Young Audiences of Louisiana

As a private, non-profit organization, STARC has helped thousands of people since we started nearly 35 years ago. While we've grown over the years, our services still involve individuals reaching out to individuals to connect with the ability that lies behind the disability. You could say that we're in the business of building independence, day by day and step by step.STARC was founded in 1972 by Laura Delaup with two other mothers after her eight-month-old daughter, Heaven, was bitten by a mosquito and contracted encephalitis. The disease left Heaven developmentally disabled, and she became one of three original STARC participants. Today, STARC's east and west divisions serve over 700 individuals and their families in St. Tammany, Washington, St. Helena, Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes at any given time.

KIDsmART is dedicated to enhancing education through dynamic arts integration, focusing on engaging children and educators in creative and relevant learning experiences. Their flagship program, Creative Schools, directly supports K-8 students, particularly those at risk of academic failure, by ensuring that arts education is a non-negotiable component of their schooling. In addition to the Creative Schools initiative, KIDsmART offers professional development workshops in various art forms to enrich curriculum delivery and bolster literacy through the arts. Their programs, such as the With Feeling curriculum, aim to foster emotional literacy and personal empowerment, creating a well-rounded educational experience for students across New Orleans. Generated from the website

Communities In Schools of the Gulf South is dedicated to empowering students by surrounding them with a supportive community, enabling them to stay in school and achieve success in life. The organization provides Integrated Student Supports to children and families across Louisiana, ensuring that over 85% of their annual budget is allocated directly to programs and services for public school students. In the 2022-2023 school year, Communities In Schools case-managed students demonstrated significant progress in attendance, behavior, and overall retention, with many expressing appreciation for the personal support and guidance from their Site Coordinators. This collaborative effort with schools, communities, and families highlights their commitment to fostering a nurturing environment for student success. Generated from the website