A Summer to Remember

This summer Odyssey Concierge CEO Jerricka Kelly took on the summer challenge of organizing and operating in a phenomenal summer program at the Chester Hynes Recreation Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
This program gave local children a summer learning experience they will never forget. Incorporated into the summer experience was the Arts in Motion Summer Enrichment Program, designed to meet the many needs of all student participants by providing a viable learning atmosphere that offered a fun, safe, and healthy environment conducive for learning. 

One of the main objectives of Arts in Motion Summer Enrichment Program was to expose the children to new experiences via educational encounters, cultural enrichment and physical fitness and nutrition. The ultimate goal of the program is to enhance the overall transition from youth to young adults.

This summer program took tremendous community effort including the Trinity Feeding Program which partnered with the program and provided 2 meals a day for the children breakfast, and lunch. In addition, Dr. Carol Beeman mentor of Program Director Laura Hildreth played a vital role in planning curriculum and project coordination. Other vital camp participants included: Community Centers Education Coordinator, Joyce Suggs, Summer Program Educational Coordinator, Dela Lee, Certified life-time educator Alona Fontenette, Certified educator Mary Craig, and all of the remaining staff was crucial to the success of the Summer Program.

According to the National Summer Learning Association, inactive children “do forget over the summer”. Moreover, many economically disadvantage students are more like to have summer learning loss due to the lack of summer programing which not only stimulate them physically but also mentally. One thing is for sure, at the Chester Hynes Community Center there was never a dull moment for the young participants. Their schedules where filled with activities which included: Presidential Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Fishing, Archery, Ball Room, Tap and Praise Dancing, Arts & Crafts, Music, Community Service Projects, weekly field trips skating, bowling, movies, library, water park, and touring of Heifer Village International.

Jerricka Kelly, MBA of Odyssey Concierge was instrumental in obtaining additional funds for Team Hunter a group that was created for young people from 13 to 15 years old. Jerricka also served as a mentor and coordinated projects such as: Neighbor to Neighbor and Heifer International. She also procured motivational speakers including Nequetta Alford, MBA, NCAA baseball coach and great friend of Torii Hunter, Carlos James, and  Sgt. Yohance Brunson from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, Tri-County Drug Task Force. In addition, Jerricka coordinated a fun day for the campers which included Sgt. Ray Faucette from the Army National Guard, who set up rock-wall for the kids, and Lt. Harold Clark from the Pine Bluff Fire Department that brought the smoke house and educated the kids on fire safety. 

As a self-esteem motivational activity Jerricka introduced the students to a program founded in Dallas, entitled “The Person I Choose to Be” where all campers created vision boards. The vision board serves as a visual reminder of possibilities of ones’ dreams and goals.

The culmination of a great summer was The Grand Finale Production which included the children teaching the audience “hello” in ten different languages, mini drum-lime, the lost art tap dancing to the A-train,  Ball Room dancing to Michael Jacksons “Butterfly”, Poetry by Maya Angelou, spoken-word by Ronni the Poet, Praise Dancing and Singing.

 In addition, The Grand Finale Production included an Art Gallery displaying art projects completed over nine weeks including; self- image drawings, building homes out of milk cartons, vision boards, and paintings all created by the summer program children/up and coming artist!

The community received the entire program, including The Grand Finale with extreme pride! “Many parents mentioned that out all the other camps that their children had participated in “Arts in Motion Summer Enrichment Program” was the most cultural and exposed their children to new concepts.” Kelly stated, noting the overall success of the event.

The anticipation of summer 2013 promises of full summer of intellectual enhancement for the students, more field trips to enrich learning and a bigger and better, event more exciting Grand Finale.

Odyssey Concierge and Team Hunter are proud to have been an integral part of such an inspiring summer program.