Be the Peace – be the Hope Nov-Dec 2017 Press release

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Be the Peace – Be the Hope awarded Grant from Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Houston, TX, November 14, 2017- The Texan-French Alliance for the Arts’ Be the Peace-Be the Hope (BTPBTH) Alliance Program has been selected to receive an $85,000 grant in the second round of Intermediate Relief Grants for the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund provided by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. BTPBTH will use these funds to implement its 8-9-session social and emotional healing arts program to over 750 H.I.S.D. students who were impacted by Hurricane Harvey.  The workshops are set to start December 4th at Wisdom High School, and will continue until March 2018 at various H.I.S.D. schools including Sugar Grove Academy, Paul Revere, and Las Americas.

According to the Greater Houston Community Foundation, “this fund is dedicated to filling the gaps that are not met by other local and federal efforts. This is simply one of the many critical philanthropic efforts across Houston and Texas that will support those in affected areas, whose lives have forever been impacted by this disaster.”

The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund was established by Houston’s Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Emmett and managed by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. The grant was established for immediate and long-term post-Harvey relief for the Greater Houston area.

Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area, and H.I.S.D. was closed for a couple of weeks after the storm. The disruption caused by school closures, and destruction brought on by Harvey made many Houston students exhibit post-disaster trauma.

The H.I.S.D. schools that BTPBTH will be implementing its program at located in areas of Houston impacted by Hurricane Harvey, and many students exhibit PTSD, anxiety, aggression, depression, isolation, and change in school performance due to the aftermath of Harvey. According to H.I.S.D., 77% of its students are economically disadvantaged, and 35% live below the poverty line, which is also why BTPBTH is implementing its program at the schools listed above.

BTPBTH addresses the negative social, emotional, and environmental factors contributing to trauma, disengagement, delinquency, and academic failure. Our results-driven positive identity and leadership development curriculum (with pre/post assessments) engage at-risk children/youth through therapeutic arts and other disciplines, resulting in exploring strengths, healing trauma, and regaining Hope.

 

November 22, 2017

Over 200 Wisdom high school students benefiting from the TFAA Be the Peace – Be the Hope Alliance Program supported By Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and the Secours Populaire, are awarded Citizenship month certificate and are unveiling their art installation of HOPE.

Houston, TX, December 11, 2017

A celebration of Hope honoring over 200 at-risk Wisdom High School students and underwritten by the Secours Populaire, the Texan-French Alliance for the Arts and Wisdom High School was held on December 11, 2017 from 11 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. at Wisdom High School, 6529 Beverly Hill St. Houston, TX 77057.

 Citizen Month certificates, granted by the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of New Americans in the presence of Congressman Al Green or representative and the Consul General of France in Houston, Alexis Andres, were awarded to over 200 students, who participated in the Harvey relief Texan-French Alliance for the Arts- Be the Peace-Be the Hope alliance program, funded in part with the support of the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. An artistic door representing the messages of Hope created by the students was also unveiled during the event.

According to Wisdom High School, “Wisdom serves a diverse student population from over 70 different countries where students speak over 40 different languages.”

Citizenship Month, a City of Houston initiative, recognizes the diversity and international community of Houston, and will give out certificates to Jonathan N. Trinh, principal of Wisdom High School, and over 200 of his students for their participation in the Be the Peace-Be the Hope program. Messages of Hope from the students were unveiled during the event.

“Be the Peace Be the Hope” (BTPBTH) is a results-driven positive identity and leadership development healing arts program that engages large number of children in at-risk environments (at-risk local schools, community centers, refugee camps) and aids in healing trauma, regaining hope, exploring strengths, and building a better future.

BTPBTH addresses emotional and social factors contributing to disengagement, delinquency, and academic failure. The platform also connects the youth with local and global communities so that they can be part of the positive change they wish to see in the world. The BTPBTH team trains local teachers, and follow up periodically to make sure the sustainability is ensured.  The assessment results show a positive change in lives of hundreds of children in a very short time.

www.BePeaceBeHope.org

Event opens to Media

About the Secours Populaire (https://www.secourspopulaire.fr/ )

Born in 1945, the Secours Populaire is a non-profit organization whose aim is to fight against poverty and exclusion in France and throughout the World.

About the Texan-French Alliance for the Arts (TFAA)

Founded in 2005 by former Consul General of France and a group of enthusiastic Francophile foundations, corporations, and individuals, the Texan-French Alliance for the Arts (TFAA) is a Houston-based non-profit organization devoted to bridging cultures, communities, and art both in Texas and France. Our creative programs aim to improve the quality of life in our cities and local communities using art, education and community outreach, along with other disciplines, as a catalyst to create positive change.

About the Harvey Relief Fund

After receiving an overwhelming number of inquiries from citizens and corporations who would like to help, Mayor Sylvester Turner and County Judge Emmett, have established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund that will accept tax deductible flood relief donations. The fund is administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation.

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If you would like more information about this event, please contact Karine Parker-Lemoyne

832-205-553, info@texanfrenchalliance.org.

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