Create Now, Inc.

Create Now's goal is to provide high-quality arts education to as many at-risk children and youth as possible, so they learn positive channels of self-expression and become productive citizens while adding beauty and value to their communities. Studies prove that art therapy is the most effective treatment to reduce the symptoms of PTSD. Create Now's programs provide essential opportunities for the most troubled youth to heal from trauma, change their lives by building their confidence and self-esteem, and develop skills that can lead to jobs and careers. Our mission is to get them out of poverty and into jobs and careers that will enable them to be productive citizens who give back to the community. At the same time, these youth will be able to break the cycles of poverty, homelessness and violence that impacts the most disadvantaged families in Southern California.

Create Now operates under four pillars;

In the Classroom

Create Now provides in-class and after-school programming to Title 1 schools throughout Southern California for Pre-K to grade 12. We bring professional teaching artists, supplies, curricula, and program evaluation to campuses to enrich the lives of our local student body. Our curricula follow California Arts Standards, and lesson plans are interactive and engaging. Assessments show that students who take Create Now’s school-based arts classes have improved their academic grades, attitudes and behavior, plus they are more likely to stay in school.

Cultural Journeys

Each year, Create Now arranges for thousands of young people and families to attend cultural events such as concerts, plays, museums, and special performances. We curate these experiences at many world-class venues, and encourage participants to express their gratitude by making cards and thank you letters for donors. For many, this is their first time attending a live performance.

Community Arts Projects

In addition, Create Now holds large community events at least once a year to bring families together for arts festivals and holiday celebrations. They feature music, balloon art, popular characters, face painting, plus performance opportunities, games, food for all, and lasting gifts for all kids. Create Now also produces mural projects and talent shows in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

All Create Now programs and services are free to youth and families.

Create Now has built a solid reputation as arts educators after 25 years of proving that our programs work. We have received national media attention and international awards for the quality of our work.

Our Board of Directors is composed of well-connected individuals who are excited and passionate about our mission. They have dedicated themselves to raising funds and leading our committees (Finance, Marketing, Development) so we can accomplish our goals.

We have a terrific, competent staff that is well educated and experienced in working with our specific population of vulnerable youth.

In addition, we have vast resources that have been developed over our 25 years of existence with community stakeholders who assist us with materials, services and additional support as needed.

Create Now flourishes more and more each year. We have served over 50,000 of the neediest kids in the Greater Los Angeles area.

(1) We have expanded our programs and our outreach to include children and youth at mental health clinics, rehab centers, government housing projects, transitional-living housing, emergency shelters and similar facilities that serve young people who have fallen through the cracks.

(2) We have developed strategic partnerships with the LAUSD Arts Education Branch and many other Title 1 public and charter schools, including continuation schools for in-school and after-school programs.

(3) We have reached many international visitors to share our best practices through the US Department of State.

(4) We have added new programs in Culinary Arts, especially for transition age youth (18-24) and fashion design, plus implemented effective classes at new schools that use cutting-edge technology and the latest techniques, so our youth are able to get in on the ground floor as artists.

(5) We have partnered with the California Arts Council and Supervisor Hilda Solis to provide early education music programs to well over a thousand children in Pre-K to grade 4 that has been proven to accelerate their language and reading fluency.

(6) We brought expanded our Cultural Journeys program so thousands of kids and their families can enjoy free concerts, plays, museums and Cirque du Soleil each year.

WE NEED TO:

(1) Raise more funds so we can continue this growth.

(2) Continue providing additional and better programs.

(3) Reach the hundreds of thousands of "forgotten children" who have fallen through the cracks of the system by empowering them through the arts.

(4) Keep improving our curricula and evaluation techniques so we can prove that Create Now's programs work!