Art Reaching Out (ARO)

Since 2013, ARO has touched the lives of close to 2,000 students; designed, built and installed 9 large site-specific projects; and worked with close to 20 non-profit partners including the Young Women's Preparatory Netwerk, Girls, Inc, The Boys and Girls Club of Dallas, Café Momentum, and Big Thought. Survey results from the 2019 YWPN Summer STEAM Camp indicated that 100% of the campers stated that participating in the camp raised their interested in STEM.

Our Needs

1. ARO seeks $5000 to buy portable equipment that allows us to deliver glass experiences to students who cannot come to the glass studio. This includes a small glass kiln, glass molds, tools and supplies, and transportable racks and shelving units.

2. ARO seeks $5,000 to create 5 STEAM-based education modules for high school students. ARO wants to offer students with a full STEAM immersion, including lessons in chemistry, electricity and circuitry, thermodynamics, glass blowing, glass fusing, welding, and business math. ARO's scientific vocabulary includes gravity, viscosity, temperature, conduction, convection, thermal radiation, compression, tension and stress distribution and concentration among many others. This curriculum will help build students' confidence in their STEM capabilities and is designed to spark a genuine interest in STEM subjects and possible careers in these fields.

3. ARO seeks $15,000 to provide low-income students with a summer camp STEAM-based hands-on learning multi-disciplinary experience that seeks to involve students in the creation of glass art. Funding will provide the following items necessary to provide this camp: studio time at a local glass studio (hot shop); four faculty members; glass materials and supplies; meals; transportation; revision to course curriculum; and marketing.