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^{*Important: Read this page to understand what we are accomplishing through the performing arts.} Come have fun at New Generation Artist

New Generation Artist is a non-profit organization that is committed to teaching history, life-skills, social awareness and raising higher academic standards as an expression through the performing arts. Young people today live in a different world. They face new hazards and challenges sometimes unimaginable.

Statics show every day, 30% of all indianapolis public high school students drop out of school. Youth account for 18 percent of all violent crime in the U.S. and 33 percent of all serious property crime, Every day 135,000 children carry a gun to school. Justifiably, America's concern about youth at risk is as prevalent as anxiety over jobs and the economy. With hopes of reversing this ominous trend, an increasing number of the nation's 17,000 community organizations - libraries and parks and recreation sites - are using arts programs to: divert youth from gangs, drugs and the juvenile justice system, provide a more cost-effective approach with better results than traditional programs such as boot camps; reduce truancy and improve academic performance; and build critical self-discipline, communication and job skills.

Founder and director, Jonathan Thompson and his staff come with over 80 combined years of passion, commitment and experience, in Academic Education, Business Leadership, Performing Arts, Fitness, and many other areas. Mr. Thompson uses life stories such as Paul Robeson, Edward "Bearcat" Wright, George Washington Williams, Sam Jonas, and the Underground Railroad as well as other programing for all ages to teach life-skills and an overall change in the mindset.

'I am very impressed with Jonathan Thompson and the work he is doing in the Indianapolis Public School System. His influence with our young people is certainly invaluable. I look forward to working with him and having him on my television program.'

^{- Dr. Eugene White

Superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools}

Mr. Thompson uses his professional performing arts training to deliver a message that transcends ethnic, generational, and cultural lines, that challenge and build desire in students to achieve success through every obstacle they face both now and in their individual futures to come. The main purpose of New Generation Artist is to support and challenge students to reach higher academic and social standards for themselves and reach a greater mindset regarding their overall world view. With Indiana Public Schools having the highest drop out rate in the nation, and crime at all time high, New Generation Artist believes that all people hold intrinsic value with their talents and abilities, and sometimes need a nudge in the right direction to unlock those skills within, or mentoring that understands, and can guide the student or person to achieve their highest good.
^{While Indiana had a graduation rate higher than the national average in the 1950s,
it now has the worst dropout rates in the state. Test scores declined precipitously.

– Wikipedia}

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"I have been impressed for five years with Jonathan Thompson's capacity to reach our more difficult boys and develop a positive relationship with them in a mentor role. His dedication goes beyond the classroom every week and remains active in their lives far beyond his his job description requires. His is gifted as a teacher and mentor. I have seen him mesmerize 300 plus students at a time in our gymnasium listening to every word. This is not easily accomplished with our students."

- Laurie K. Voss
Social Worker/Community Liaison
Middle School
New Generation Artist is experiencing a deter to youth from gangs, drugs, and violence using the performing arts. Prevention programs are most effective when youth attend and participate regularly. Arts programs are successful at attracting, engaging and retaining even the toughest kids. These youth - including gang members and previously incarcerated and unengaged teens - join arts programs and return time and again.
The draw of these performing arts programs are the thrill of creative and artistic expression, community recognition for performances, exhibitions or public art works, learning new and lucritive job skills, using the arts to communicate difficult thoughts and emotions.
Research confirms that youth join gangs and yeild to overall peer pressure and cultural expectations in search of recognition, achievement and self-expression. The arts provide a different way to address these needs. New Generation Artist demonstrate the success of arts programs in engaging even the hardest to reach youth.
The performing arts as a instructional vehicle throughout the student's life of public and private school education programs, as well as serving the community at large, New Generation Artist is able to instruct students in mathematics, reading, spelling, comprehension, retention as well as physical health education and fitness. We focus on teaching life skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.
If you would like to participate in up coming workshops or events, please contact us to get involved with New Generation Artists. If you are interested in sponsorship of a New Generation Artists event or one of the workshops or performence presentations please let us know so we can get your sponsorship set up.
Thank you again for visiting the New Generation Artist Web site.

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