John Nieves led our breakers in some pre-show festivities for MU42′s Jason Reed show.  Drumming, dancing and a little battle topped it off!  Thanks Certified Carpet for the vinyl donation!  Watch video here.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/72Eft5MnoHg?rel=0

Be a part of the first-ever partnership with a local school!  Heads Up will head up the after-school and parent outreach and enrichment at Fulton Elementary.   Matt Buckwalter has joined our team as a full-time staff member!  The program starts 2/27 and we will be recruiting students to be “flames” during their after-school hours.  If you want to get involved as a mentor, volunteer, workshop leader, or snack server then let us know!  Your donations in support of this new horizon are appreciated!

You read it right.  100% of your year end donation goes directly to the kids we serve.  zero overhead.  100% is also tax deductible.  Help us change lives and make an impact in your community.  Everyone is taking arts and music out – help us put it back in… and give youth vision for their lives through relationships with local, professional urban artist mentors.  Donate today.

Check out the sweet photos and videos from 2010-2011 year. As we embark on a new school year with much to celebrate and thank God for, it is a privilege to look back with humility at the path we have traveled. Thanks to all who made our 5th birthday possible! Highlights were new programs at new schools, opening Heads Up : York at YDC, Camp Remix, City Life Camp, Flash Mobs and t-shirts! Check out the photos here!

Wow. It is hard to believe that 3 years has passed since the inception of Urban Marketplace came about through a partnership of vision between Heads Up and First Presbyterian Church. This year was special for sure! Heads Up wrote the nightly drama and kicked off the camp with a block party at Musser Park. Jack, from FPC, was awesome in working with us to rock it and the number of kids were up more than years past.

More details and photos to come… artist blogs and videos too!

The Camp itself is a partnership between FPC and Heads Up to challenge youth to what it looks like to have ‘Jesus in the streets’.  More info and registration is here!  Ages 3 to 6th grade are invited to camp…and if you are older (teens or parents), we have lots of ways for you to be involved too!

If you haven’t met him yet, you need to.  Rob Seitz is one of the most active Artist Mentors with Heads Up.  Leading programs in York and Lancaster and offering his talents to Recycled Fashion, Mural Arts and Finale Friday!, he has a huge heart for youth.  You can read his blogs about his adventures with Heads Up on our Weekly Mentor Updates page.  Thanks for keeping the pulse of Heads Up alive and well Rob!

Thanks to a great partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lancaster, Finale Friday Awards Show was awesome!  Jeremy Hess and Mark and Laurel from Catalyst Interactive Marketing were on-site to give awards for our first Finale Friday! Awards Show.  Dream Chasers were chosen for their award-winning photographs, composition and creativity and will enjoy a photo shoot at Jeremy Hess Photographers Studios!  Team: REMIX was chosen by Catalyst to design t-shirts for the whole program with the theme “Reinventing Education”.

Great work and we look forward to next month’s challenges and winners!

This past year was more than we could have ever anticipated! Corporate partners, pruning of programs and an increased focus on our mission, outreach to more people and places than we have ever done before all added up to a pretty wild ride!

Thanks to those of you who came alongside us, invited us to be in your school, your church, your backyard and out front of your business. Because of you, 2011 has Heads Up expanding to York, DC and possibly even Detroit! We need your continued support.

The Artist Mentors that have made it all possible due to endless hours of commitment, planning, patience and perseverance have embodied the truth of our mission and are the reason you know the name ‘Heads Up’.

Want to join the movement? Have a gift to offer in the classroom or to the management of the organization? We are waiting… the world is waiting… the youth of this county (and country, for that matter) need you!

The UP Award is live!  Nominate your teacher or school!