Las Artes, ubicado en 23 W. 27th St. en el Sur de Tucson, combina el estudio en clase con proyectos artísticos en la comunidad y prepara a los estudiantes para su prueba de GED y los ayuda a mejorar sus habilidades para el trabajo.

Murales, azulejos de cerámica y otros trabajos artísticos de estudiantes de Las Artes se pueden apreciar desde varios sitios a través del Condado Pima, incluyendo el Sur de Tucson, Sahuarita, Marana y Tucson.  Su trabajo más reciente para Univeristy of Arizona Bioscience Park ubicado en Kino Parkway al Este de 36th St. será presentado durante la dedicatoria del parque el Jueves 11 de octubre.

La mayoría de los estudiantes que asisten a Las Artes son estudiantes que abandonaron la preparatoria o están en riesgo de abandonarla.  Son estudiantes que tienen que trabajar para ayudar a sus familias económicamente o que han perdido el entusiasmo por la escuela a causa de experiencias previas.  “Se han acostumbrado a tener obstáculos”, dijo Elena West, gerente del programa de Las Artes.

Las Artes les presta la oportunidad para salir adelante y contribuir a la comunidad.

“Nuestro programa produce individuos con una educación, con sueños y anhelos y el deseo de seguir adelante, ya sea en una carrera de educación u otra profesión o buscando empleo”, dijo West.

“Esto debe crear un empleado calificado y eficiente que entiende la importancia de ser puntal e ir a trabajar todos los días y mejorar no sólo para beneficiar al lugar de empleo, sino también para el beneficio de sí mismo y su familia”.

Los estudiantes en el video lo dicen mejor.

“Cuando empecé a atender Las Artes, cambió por completo mi manera de ver la vida”, dijo un estudiante.  “Yo no quería ir al colegio.  Ni siquiera sabía lo que quería hacer en mi vida.  Pero ahora ya lo se”.

La próxima inscripción será el 17 de octubre.  Estudiantes interesados deben llenar una solicitud y tomar una evaluación académica para determinar su nivel.  Para más información, llame at 243-5050 o visite www.pima.gov/CED/CR/LasArtes.html.

The 21-minute video is available for viewing on Pima County’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/pimagov.

Las Artes, at 23 W. 27^th St. in South Tucson, combines structured classroom study with community art projects to prepare students for GED testing and to build their employability skills. More than 500 Las Artes students have obtained their GEDs since the program began more than 15 years ago.

Las Artes students’ murals, ceramic tiles and other artwork can be seen across Pima County – in South Tucson, Sahuarita, Marana and Tucson. Their work at the University of Arizona Bioscience Park at Kino Parkway and East 36^th Street will be featured at the park’s dedication on Thursday, Oct. 11.

Most of the students who attend Las Artes have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out. They’ve worked to help support their families. Or they’ve become discouraged by previous experiences in school. “They’ve become so used to having roadblocks in their way,” says Elena West, Las Artes program manager.

Las Artes gives them an opportunity to succeed and contribute to their community.

“We provide an individual who has gotten their education, who has the hopes and the aspirations and the dreams to continue on to do for themselves, whether it is to continue into education, higher education, or to employment,” West says.

“That has to translate into an employee that’s qualified, that’s efficient, that understands about punctuality and about showing up every day to work and about performing for the betterment not only of the employer they may be working for but for sustaining themselves and their family.”

The students in the video say it best.

“When I started attending Las Artes, it changed my whole outlook on life,” one student says. “I never wanted to go to college. I never even knew what I wanted to do with my life.  But now I know.”

The next open enrollment in Las Artes is Oct. 17.  Prospective students must complete an application and take a basic academic assessment to determine placement.  For more information, call 243-5050 or visit www.pima.gov/CED/CR/LasArtes.html.

A display celebrating Las Artes' first 2012 graduating class

Eighteen young people are heading to jobs or college after graduating from Pima County’s Las Artes Arts & Education Center this week and passing their GED tests.

Most members of this first graduating class of 2012 came to the program after giving up on traditional high school.

“I never thought I’d be giving a speech about graduating” after leaving school two years ago, one of the students said Wednesday night at a dinner for the graduates and their families and friends.

Tile work by a Las Artest student

The students thanked their families, friends and the Las Artes staff for “always encouraging me to do my best,” “never giving up on me,” and “going out of your way to make my life better.”

A few of the graduates who are parents themselves said they were inspired by their children to successfully complete the program and pursue a better life.

“Now I can be a better role model for my son,” one young woman said.

Las Artes, a program of the Pima County Community Services, Employment and Training Department at 23 W. 27^th St. in South Tucson, combines structured classroom study with community art projects to prepare students for GED testing and to build their employability skills.

Working for eight weeks on a community art project helped the students appreciate and develop the discipline they needed to pursue their dreams.  Studying for up to 24 more weeks helped them prepare for the GED tests.

A Las Artes student's tile work

Las Artes students’ murals, ceramic tiles and other artwork can been seen along South Tucson’s Fourth Avenue and on benches along Sahuarita’s main drag, from Marana’s Town Hall to a red, white and blue sports tribute at East Ajo Way and South Country Club Road.

They will be contributing to the public art that will be part of the Santa Cruz River Park between Silverlake Road and Ajo Way and the University of Arizona Bioscience Park at Kino Parkway and East 36^th Street.

2012 Las Artes graduate Emmanuel Ramirez created this tile art in memory of his sister, a 2011 Las Artest graduate who was killed in a car accident

At the dinner and graduation ceremony this week, the graduates shared their plans to continue their education and pursue careers in health care, welding, fashion design, culinary arts, teaching and engineering.

“We need you to be successful,” Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías, District 5, told the graduates.  “It’s going to make our community stronger.  It’s going to make our community the place we want it to be.”

Las Artes has awarded more than 500 GEDs since it opened more than 15 years ago.

“This isn’t the end,” one of the graduates said.  “It’s just the beginning for us.”

For more information about Las Artes, go to www.pima.gov/CED/CR/LasArtes.html.

Armed with their GEDs, they are now better prepared to become employed, pursue more education or training, and handle life’s challenges.

Most of the members of this final graduating class of 2011 came to the program after giving up on traditional high school.

At least one was homeless.  One had stopped going to school in eighth grade.  Another had attended many schools because her family moved a lot.  At a dinner for the graduates and their families this week, two talked about school coming in second to the jobs they needed to support themselves or their families.  Many of these young students had children of their own – and were inspired by them.

“I know I need to do my best so I can give you the life you deserve,” one young father said.

The 2011 graduating class of Las Artes Arts & Education Center listen to one of their valedictorians, Nikky Vidarte, speak during their commencement ceremony Friday.

Las Artes, a program of the Pima County Community Services, Employment and Training Department, combines structured classroom study with community art projects to prepare students for GED testing and to build their employability skills.

Working for eight weeks on a community art project helped the students appreciate and develop the discipline they needed to pursue their dreams.  Studying for up to 24 more weeks helped them prepare for the GED tests.

Las Artes students’ murals, ceramic tiles and other artwork can been seen along South Tucson’s Fourth Avenue and on benches along Sahuarita’s main drag, from Marana’s Town Hall to a red, white and blue sports tribute at East Ajo Way and South Country Club Road.

Their work will be part of the Tucson Children’s Museum’s Dia de los Muertos exhibit this year.  They will be contributing to the public art that will be part of the University of Arizona Bioscience Park and the Santa Cruz River Park between Silverlake Road and Ajo Way.

“Las Artes means being at school on time every day and following the rules,” one graduate said.  Several graduates thanked the teachers for “being so strict,” and one was grateful for the “friends, education and hope” she found at Las Artes.

Clearly proud of obtaining their GEDs, the graduates shared their plans to attend Pima Community College, cosmetology school, the University of Arizona and Pima Medical Institute to study literature or international business management, to pursue a master’s degree or become a veterinary technician.

“I know I’m not going to stop here,” one said.

For more information, go to http://www.pima.gov/CED/CR/LasArtes.html.

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Congratulations, Graduates!
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Kilns in Las Artes studio
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Las Artes studio space
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Las Artes tile work
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Las Artes tile work
Source: Pima County Communications Office

The celebrating started days before their commencement ceremony.

So did the gratitude.

On Friday, July 1, students at Pima County’s Las Artes Arts & Education Center will mark the successful completion of their studies and the passage of their general educational development tests at a ceremony at Pima Community College’s Downtown Campus.

On Wednesday, June 29, they had a special dinner at their school at 23 W. 27^th St. in South Tucson, where they thanked their families, their friends and the Las Artes teachers and staff who helped them reach this milestone.

These young people are more familiar than most with the school of hard knocks.  They never thought they’d ever get through high school.

Las Artes, a program of Pima County’s Community Services, Education and Training Department, combines structured classroom study with community art projects to prepare students for GED testing and to build their employability skills.

Working together for eight weeks to create ceramic tiles and murals helped the students appreciate and develop the discipline they needed to pursue their dreams.  Studying for up to 24 more weeks helped them prepare for the GED tests.

On Wednesday evening, several students thanked the person – their uncle, their mom, their boyfriend – who got them up every morning to get to school.

One thanked his grandma for the hugs she gave and the cakes she made to celebrate his achievements, and he thanked his mom – “even though she’s not here.”

Some thanked their own children for inspiring them to seek a better life and hoped that now they would be good examples for that next generation.

“I have learned from my mistakes,” one said.

Many thanked the Las Artes teachers and staff for “never giving up on me,” “pushing me to do my best,” “really caring,” and “giving me a second chance.”

Some of the students shared their aspirations – to attend Pima Community College or the University of Arizona; to be an accountant, an architect, a registered nurse.

One student, who talked about his descent into depression and drug addiction and the help he’d gotten to climb out of those dark holes, asked everyone only to “wish me luck.”

Las Artes has awarded more than 500 GEDs since it opened more than 15 years ago.

“Las Artes has been a long journey,” one young graduate said Wednesday evening, “and it’s only the beginning.”

For more information about Las Artes, contact program manager Elena West at 243-5053 or at Elena.West@pima.gov or go to:

http://www.pima.gov/CED/CR/LasArtes.html

http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/photos/slideshows/20100331-chavez.htm

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An example of the murals and tilework created by Las Artes students
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An example of the murals and tilework created by Las Artes students
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An example of the murals and tilework created by Las Artes students
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A mural of César Chávez created by Las Artes students
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An example of the murals and tilework created by Las Artes students
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An example of the murals and tilework created by Las Artes students
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An example of the murals and tilework created by Las Artes students
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A mural of President Barack Obama created by Las Artes students
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An example of the murals and tilework created by Las Artes students

Their work can be seen along South Tucson’s Fourth Avenue and on benches along Sahuarita’s main drag, from Marana’s Town Hall to a red, white and blue tribute to sports at East Ajo Way and South Country Club Road.

One of their murals – of César Chávez – hangs in the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.  Their next assignment: the University of Arizona’s Bioscience Park along Kino Parkway.

But the biggest difference Las Artes makes is in the lives of its students.

The Pima County program housed at 23 W. 27^th St. in South Tucson will be awarding GEDs to its latest group of graduates on Friday, July 1, in a 10 a.m. ceremony at Pima Community College’s Downtown Campus.

Traditional school failed to reach these young people.  Some are homeless.  Some are on probation.  Some have been abused.  Some have children of their own.  Most are high school dropouts.

They get help with those challenges.  And the eight weeks they spend working on a community art project teaches them the discipline they need for school, work and life.  They learn to be on time, show up every day, follow directions and do their best.

They then spend up to 24 weeks studying academic subjects at the center.  Of those who make it to the final eight-week GED unit, 98 percent pass the general educational development tests.

The program is part of the county’s Community Services, Education and Training Department, which helps the students find jobs and financial assistance for job training or additional education through its One Stop employment assistance program.

Las Artes has awarded more than 500 GEDs since it opened more than 15 years ago.

For more information, go to:

http://www.pima.gov/CED/CR/LasArtes.html

http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/photos/slideshows/20100331-chavez.htm