nutrition and physical activity are emphasized daily to promote improved health behaviors with the purpose of reducing childhood obesity. The arts-based preschool utilizes activities from the Ready Bodies, Learning Minds program created by Athena Oden, P.T. This program stimulates and develops the reflex, tactile, proprioceptive, vestibular, visual and auditory systems and prepares children for learning readiness and mastery of environment (Ogden, 2004). Daily dance classes improve motor and sensory skills while instilling healthy body habits. The preschool, after school and Summer/Winter Arts Camps’ participants all take regular dance classes. Nutrition is discussed in all groups during snack times.

79% of those attending Arts for All are aged 22 and under and 56% of those children have a disability. 80% children ages 22 and under are from low income families.