Please Note: Spring Semester begins March 8. We will meet Monthly on the second Monday of each month. Student who attended the Fall/Winter Semester need not re-register.
The Young Women’s Empowerment Program supports high-school aged young women in developing the knowledge, skills and capacities to develop strong and healthy identities; to engage in healthy interpersonal relationships; to and to be champions of their own and others’ equality, respect and safety as leaders in their communities. Topics include: healthy personal and romantic relationships; body image; representation of women in the media; racism and gender inequality; identity development; love and affection and living one’s best life online and on social media, to name a few.
- The ten-month Program is offered over a series of ten 90-minute sessions, led by trained facilitators and experts on youth development.
- The Program is designed to create a cohort of participants that support each other’s learning and development.
- The Program uses best practices in interactive learning methods to provide an engaging, inviting and safe environment for participants and uses current research and data, as well as multi-media and real-life experiences to help participants apply their learning to their lives.
- Participants will receive a certificate of completion from Relation-Shift for participating in at least 8 of the 10 sessions.
- Optional Capstone Project: Using their learning from the program, participants will design their own project or presentation to help empower other young people in their community, school or life. (Examples: Facilitate workshops for middle school students; host a documentary viewing and discussion on a relevant topic; interview other young women about a related issue and write a paper, article or art piece based on the results; create or design a piece of art of self-expression reflecting themes addressed in the Program, etc.)
Cost: FREE
We are asking for a suggested donation of $100 towards this program. Donations can be made here — Donate, or mailed to 1016 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566. Thank you for your support. You must register to participate in the program.
Instructor: Justine Finn, ED M, Relation Shift
Justine founded Relation-Shift at the Harvard Innovation Lab in order to end sexual violence, promote healthier relationships and create safer schools. Justine has worked for the past twelve years to advance the equality of women and men, facilitating classes, workshops and seminars across the country on gender, media representation and the prevention of sexual and relationship violence and bullying. Justine worked in social services and development at the Tahirih Justice Center for five years, a national nonprofit organization that protects immigrant women and girls refusing to become victims of violence, and served as the Washington DC Respect Challenge campaign manager for Futures Without Violence. Previously, Justine worked as a teacher at a women’s college in Nanjing, China and as a communications specialist and reporter in Chicago. Justine obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Journalism at Loyola University of Chicago and her Ed.M, with a focus on human development and psychology, at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Participants will be introduced to artist of Afro-Cuban, Native American and Latin Origins. Each session a new artist and technique will be shared with student during the information portion of the session. The participants will then apply the learned information to their own original piece. Focuses on self improvement and learning about art from different cultures particularly Latin America and African
Cost: FREE for Peekskill Middle School Students, Non-Residents – $120
Please note: Our online payment option is currently not available. Payment can be mail via PayPal using info@necspace.org or mail to 1016 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566 or call (914) 930-1777 to drop off check or make a credit card payment over the phone.
Scholarships available for any family with financial need. Please email info@necspace.org to apply.
Instructor: Tamarah Bridgewater
This program aims to empower middle and high school boys to make healthy life choices that will contribute to their own well-being, the wellbeing of their communities and the world at large. Participants will be provided with the opportunity to define who they are, regardless of society’s definition. They will reflect on their innate strengths. To do this, they will explore a variety of coming of age questions (Who am I? What’s my purpose? How can I become an agent of change? What’s stopping me?) and deeply resolve these issues through engagement in creative activities and social action.
NECS will incorporate the Live Respect Curriculum from A Call to Men in order to explore the concept of healthy masculinity. Youth will engage in creative activities such as spoken word, mindfulness activities, photography and more in order to find creative ways to cope with the challenges they may face. Trained mentors will work with the boys throughout the year.
Students will meet on the following days: March 3, 17 & 31, April 14 and 28, May 12, 26, June 9 & 23. Please put these dates on your calendar.
Cost: FREE
We welcome any donation towards this program. Donations can be made here — Donate, or mailed to 1016 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566. Thank you for your support. You must register to participate in the program.
This program aims to empower middle and high school boys to make healthy life choices that will contribute to their own well-being, the wellbeing of their communities and the world at large. Participants will be provided with the opportunity to define who they are, regardless of society’s definition. They will reflect on their innate strengths. To do this, they will explore a variety of coming of age questions (Who am I? What’s my purpose? How can I become an agent of change? What’s stopping me?) and deeply resolve these issues through engagement in creative activities and social action.
NECS will incorporate the Live Respect Curriculum from A Call to Men in order to explore the concept of healthy masculinity. Youth will engage in creative activities such as spoken word, mindfulness activities, photography and more in order to find creative ways to cope with the challenges they may face. Trained mentors will work with the boys throughout the year.
Students will meet on the following days: March 10 and 24, April 7 and 21, May 5 & 19, June 2 and 16. Please save these dates on your calendar.
Cost: FREE
We welcome any donation towards this program. Donations can be made here — Donate, or mailed to 1016 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566. Thank you for your support. You must register to participate in the program.
Stories are our oldest form of communication. In this class, students will read stories that are already familiar with and learn multi-cultural approaches to familiar tales while discussing how those stories still apply today. In a storytelling approach, each student becomes every character and every part of the story.
For example; in Little Red Riding Hood, we will be Little Red, the grandmother, the wolf, and the trees in the forest. How does this story apply to your life when it comes to trusting the advice of people who love you? What does it tell us about following our gut instincts or being wary of people who seem unsafe?
In The Snow Queen, Gerda travels the world to save her friend Kay. What lengths would you go to for someone you love? Who in your life would risk everything to protect you? Combining elements of theater with social issues that affect our students today, this class is sure to make them see familiar stories in a whole new light.
Cost: PKMS Students attend Free. Peekskill Residents –$240, Non-Residents – $340
Please note: Our online payment option is currently not available. Payment can be mail via PayPal using info@necspace.org or mail to 1016 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566 or call (914) 930-1777 to drop off check or make a credit card payment over the phone.
Scholarships available for any family with financial need. Please email info@necspace.org to apply.
Natalie Arneson | Artistic Director
Natalie Arneson won the 2016 Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets Award for Best Female Debut for her original show “Mama Drama.” As an actor she has appeared in New York with Playhouse Creatures, MCC, and the New York Musical Festival. She graduated from the Guildford School of Acting in England. While overseas she worked with Britt Eklund and Sylvester McCoy (of “James Bond” and “Dr. Who” fame, respectively), toured England and Germany in “The Importance of Being Earnest,” and was cast by Trevor Nunn in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Woman in White.” She is regularly seen on The Depot Stage and at 54 Below in concerts such as “Sondheim Unplugged” and “Simply Streisand.” She has worked in theater education for nearly 20 years and loves sharing her passion for musical theater with her students. She lives in Putnam Valley with her husband and three children.
This youth led program provides a safe space for young girls to come together and discuss and learn about issues that are of concern to girl with a focus on healthy Self Esteem, and strong moral identity through discussions on topics, exploring inspiring literature, social interactions, the engaging in the arts. Participants will get the chance to meet with professional women to learn about different profession as well as the qualities, mindset and life skills required to succeed in life.
Our youth leadership and empowerment program aims to assist youth to navigate through a crucial stage in their lives. Those in their early adolescent years possess altruism, a sense of justice, eagerness to learn about the universe, and a desire to contribute to the construction of a better world. The program helps youth form a strong moral identity and empowers them to contribute to the well-being of themselves, their communities and the world at large. We achieve this through discussions on topics exploring inspiring literature, social interactions, field trips and fun activities and creative expression through the arts.
Girls will meet 3 times a month, twice virtually and once a month in person. Safety protocols will be adhered to at all times. Youth facilitators receive training and are mentored by NECS staff.
Cost: FREE
We are asking for a suggested donation of $75 towards this program. Donations can be made here — Donate, or mailed to 1016 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566. Thank you for your support. You must register to participate in the program.
Instructors: NECS Trained Youth Facilitators
This multicultural dance course will include embodied exploration and self-awareness to provide in-depth understanding and widen perspectives conducive to enhancing effective positive class collaborations. Working in a small dance group (abiding by strict COVID rules), dance-making will improve inquiry-based learning and peer collaboration as students engage in exploratory talk to develop wider perspectives in determining how they move (body, shape, climate, time, space) resulting in positive outcomes for students. Class will meet at New Era Creative Space, In-Person.
Cost: Peekskill Residents $90 Non-Residents $120 – Scholarships available. Email info@necspace.org to inquire.
Please note: Our online payment option is currently not available. Payment can be mail via PayPal using info@necspace.org or mail to 1016 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566 or call (914) 930-1777 to drop off check or make a credit card payment over the phone.
Taught By:
Belle Ritter | Dancer/Choreographer
Performer, teacher and choreographer Belle Torres Ritter graduated SUNY Purchase ‘96 and continued there as Asst. Director of Admissions while attending Baruch CUNY Graduate Center in Higher Ed. Administration. For almost 30 years, Miss Belle has performed as part of the national female trio, signed with Atlantic Records, “Sweet Sensation” and currently teaches full-time at Bronx Leadership Academy Highschool II . She is also a teaching artist with NECS, ArtsWestchester and 10566 Arts. Miss Belle received NYS PreK-12 certification from NYU and continues to participate in their Uganda community building collaboration. You can also catch Miss Belle drumming and dancing with Kofi & Sankofa in addition to playing with percussion group Skin Against Metal. Follow her as she continues teaching/performing locally and internationally seeking to concentrate efforts in publishing research on cultural/social dance and focus on beneficial community arts programming and curriculum. As a mother of three teenagers, Sienna, Isaiah and Elijah, Belle believes modeling good ethics of hard work, dedication and appreciation of the arts will support her children in building a strong foundation toward success. “Todo posible con determinación, amor y apoyo de familia y amistades especiales!”
Facebook- Belle Torres
Instagram- boriquabelle
This multicultural dance course will include embodied exploration and self-awareness to provide in-depth understanding and widen perspectives conducive to enhancing effective positive class collaborations. Working in a small dance group (abiding by strict COVID rules), dance-making will improve inquiry-based learning and peer collaboration as students engage in exploratory talk to develop wider perspectives in determining how they move (body, shape, climate, time, space) resulting in positive outcomes for students. Class will meet at New Era Creative Space, In-Person.
Cost: Peekskill Residents $90 Non-Residents $120 Scholarships available. Please email info@necspace.org to inquire.
Please note: Our online payment option is currently not available. Payment can be mail via PayPal using info@necspace.org or mail to 1016 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566 or call (914) 930-1777 to drop off check or make a credit card payment over the phone.
Taught By Belle Torres
Belle Ritter | Dancer/Choreographer
Performer, teacher and choreographer Belle Torres Ritter graduated SUNY Purchase ‘96 and continued there as Asst. Director of Admissions while attending Baruch CUNY Graduate Center in Higher Ed. Administration. For almost 30 years, Miss Belle has performed as part of the national female trio, signed with Atlantic Records, “Sweet Sensation” and currently teaches full-time at Bronx Leadership Academy Highschool II . She is also a teaching artist with NECS, ArtsWestchester and 10566 Arts. Miss Belle received NYS PreK-12 certification from NYU and continues to participate in their Uganda community building collaboration. You can also catch Miss Belle drumming and dancing with Kofi & Sankofa in addition to playing with percussion group Skin Against Metal. Follow her as she continues teaching/performing locally and internationally seeking to concentrate efforts in publishing research on cultural/social dance and focus on beneficial community arts programming and curriculum. As a mother of three teenagers, Sienna, Isaiah and Elijah, Belle believes modeling good ethics of hard work, dedication and appreciation of the arts will support her children in building a strong foundation toward success. “Todo posible con determinación, amor y apoyo de familia y amistades especiales!”
Facebook- Belle Torres
Instagram- boriquabelle
Participants will be introduced to artist of Afro-Cuban, Native American and Latin Origins. Each session a new artist and technique will be shared with student during the information portion of the session. The participants will then apply the learned information to their own original piece. Focuses on self improvement and learning about art from different cultures particularly Latin America and African
Cost: FREE for Peekskill Middle School Students, Non-Residents – $120
Please note: Our online payment option is currently not available. Payment can be mail via PayPal using info@necspace.org or mail to 1016 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566 or call (914) 930-1777 to drop off check or make a credit card payment over the phone.
Scholarships available for any family with financial need. Please email info@necspace.org to apply.
Instructor: Tamarah Bridgewater
This program aims to empower middle and high school boys to make healthy life choices that will contribute to their own well-being, the wellbeing of their communities and the world at large. Participants will be provided with the opportunity to define who they are, regardless of society’s definition. They will reflect on their innate strengths. To do this, they will explore a variety of coming of age questions (Who am I? What’s my purpose? How can I become an agent of change? What’s stopping me?) and deeply resolve these issues through engagement in creative activities and social action.
NECS will incorporate the Live Respect Curriculum from A Call to Men in order to explore the concept of healthy masculinity. Youth will engage in creative activities such as spoken word, mindfulness activities, photography and more in order to find creative ways to cope with the challenges they may face. Trained mentors will work with the boys throughout the year.
Students will meet on the following days: March 3, 17 & 31, April 14 and 28, May 12, 26, June 9 & 23. Please put these dates on your calendar.
Cost: FREE
We welcome any donation towards this program. Donations can be made here — Donate, or mailed to 1016 Brown Street, Peekskill NY 10566. Thank you for your support. You must register to participate in the program.