Our Mission
Raising Aspirations main goal is to create unique and innovative arts-based teaching strategies, instruction, and services that connect cultural art education with the academic and social development of youth in order for them to be productive in all areas of their lives.
Raising Aspirations was developed by it's Founder and Executive Director, Shurie W. Bostick, for two main reasons, first she shares the passion and interests of the arts like many of the youth and families that we attract to our center and she understands and recognizes the undeniable passion for the arts that urban youth possess, but don't quite understand how to be success at; and second as an african-american who grew up in Dorchester, MA, she strongly believes in giving back to your community and wanting to improve the every day lives of urban youth in a positive way.
We aim to attract and hire staff that share the passion and interests of our founder and we are committed to providing quality programs to Boston's urban neighborhood communities.
Why promote cultural art education
Yet, cultural art education (CAE) is often wrongly considered a "fringe" program. In reality, it provides children and adolescence with the skills they need to become a productive part of their environment and cultural. CAE helps young people achieve greater discipline and self-confidence by being able to articulate their own perceptions of things and shape coherent responses through their own experiences that they can connect with - at any age. The ability to communicate ideas through skill and concentration, connect with your visual imagination, and allow your body to become an instrument is the ultimate form of demonstrating what you know and have learned; rather than merely reporting on your knowledge to date. Studies have revealed that student involvement in the Arts leads to greater success in school!
Cultural Arts Programs = Increased Rates of Graduation
Cultural arts programs are also successful at attracting, engaging and retaining even the toughest kids. Young people, including the ones that some teachers say "they can't reach" join arts-based programs and attend and participate regularly because they learn how to use the arts to communicate difficult thoughts and emotions through creativity and artistic expression; rather than through frustration, helplessness, and even violence.
Cultural Arts Programs = Decreased Juvenile Delinquency (especially in urban cities)
Raising Aspirations prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, ethnic origin, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission and/or treatment of youth members in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment. Furthermore, Raising Aspirations policy includes prohibitions of harassment of youth members and employees, i.e., racial harassment, sexual harassment, and retaliation for filing complaints of discrimination.