Dance Strong started Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 5:15 p.m. at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center. It runs on Wednesdays until June 21st. The program is free and includes adaptive yoga, breathwork, movement and creative expression. It's fun too!

Cohort 1: May 17 to 31 - Ages 8-12

Cohort 2: June 7 to 21- Ages 13-17

Please use this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/611135100537

TPFF offered Tai Chi Chuan demonstration and class to 20 students at the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA). The program, a collaboration between TPFF and the New York College of Health Professions, was taught by Joseph Cheung, Master, Tai Chi Chuan. The class included discussion of Tai Chi, its evolution, and practice as well a demonstration of the “Short Form.”  Students learned about and practiced breathing techniques, postures, movements, and the benefits of studying Tai Chi Chuan.  Tai Chi Chuan is a part of the TPFF Wellness program, watch for more news about this program.

On Saturday, April 29th, we offered a “First Look” event for our new visual arts program, Explorasaurus: The Dino Tourist, at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center. Michael Tudor, TPFF Program Director, Visual Arts and David Akey, Graphic Artist. In the interactive session, they shared drafts of their illustrations and poems for emerging childrens’ book. The program aims to activate interest and participation in the visual arts and is supported through a NYSCA grant. Watch for upcoming community events and become a Explorasaurus Dino Tourist!

Time if running out, register now for Dance Strong that starts tomorrow! Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 5:15 p.m. at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center.

The program is free and includes adaptive yoga, breathwork, movement and creative expression. It's fun too! Just click on the link and register!

As we continue to expand our community efforts to build a healthier community, we are pleased to share a new partnership with Stop & Shop and Tina McGeough, Registered Dietician. Beginning in June, Tina will be offering 30-minute, on line sessions, providing recipes and information about ways to eat healthier. Based on her expertise as a Dietician, Tina brings and understanding and respect for our cultural preferences in the food we choose and how we prepare it. She offers real-world, easy and fun suggestions for improving nutrition. Sessions are on Thursday evenings from 7-7:30 p.m. - 6/8: Plant-Based Eating; 7/13: Healthy ways to Stay Hydrated; 8/10: Better-for-you-Convenience Foods to Make Fast & Flavorful meals. All sessions are free. Watch for registration information.

We are pleased to announce a new Wellness Program, Tai Chi Flow Dance. The program combines the practices of Tai Chi and Eastern Dance/Movement. Professional instructors from each discipline lead workshops that offer ways to help participants improve balance, motor skills, posture, and gait. Gentle movements, breathing exercises, and guided "flow" steps enable participants to learn the practice quickly.

TPFF and BLR (Bellevue Literary Review) partner again to produce a short film, Reading the Body:  Recovery.” "Reading the Body: Recovery" is an exploration of recovery using poetry, dance, and music. Bellevue Literary Review and The Paige Fraser Foundation invited dancers to create original works of dance based on BLR poems about recovery. These dances were woven into a short film with original music and integration of poetry, movement, art and American Sign Language. It premiers on-line, Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 7 p.m. (est).  Register at: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bellevueliteraryreview/883341#

On February 11, 2023, TPFF received a Heroes Day Award for Generosity and Commitment to Youth, Families and our Community from Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center.  We are deeply honored by this award and grateful for the recognition and support of Mind-Builders.  “Heroes Day is our celebration of African-American icons, legends, heroes and movements, through performances of our dance, music and theater students. It is an opportunity to honor our community, to educate and collaborate as we recognize achievements and struggles. Heroes Day also serves as inspiration for future generations as we continue to work toward our development and liberation, so come out and join us!”

We are pleased to share that our new TPFF Board Member, “#NYP’s Andres Nieto, Senior Director of Community and Population Health, on being named one of Politics NY and amNY metro 2023 Power Players in Corporate Social Responsibility. With a lifelong passion for public health, he develops strong community partnerships to promote health education and disease prevention.”

We congratulate TPFF Music Director, Darryl Joseph Hoffman, on his music commission, “The Ride Through” for Parson's Dance, a collaboration with choreographer, Rena Butler.

The work debuts at the Joyce Theater and runs 3/15-3/26. You can still buy tickets at:
Parsons Dance | The Joyce Theater.

Poet, writer, folklorist, and educator(1919-2006)

“Ronald Alexander, director of education, emeritus, the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Youth Arts Academy in Brooklyn and currently ballet educator and administrator at The Ailey School, Stella Adler School of Acting, Black Arts Institute in NYC and Concepts Dance Academy in South Orange, N.J.” (Dance Teacher Magazine)

On behalf of Mayor Eric Adams and Speaker Adrienne Adams and the City Council, we are pleased to convey the outcome of the competitive Cultural Development Fund (CDF) process for Fiscal 2023. The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) received eligible proposals from nearly 1,300 organizations representing the diversity of the cultural field and convened a total of 52 peer review panels from June through September.  Panelists assessed the strengths of each proposal, including the services offered by each applicant and response to the stated criteria. 

The Paige Fraser Foundation (TPFF)
Celebrates its Fifth Anniversary

What an incredible journey it has been so far!

We are also pleased to share news about our first TPFF Pearl Fraser Memorial Merit Scholarship Award, presented to Omarion Burke, an alumnus of our DIH program.

We are pleased to announce that TPFF was funded for two programs: Dance to Bond and Dance Strong. Dance to Bond is a series of dance and movement workshops that combine socialization, therapy, and recreation through dance and movements. This program is designed for both parents and children ages 4-12 to engage in joint learning and sharing. The Dance Strong programs aims to use a dance and movement curriculum designed for individuals with cognitive and certain physical disabilities for ages 5-17. Both programs will be offered to the community and will begin in the Fall.

We congratulate Michelle N. Johnson, Esq., Executive Vice President/Secretary of The Paige Fraser Foundation (TPFF), on her recent appointment as Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Talent Acquisition at Sak’s Fifth Avenue. Michele holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Government from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law. She entered the New York State Bar Association in 2002 and has since built a multi-sector law career that spans healthcare, education, and retail. Michelle is a member of the TPFF Board of Directors and leads Compliance and Regulatory Affairs for the Foundation.

Darryl H. Hoffman, TPFF Program Director, Music, was part of the Princeton University Dance Festival (May 2021). Darryl’s work with dance companies is well known nationally. In 2017, his music was part of the premiere piece Synapse, by Visceral Dance Company of Chicago. In July, Darryl will be offering a Music Program with TPFF, watch for news and updates.

This July we are launching Dance to Bond,
a new program funded by the Bronx Council on the Arts!

About this event:
Dance to Bond is a series of workshops for children ages 4-12 years old in a supportive environment with their parents/guardians. The aim of the program is to bond, share and learn.

This summer, we’re introducing a new interview series to showcase members of our community who help make our division what it is. 

We invite you to get to know one of our adjunct faculty, Lesmah J. Fraser, who teaches Health Administration and Healthcare Management courses in the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies.

Linda C. Lombardi, TPFF Chief Operating Officer/Treasurer, was recently certified by Planetree International as a Planetree Fellow in Person-Centered Care. The Fellow designation is a professional credential earned by individuals who have demonstrated knowledge, experience and leadership in person-centered care and have a commitment to supporting the development and improvement of others. In late 2020, Lin was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review, a national professional journal, as one of 25 hospital and health system CXOs (Chief Experience Officers) to know for her work in improving patient and staff care and service.

Lawrence Hammond, TPFF Vice President/Community Development Board Member, has been named senior vice president, director of ACCESS and will lead a full-time team dedicated to rolling out and operating ACCESS. The Community Preservation Corp. (CPC), a nonprofit affordable housing and community revitalization company, has created the $20 million CPC Acquiring Capital and Capacity for Economic Stability and Sustainability (ACCESS) initiative that will provide flexible capital to create opportunities for people of color in real estate development and prioritize investment in communities of color. Hammond has decades of experience in finance and multifamily lending, as well as community relations and engagement as an ordained minister who advises local faith-based organizations on using their real estate assets for affordable housing to further serve their communities.