ARTreach is addressing some of the tougher to talk about issues in our school districts; this includes gang alternative and intervention programs and new urban art programs that support character education through the arts. ARTreach offers URGEWORKS Programs to help address difficult subjects that include drug addiction, drug and alcohol abuse awareness and prevention, abstinence and STD prevention, as well as bullying, anger, violence, stress management and stereotyping.

"These programs are “urgent” and they work!" says Director Chris Gamez. PTAs and principals can contact ARTreach and request these kinds of programs for their schools. URGEWORKS Programs are appealing to students as well because they introduce the urban arts and hip hop culture as a positive alternative to a self destructive lifestyle.

Chris Gamez is the director of ARTreach Programs Development Department and he is also the founder of URGEWORKS Studios. His dancers, rappers and teaching artists are trained to work in juvenile justice programs and with high risk populations. They are positive role models and mentors. Growing up in neighborhoods surrounded by drug and gang activity, these dancers and artists had to survive many negative influences in their lives. URGEWORKS artists have clearly utilized the positive aspects of the hip hop culture associated with street dancing, RAP and the entrepreneurial arts to keep their lives on a path that leads to success. They stayed off drugs, stayed off the streets and stayed out of trouble, and now travel the world as cultural arts ambassadors promoting the positive aspects of the American hip hop culture.

This is a Creative Re-Use Program

Creative re-use is as much arts related as it is environmental. It demonstrates that artistic creativity and learning can take place anywhere and with all manner of materials. “Junk” has value for those who can see meaning beyond the discarding of old things. Recycled materials can be a viable source for art supplies.

“There is something beautiful, almost magical, about taking old, broken materials and using your own hands to create something completely new out of that pile of ‘junk’. What we often see is a sort of metamorphosis taking place. As the ‘junk’ begins to be transformed…so does the child doing the creating. Both the project and the child grow…together…into something more beautiful than before. It’s an incredible process to watch.”-Danita Raulerson, co-founder, Eco-Arts International

Katy, Texas Sept. 24, 2008 - ARTreach has successfully piloted a series of percussion-based music programs designed by professional musician and teaching artist Dan Egger-Belandria of Austin, Texas. Dan’s unique program is titled “Rhythm Journey” and supports early childhood development, social skills development, and education. ARTreach was able to bring this talented teaching artist to Katy to conduct his workshops for free and for children and adults who would not otherwise be given an opportunity to experience the arts in this unique capacity. ARTreach implemented the pilots in order to measure the impact this type of art programming has on cognitive and development skills.

Rhythm Journey was piloted for Katy ISD for preschool children at Mayde Creek Elementary and PPCD students at McRoberts Elementary. Additional workshops focusing on team building and group interaction were piloted for the Arc of Katy, and residents of Sunrise Assisted Living Community in Cinco Ranch.

ARTreach Program/Katy ISD Early Childhood Development Preschool Program -Photos by Gail Zaruba
In Katy ISD, Dan Egger- Belandria’s Rhythm Journey focused on early childhood development and explored learning concepts through movement, reading, listening, and music making. His program shared techniques that integrated music as an easy way to uncover learning differences, and nurture the creative side of students in a classroom environment.  Both the teachers and preschoolers at Mayde Creek Elementary and McRoberts Elementary benefited from the experience. “Dan’s workshop was very interactive and engaging for the kiddos and the teachers as well,” said Sharron Appel of MCE, “there are many languages spoken in this classroom, the music brought everyone together. It truly is the universal language!”