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January 2010
Chameleon’s Fundred Project: Make Money!
At its simplest: 3 million unique drawings of U.S. One Hundred Dollar Bills (Fundreds) by students and communities across the nation, picked up by a cool armored truck and delivered to Washington D.C. to request real funding to make safe lead-contaminated soil that currently places children at risk for severe learning disabilities and behavioral problems. More info...
Come to the Fundreds Factory party January 23rd at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, 2012 Baltimore Ave KCMO, 64108. Food, Drinks, Make art from money and learn more about this exciting project!
The truck will be in Kansas City for our first delivery of Midwest Fundred drawings January 25th at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center and other sites. This is an important local and national project involving art, science, health, education, environment and social activism. An armored truck, three million kids, artists, Congressional leaders, need we say more?!
Chameleon will be...
- Kansas City’s secure collection center!
- Working with artists, arts agencies, schools, businesses, colleges, churches, museums and individuals to create over 20,000 Fundred drawings for the project between now and June 1.
- Putting together Fundred drawing kits that contain all the materials and information needed to facilitate Fundred drawing workshops.
- Providing institutions and events Fundred arts workshops with all supplies and directed by Chameleon artists
Get your community involved - Everyone is invited!
Please contact us at Chameleon Arts and Youth Development Agency if you have any questions or would like to get involved locally.
A Note from Chameleon’s New Program Director
My name is Courtney Wasson and I have recently partnered with Chameleon as the new Program Director. Chameleon Arts and Youth Development Agency has a wonderful history of partnerships and programming. I am both honored and excited to be a member of the team at Chameleon. It is my purpose at Chameleon to bring meaningful and effective programming to various social service organizations, as well as to expand our outreach and partnerships. Chameleon’s purpose and history has been an inspiration and working here is both motivating and rewarding. I am so grateful for this opportunity.
Chameleon Announces its First International Internship Program
Chameleon: Across Kenya is an internship and exchange program bringing Kenyan college students, artists and educators to Kansas City and Kansas City artists, educators and students to Kenya to work with disadvantaged youth communities.
In the summer of 2009, Chameleon artist/educators traveled to Nairobi and Port Victoria Kenya to work with impoverished children, working with dedicated Kenyan students and professionals at Mother Teresa’s Villa Tieg orphanages and with rural students along Lake Victoria. Chameleon: Across Kenya plans annual service learning trips to Nairobi and Lake Victoria and will each year invite a Kenyan artist/educator or student we work with to come to Kansas City and complete an up to 3 month internship with Chameleon Arts Agency.
Our first intern nominee is Pauline Wairimu Ndua, a student at the University of Kenya, who greatly contributed to our work in the orphanages in the summer or 2009. Pauline is an exceptional individual; she is intelligent, works collaboratively, is energetic, organized and innovative. Her kindness, professionalism and creativity will all contribute to make her an excellent Chameleon Intern. Pauline has a degree in Accounting and Human Resources and has a strong interest in working with children and young people. We are in the process of attempting to get her a visa. Once that is accomplished, we will plan her 3-month internship in detail.
Julius Were, a Kenyan-American who has traveled many times between Kansas City and Nairobi, is joining Chameleon to direct Chameleon: Across Kenya. Julius grew up in Dandora and is the founder of Villa Teage Orphanage. He led the trip to Kenya in July 2009 and made all the travel arrangements.
R.A. Long Foundation Grant
The R.A. Long Foundation has provided Chameleon with a grant for $5000.00 for the spring of 2010. R.A. Long has been one of Chameleon’s longest term and most dedicated supporters. Chameleon will use the funds to support our work with homeless children and youth, community center programming and for arts festivals at Rose Brooks Domestic Violence shelter. R.A. Long funding has been significant in Chameleon’s success for over a decade and all of us at Chameleon are deeply appreciative for their support.
Hip Hop Academy and Tony Aguirre Community Center
Chameleon is providing funding for the Hip Hop Academy to develop arts programming at the Tony Aguirre Center for children and youth from the neighboring community. They will be doing festivals and workshops using visual arts, dance rap and urban poetry. Presently the classes are scheduled for Wednesday afternoons and will begin in late January.