“We
are still in the planning stages right now,” said Young Audiences’ Executive
Director Cynnie Gaasch.
So
far, Young Audiences, along with the Buffalo State College Community Academic
Center, has planned to create a mural commemorating local immigrant heritage on
Grant Street and Lafayette Avenue.
The
students of International School Number 45 and Lafayette High School will be
involved with the project, along with their families, to show their cultural
pride.
“We
want to get both schools to work together on this project,” said Clare
Malachowski a representative of AmeriCorps that works in the Community Academic
Center.
The
Community Academic Center opens its doors to the West Side community, bringing
students together.
“We
have all different types of programs here,” Malachowski said.
One
of its programs is called Girls Inc. The program is intended for girls between
the ages of 12 and 18.
“We
talk about touchy subjects such as sex Ed with them,” Malachowski said.
The
Community Academic Center also aims to get students involved in local community
organizations, such as the Girl Scouts of America as well as offering academic
classes.
“This
is just a one year grant with Buffalo State that we hope will continue
throughout the coming years,” Gaasch said. By Chelsea Goodridge and Jessica
Chetney
