Where Art Starts

Where Art Starts is the Creative Nomads' youth program that endeavors to access to art, music, and cultural programming to ALL youth and families. Art is essential to all of humanity. To bring our programs to your site send us an email.We are grateful for continued support through donations that allow us to grow our impact on the youth and families of the community. Creative Nomads is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. var sc_project=12154547; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="08972b30"; var sc_https=1;

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We were excited to be invited by the Southwest Partnership to participate in the Light CIty Festival’s Neighborhood of Lights event by engaging visitors through the drums at Zellas. Using a public space to connect with children and other art lovers is exactly why we are here! 

Discovering The Drum is a community experience with African drums where students and community members (teachers, parents, caregivers) are introduced to the drums by hearing the drums, seeing them being played and having some interaction themselves. The session includes learning how its made, how it is used, and listening, cooperation, and teamwork. 

Interested in bringing this or one of our Discovering The Drum programs to your school, community center or youth group? Contact us at [email protected] - Subject: Drums

::Learning Leaders - Baba Changa + Charles::

[April :: 2018]

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::FAMILY PAINT:: Juneteenth

We are still on a high about Juneteenth and our community art collaboration! With the help assistance of one of our lovely Learning Leaders, Jazzo, we provided families across Baltimore, who registered, with paint packages and a link to work on a painting virtually to celebrate Juneteenth together. ⁠ ⁠ We then took a canvas to the Fatherhood Rally to have families work on one canvas together as a community. ⁠ ⁠ The pandemic has changed so many things but one great thing this is happening is that community is finding more ways to work together, have fun together, celebrate together, and build together. ⁠ ⁠ Thank you to the Baltimore Community Foundation for sponsoring this project and underwriting the cost of materials for families who wanted to participate but needed some community love (something we all need every once in a while). Thank you to Charm City Noir for letting us use their space for our virtual set up!⁠

::Learning Leader:: Jazzo:: [June : 2020] ⁠

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:: CREATIVE COMPASS:: Listen Up!

For three weeks between February and March Creative Nomads worked on project Listen Up! This community engagement project was presented by the Washington National Opera's  production of BLUE with Creative Nomads as a creative collaborative partner. . . Our Executive Director, Kayenecha Daugherty, was named to the inaugural Kennedy Center Culture Caucus as a 2019-2021 member. Because of this accomplishment the Washington National Opera discovered Creative Nomads and our unique arts education platforms and our extensive relationships with music makers and arts professionals throughout the Mid Atlantic and the country.  Several students and police officers (members of the Side By Side Band) came together two times a week to have conversations and build relationships around relevant community issues which resulted in original music and spoken word pieces. Creative Nomads selected our Comrades as the exceptional teaching artists that facilitated the project - Grammy nominee Carolyn Malachi, master vocalist Monet Shelton, and musician and band director Will Vick. We were so excited that the students and police officers were able to get the chance to share their work right before the pandemic shut down took place. They all worked hard and deserved it.

::Learning Leader - Monet Shelton, Carolyn Malachi, Will Vick :: 

[Feb + March : 2020]

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::FAMILY PAINT:: PAINTING WITH POPS Creative ways to engage parents while still providing educational opportunities is more critical now than ever! . . With Family Paint Creative Nomads provides a platform for families to connect in a variety of ways using themes linked to classroom or communal learning. . . These Dads let us know they enjoyed spending extra quality time with their children in addition to having an opportunity to relax and be creative while getting to know other Dads. This makes us excited! . . Our Family Paint programs consist of canvas painting, murals, and more. No expert art knowledge required. Interested in bringing our Family Paint programs to your school, community center or youth group? Contact us at [email protected] - Subject: Family Paint ::Learning Leader - Jazzo:: [October 2019]

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::FAMILY PAINT:: BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

October is breast cancer awareness month + the Dorothy I Height Elementary Judy Center engaged their parents about health + wellness through our Family Paint: Sit N Paint platform.

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Art can reinforce the many things we learn throughout life. We had fun, connected with each other, + learned some great info.

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::Learning Leader - Jazzo:: [October 2019]

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#WhereArtStarts #TheCreativeNomads #ArtsEducation #EachOneTeachOne #philanthropics #bmorehome #grants #nonprofits #ComradesInTheCommunity #FamilyPaint #ParentEngagement #VisualArts #nonprofits #grants #philanthropics #MomsMatter #ParentsPaint

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“Creativity will be the currency of the 21st century.” -Gerald Gordon, Ph.D, President/CEO, Fairfax County (Virginia) Economic Development Authority

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::DISCOVERING THE DRUM::

Back to school events are back and so are our many African drumming programs! Drumming With Dad, Drumming One On One, Discovering The Drum and Drum Club will be in schools again this year and not only are we excited but so are the students 😁

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We are looking forward to continuing to partner with schools and community centers to bring these awesome art enrichment experiences to youth and families.

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Discovering The Drum is a community experience with African drums where students and community members (teachers, parents, care givers) are introduced to the drums by hearing the drums, seeing them being played and having some interaction themselves. The session includes learning how its made, how it is used, and listening, cooperation, and teamwork.

Interested in bringing this or one of our Discovering The Drum programs to your school, community center or youth group? Contact us at [email protected] Subject: Drums

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::Learning Leader- Baba Aaron:: [September 2019]

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#TheCreativeNomads #WhereArtStarts #ArtsEducation #EachOneTeachOne #BuildBaltimore #IGiveBlack #WeGiveBlack #nonprofits #grants #philanthropics #EarlyEducation #DrumCulture #drummingwithdad #CreativeCommunities

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CALM Professional Development

CALM Professional Development is for teachers and administrators looking to create mindfull atmospheres in their classrooms and the educational campuses.

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Providing teachers with tools for mental and physical wellness are essential to engaging students and for preventing burn out. We work with amazing facilitators who are great at demystifying meditation, awareness and other tools that are innate to humans but not thought of as traditional.

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This PD uses a workbook and provides tangible tools that teachers can use right away including a Calm Corer tip sheet.

Our Mindfulness programs include facilitation for youth, school staff and for parents. Interested in bringing our Mindfulness programs to your school, community center or youth group? Contact us at [email protected] - Subject: Mindfulness

::Learning Leader - Lennette:: [Aug:: 2019]

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#WhereArtStarts #TheCreativeNomads #ArtsEducation #ArtAndMusicEducation #ArtInSchool #Prek #EarlyLearners #EarlyLearning

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::DANCE + MOVEMENT:: DISCOVERING DANCE

Today we met some new 3 yrs old friends as we engaged them with Movement + Dance program! We love working with new partners, and thanks to a lot of support we are on track to work with at least 10 new educational partners this year.

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Dance has been proven to be a tool to reduce stress and to express ones self through movement. African dance is an excellent tool and a way to provide cultural context to any classroom. Interested in bringing any of our dance programs to your school, community center or youth group? Contact us at [email protected] - Subject: DANCE + MOVEMENT

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::Learning Leader - Jazzo:: [SEPTEMBER:: 2019]

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#TheCreativeNomads #WhereArtStarts #PlotTheIndustry #MovementAndDance #ComradesInTheCommunity #ComradesInArts #nonprofits #ArtsEducation #EachOneTeachOne

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“Music, dance, painting, and theater are all keys that unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment.” -William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education

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MINDFULNESS WITH MOM

Mindfulness with Mom is a parental impact program of our Where Art Starts youth program. Not only do we service youth, but we service families so that everyone can thrive. Providing mothers with tools for mental and physical wellness are essential to growing healthy families and we are proud to present programs that combine creativity, connectivity, and community.

Creative Nomads is about supporting the community - individuals, neighborhoods, and families. Not only does Where Art Starts engage directly with youth but also with parents to reinforce the essentials of the arts we are enriching them with including our Mindfulness platforms for all members of the family. We are demystifying meditation, awareness and other tools that are innate to humans but not thought of as traditional.

We are so proud that we also have offer trainings, professional development and youth learning in all Spanish!

Our Mindfulness programs include professional development for youth, school staff and for parents. Interested in bringing our Mindfulness programs to your school, community center or youth group? Contact us at [email protected] - Subject: Mindfulness

::Learning Leader - Sister Mothyna::

[February 2019]

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DRUM CLUB

Our portfolio of drumming programs is growing! With the great experiences we have been engaged in around connecting with the African drum, new partners have linked with us to expand our offerings. With Lakeland Elementary we are working with students to become familiar not only with the drum but with themselves. Students are learning how the drum is made and used, while increasing skills in the areas of listening, cooperation, and teamwork.

We can't wait for their school presentation!

Interested in bringing this or one of our Discovering The Drum programs to your school, community center or youth group? Contact us at [email protected] - Subject: Drums

::Learning Leader - Baba Changa::

[Feb:: 2019]

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Especially in difficult economic times, the arts are essential.

Maria Shriver, Award-Winning Journalist and Author

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::FAMILY PAINT:: MLK JR

For our third year we worked with Arlington Elementary to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with our Family Paint program. Families experienced a fun art enrichment activity that they could take away and continue to use as a learning tool. 

With the Family Paint program, we provide an opportunity for youth and families to be enriched together while learning culture, advocacy, and expression in fun ways. Almost any theme you want to reinforce we can use paint and interaction to highlight them.

Our Family Paint programs consist of canvas painting, murals, and more. No expert art knowledge required. Interested in bringing our Family Paint programs to your school, community center or youth group? Contact us at [email protected] - Subject: Family Paint

::Learning Leader - Tasha::

[January:: 2019]

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::AFRICAN DANCE::

Dance has been proven to be a tool to reduce stress and to express ones self through movement. African dance is an excellent tool and a way to provide cultural context to any classroom. 

Interested in bringing any of our dance programs to your school, community center or youth group? Contact us at [email protected] - Subject: DANCE + MOVEMENT

::Learning Leader - Mama Octavia::

[DECEMBER -JANUARY:: 2018-2019]

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Thank you to all of the organizations and funders that have partnered with Creative Nomads to expand art, music, and culture to youth and families in our community. We are grateful!

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::FAMILY PAINT:: PAJAMA TIME

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We were excited to work with Dorothy I Height Elementary to host our Family Paint program in efforts to reinforce their Bed In A Box sleep theme. We read Llama Lama Red Pajama and painted a canvas resembling a photo from the book. We had a blast!

With the Family Paint program, we provide an opportunity for youth and families to be enriched together while learning culture, advocacy, and expression in fun ways. Almost any theme you want to reinforce we can use paint and interaction to highlight them.

Our Family Paint programs consist of canvas painting, murals, and more. No expert art knowledge required. Interested in bringing our Family Paint programs to your school, community center or youth group? Contact us at [email protected] - Subject: Family Paint

::Learning Leader - Tasha::

[DEC: 2018]