Cultural Crossroads

Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) provides arts education programming in local area schools, as well as access to professional theatrical experiences that align to classroom curricula and Louisiana Content Standards.

Click here to see a video of Cultural Crossroads in action

Cultural Crossroads is a residency-based program that incorporates arts-integrated instructional strategies. Cultural Crossroads also provides students with positive linkages to their communities through mentoring. Cultural Crossroads serves alternative schools and schools that are struggling academically. The primary goal of Cultural Crossroads is to use the arts to enhance student proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics. A total of 2,100 students at 13 area schools will participate in residencies that integrate the arts (visual, dance, performance poetry and music) with core academic subjects (English language arts, mathematics and social studies.) To accomplish this, all Cultural Crossroads artists work in tandem with classroom teachers to co-create lessons. At the start of each residency, the artist and the classroom teacher work to co-create a residency that directly links the artistic discipline with the Grade Level Expectations at least 1 core academic subject. All artists Pre-test Post test their students to track changes in learning. Class total scores show increases between 20% to 80%.

JPAS Cultural Crossroads Currently Serving the Parishes of:

Jefferson

West Bank Community School
John Martyn Alternative School
Deckbar Alternative School
Waggaman Alternative School
Norbert Rillieux Elementary School
Paul J. Solis Elementary School
Lucile Cherbonnier Elementary School
McDonogh 26 Elementary School

Orleans

Hope Academy (at Booker T. Washington)
Booker T. Washington Transitional School

St. Bernard

Rowley Alternative (NOVA) (funded by a grant from Chalmette Refining, L.L.C.)

St. Charles

The YMCA (funded by a grant from the United Way of St. Charles)

** Rowley Alternative School in St. Bernard Parish will apply for and receive their own grant through the Commission on Cultural Affairs for St. Tammany and St. Bernard Parishes. Funds will be used to support JPAS Cultural Crossroads at Rowley Alternative School for the 2010-2011 academic year.
***Westbank Community School, Deckbar Alternative Elementary School, McDonogh 26 and John Martyn Alternative School all apply for and receive their own Arts Council of New Orleans/LDOA/Cultural Crossroads Project Assistance Grants.

All participating schools receive funding for JPAS Cultural Crossroads from The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation

Additional Funding Provided by
Cox Charities - Deckbar and Waggaman
RosaMary Foundation - Deckbar, Waggaman, John Martyn and Westbank Community
Walmart Foundation State Giving Program - West Bank Community School, John Martyn Alternative School, Deckbar Alternative School, Waggaman Alternative School, Norbert Rillieux Elementary School, Paul J. Solis Elementary School, Lucile Cherbonnier Elementary School, Hope Academy (at Booker T. Washington), Booker T. Washington Transitional School, Rowley Alternative (NOVA), The YMCA

	These programs are supported by agrant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council.The grant is administered through the Arts Council of New Orleans.

More About Cultural Crossroads -- Cultural Crossroads is a program that helps to prevent recidivism and re-direct the energy of troubled young people. Eight of the 13 schools Cultural Crossroads serves are alternative schools. Students who attend alternative schools generally have considerable obstacles to overcome that often have an impact on their ability to be successful and stay focused in school; most live at or below the poverty line. As of December 21, 2010, the majority of the ethnic makeup of our student population is African American. JPAS Cultural Crossroads utilizes cross-curricula instructional methodologies through the integration of art and cultural experiences into the core curricula. Following these arts-integrated residencies, student proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics is measured by an Interval assessment, a state standardized test. Grade-Level Expectations (GLEs) serve as the foundation of the state standards at the classroom level and are assessed six times a year through Interval Tests for all grade levels. For the 2010-2011 school year a team of independent evaluators lead by Dr. Charles Gifford will evaluate interval test scores, LEAP and iLEAP test scores to measure the impact of arts-integrated residencies on academics.

Cultural Crossroads students are also "On the Brink of Promise." They are standing on the edge of change, at a "crossroads" that can lead to better life choices, especially if the development of their academic abilities is engaged through cross-curricula instructional methodologies. Many students within Cultural Crossroads lack role models. This can contribute to inappropriate behaviour, a lack of leadership skills and poor life choices. A review of research has found using cross-curricula instructional methodologies provides opportunities for growth by improving social development and academic achievement. Continue Reading More About JPAS Cultural Crossroads