Spring into Summer 2025

2nd Quarter Newsletter

Dear NECS Community,

We are so proud to share the powerful momentum of our spring season and the exciting path ahead!

Alabama Civil Rights Journey (April 12–17)
Five students embarked on a life-changing trip through Alabama, exploring the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. From walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to visiting the Equal Justice Initiative, this journey deepened their understanding of justice, courage, and activism.

Spring Video Competition Launch
Six students were paired with six local organizations to produce powerful stories through videos. With guidance from professional mentors, students are finalizing their edits. Winners will be announced on July 20, and a glamorous red carpet screening will take place on August 15, featuring both these videos and our summer “Film Shorts.”

Art in Bloom Open House
On May 8, parents and friends joined us for an open house to showcase student work from our winter and spring sessions, including visual art, dance, music, and film. The event also included artwork by Peekskill High School students. It was a beautiful celebration of creativity and community.

Girls Empowerment Wellness Retreat (May 30–31)
Our Girls EmpowerED program ended the year with an unforgettable retreat at the Peekskill Cabin. Eighteen girls gathered to reflect, bond, and celebrate a transformative year of growth and sisterhood.

Staff Retreat
On May 10, our team took time to reflect, recharge, and celebrate a year of impact. It was a meaningful day of connection, gratitude, and strategic planning for what’s to come.

6th Annual Creativity Ignited Celebration Benefit Brunch at The Garrison
Thank you to all who joined us for our most inspiring benefit yet! Our community showed up in full force to support youth empowerment through the arts. The brunch highlighted our impact and lifted up the importance of creative education.

Juneteenth Showcase at HV MOCA
Our annual Juneteenth celebration featured student-led performances in dance, music, and theater, including the original student play Got to Get to Peekskill. Local filmmaker John Scott Bennett described the play as “a privilege to witness,” commending students for their historical depth and powerful storytelling. Guests also viewed a student-made film about our trip to Alabama, followed by a heartfelt panel and Q&A session with our travelers.

Looking Ahead: Summer Highlights

Hawaii Service-Learning Journey (June 28 – July 5)
In partnership with Something Good in the World, students will explore Hawaiian culture, history, and ecology while participating in service projects to preserve beaches, reefs, and traditional practices.

NatureConnection Camp (July 7 – August 1) Fully enrolled and packed with hands-on outdoor activities, our summer nature camp promises another season of joyful exploration and connection to the natural world.

Summer Theatre Production: Dancing Through a Dream
We are producing an original musical written by 16-year-old Leela Kumar, who began writing this piece at age 14. In this inspiring story, Eva, a young songwriter, must overcome her fear of judgment to share her music with the world. Performance Dates: July 26 & 27 – Save the Date!

Film Futures Workforce Program
After months of preparation, NECS is launching a 6-week Summer Film and Video Production paid internship program. Students will gain hands-on experience in camera work, lighting, sound, storytelling, editing, and other related skills under the guidance of professional filmmakers.

Our spring season was filled with powerful programming both in schools and throughout the community, and we’re just getting started. We experienced a few team transitions: Bria Waterman, who served as our Artist-in-Residence, completed her term. We are deeply grateful for the creativity and dedication she brought to NECS and wish her the very best as she explores new opportunities. We also welcomed two new team members: Jennifer Turner, our new Program Director, and Rosario Malaver, our new Administrative Assistant. Together, this evolving team is helping us grow our reach and deepen our impact.