Strong Cultural Identity + Shared Values = Community Impact
The impact of our programs is far reaching touching the lives of our greater community. Our programs focus on developing young people to grow into thoughtful, capable, inventive, and healthy adults, who will use their leadership skills to bring about effective change in the world.
Cultural Arts Program
The Cultural Arts Program (CAP) is Ifetayo’s flagship Saturday performing arts academy for youth ages 2-18. We offer year-long courses at multiple levels in dance, music, theater, visual arts, and martial arts taught by an excellent staff of experienced and trained teaching artists who specialize in making children feel confident and proud while having fun as they learn techniques within the expressive arts. Ifetayo CAP scholars get an opportunity to demonstrate their talents and growth at the end of the year with an exciting culminating program open to the public.
For more information contact Makeda Abraham mabraham@ifetayo.org.
The Rites of Passage program, Sisters In Sisterhood (SIS) and I Am My Brother (IAMB), leads youth through a year-long process of learning African concepts and philosophical principles of development from pre-adolescence to early adulthood. Important components of the program include African-centered cultural identity awareness, leadership development, community service, health and wellness, and gender studies. The Rites of Passage program is subdivided into three separate age levels: “Pre-Rites” serves youth ages 10-12, “Transition Rites” serves youth 13-15, and “Rites” serves youth ages 16-18 in three separate and sequential tracks.
Cultural Heritage Program (CHP) is the foundation of Ifetayo’s existence. Designed to offer people of African descent the strongest sense of self, Ifetayo’s CHP includes special workshops, courses, cultural exchanges, and cultural tours. The CHP provides historical information about the great cultures of Africa and the diaspora to youth and families. Youth develop a sense of connection with the vast and complex history of their ancestors in our Africana Studies courses. Our Africana Studies course is an interdisciplinary field of study devoted to the critical and systematic examination of the cultural, political, social, economic, and historical experiences of people of African descent around the world.
The Ifetayo Youth Ensemble (IYE) is a pre-professional training ground for young artists ages 13-18 who are interested in seriously developing their art forms while having opportunities to perform throughout NYC and play an active role as a member of an ensemble. Members must audition for a limited number of competitive scholarships within the areas of percussive music, dance, acting, and visual arts. As an active, youth-driven ensemble, IYE also does research and artist development while learning to engage audiences by examining current topics of social justice through the arts.
If you are interested in learning more about IYE and/or to audition please email Makeda Abraham mabraham@ifetayo.org
Ifetayo is pleased to offer Arts Education in schools or community organizations! Our talented faculty conduct engaging and culturally enriching classes that span from single sessions to throughout the school year. Areas of study include dance (African, hip hop, Afrobeats, modern); drumming (African or trap); visual arts (painting, sketching, graphic novels) and capoeira.
For more information please contact Aaron Anaya at aAnaya@ifetayo.org
Financial Education Institute
The Financial Education Institute (FEI) offers financial education training for youth and adults. Our comprehensive program provides workshops and resources for financial well-being. Participants gain the skills to be financially independent and acquire assets for themselves and their communities by setting goals for their future; establishing regular saving habits and discipline; and invest in assets that will allow them to achieve their goals.
