United Arts of Central Florida will launch a new career training program at Evans High School thanks to a $300,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase — and an idea tracing back to a breakfast meeting of community partners.
“I had breakfast with Susan Arkin [community leader], Rita Lowdnes [chair of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater Board of Directors] and Flora Maria Garcia (above) [president of United Arts] to look at the idea of implementing an after-school program at Evans Community School,” said Nancy Ellis, director of the Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Central Florida. “It morphed into developing a vocational training program at Evans in the arts and entertainment industry. The rest, as we say, is history.”
This coming academic year, United Arts will develop and implement the Career Pathways to Creative Sector Jobs program at Evans High School. The program is designed to prepare students for back-of the-house arts and entertainment jobs at area theme parks and cultural organizations.
Learn more in “At Evans High, United Arts stresses cultural careers,” by Matthew J. Palm, staff writer, Orlando Sentinel, published July 27, 2014: Page 1 Page 2
(Photo courtesy of United Arts of Central Florida)
