Every time I have the chance to volunteer any time with Cool Culture I feel so GREAT and Happy to have been part of their activities. They provide such a critical opportunity for families to engage in early learning circumstances TOGETHER when often there isn't time or organized activities when families can take part in these fantastic events. Then there are the educational outreach encounters with other educators who are enriched by the collaborative energy and resources that are shared. If Cool Culture could only be a national program it would surely help the critical case for early learning that needs much more family involvement. I haven't even started about the GREAT places they set up their events too!! NYC museums its just amazing what this group can do and DOES!
I was invited to participate as a volunteer in the Dream Big Family event organized by Cool Culture and held at the Studio Museum of Harlem on January 16, 2011. I gladly accepted the invite and am glad I did. Cool Culture staff is one of the most outstanding in their approach to organizing large scale events serving the needs of the clients they represent and serve in New York City. By participating in this event, I met like minded individuals; women and men of varying ages and backgrounds, who came together to provide the support needed to make this well organized, exciting, very intimate, warm "family" event an event not to be forgotten.
The pre-event meeting held in the morning with all volunteer staff was welcoming, very hospitable, and well organized. You were given direction about the course of the day's events, and never felt out of place, lost, or misguided. Everyone was given a station to work, and appropriate and thorough directions were given about how your respective station would operate for the day.
The team of women I worked with you were EXTRA-ordinary. Lively, passion-filled, good hearted, kind, smart women, merging their energies and creating a space of generosity for one another. We exchanged ideas, telephone numbers, Facebook addresses, and offered support to one another about the event that day, as well as our hopes and dreams for our futures.
The families that visited our Journal Making station were excited to be a part of this beautiful day, and everyone was warm, grateful, and so kind. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and took full advantage of the space and time they could enjoy together at this intimate but powerful museum.
It was a great day! I highly recommend anyone interested in volunteering take the time to find a way to work for and with the Cool Culture staff. I love these people and support their efforts. Kudos to you all!
Cool Culture helps to bring communities to a closer connection with the arts. It was such a joy to be part of this organization for a few months as an intern, and see the background and hard work that goes into making a great nonprofit possible. Staff would be in the office very late on nights before fund raisers and benifits, making sure all the details are in place for a smooth event. Some of my favorite events i was part of were at the South Street Seaport Museum, where dozens of non-profits and cultural institutions from around new york city came together to network, hold workshops and discuss ideas to improve nyc connection to the arts. Cool Culture is taking on the noble cause of bring new york cities plethora of cultural and art richness into the lives of low-income and minority communities that would otherwise not have the means to take advantage of these aspects of the city. Cool Culture not only strengthens bonds toward the arts, but strengthens education for participating families and students.
Cool Culture does more than unite families and cultural institutions, they work and strive for personal connections in the arts, only a truly dedicated team can accomplish. The memories and appreciation families take away from their cultural experiences are only exceeded by their realization that they can keep coming back.
Access to some of the world's most incredible art institutions is not always made possible to low income families, in particular young children in NYC. Cool Cuture addresses this issue as an social justice advocate, providing activities, materials, curriculum, communications and events to many families as it assists them to engage in arts education and family learning.