FP Proposal Work – WMCAT Newsletter/Annual Report Winter 2019

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ROOTED IN EQUITY + INNOVATION

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WMCAT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT

CA LE N DAR iBALL 2019

Thursday, March 21, 6 PM 20 Monroe Live, 11 Ottawa Ave. NW

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ALL IN THE FAMILY

TEEN SPRING EXHIBITION

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UP IN LIGHTS: CREATIVE COLLABORATION

WINTER 2 0 1 9

Photography by WMCAT Teens

Tuesday, May 14, 5:30–7:00 PM WMCAT, 614 First Street NW Suite 300

WELCOME TO THE TEAM! Anthony Tuttle Program Manager, Cyber + IT Initiatives Leading the new Cyber Hub at WMCAT, Anthony brings technology and marketing experience from Steelcase.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in technology, engineering, and design education, and a master’s degree in management.

ROOTED IN EQUITY + INNOVATION Equity and innovation are words that have been top of mind in many community conversations recently. What do they really mean? This past summer we spent some real time thinking about what these words mean to WMCAT – our students, staff, board, partners, friends, and donors.

We reflected on a myriad of recent changes including a move into a new space, new and growing programs, and impact on a national level. As we change and grow as an organization, how might we frame our work and trajectory to ensure equity and innovation? We defined them this way: Equity at WMCAT: An unrelenting belief that underrepresented and marginalized voices need to be explicitly sought out and included.

Innovation at WMCAT: Boundless curiosity and hunger for new avenues to achieve meaningful results. Stagnation is not an option.

Equity + Innovation: Innovation happening outside equity ignores the realities that have led to the inequity, and it undermines the innovation’s legitimacy and efficacy.

WMCAT’s values are rooted in equity and innovation and will continue to serve as a rubric to define our actions. Thank you for your continued support of WMCAT and your partnership in this challenging, complex, and important justice work.

Daniel Williams, EdD PRESIDENT + CEO

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Eliza Fernand Ceramics Teaching Artist Eliza has taught youth art programs since 2001.

She studied sculpture and photography at the Interlochen Center for the Arts and Pacific Northwest College of Art.

Cameron Frank Music Production Teaching Artist Cameron has embarked on over 10 separate music tours since they were 16 years old.

They released and produced 12 of their own albums and are featured on and helped produce over 15 albums.

Oscar Neri Illustration and Graphic Design Teaching Artist Oscar has been a freelance graphic designer and illustrator for three years. He got his start over eight years ago as a tattoo artist and continues to work in traditional and untraditional formats.

March 21, 2019 6 PM 20 Monroe Live 11 Ottawa Ave NW Grand Rapids

iBall 2019 will transform the exciting downtown venue, 20 Monroe Live, to a space where creativity is unleashed and opportunity is palpable. The event will include live entertainment, high-energy WMCAT activities, and a vibrant celebration of honorees who embody imagination, innovation, and inspiration. Join us and share your commitment to our collective work to provide equitable access to opportunity. Tickets and sponsorships are available at wmcat.org/iball or by contacting Megan at (616) 454-7004 or megan.lorenz@wmcat.org.

AND THE AWARD GOES TO… WMCAT AWARD FOR IMAGINATION

Carbon Stories, Gorilla, and Mosaic Film Experience

This year we highlight three organizations who partner with WMCAT’s Teen Arts + Tech Program and have re-imagined what it means to provide access to opportunities for teens.

WMCAT AWARD FOR INNOVATION Consumers Energy Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, joins WMCAT on a journey of innovation and design. We recognize their commitment to people, planet and Michigan’s prosperity through innovative smart energy initiatives like Circuit West.

WMCAT AWARD FOR INSPIRATION The WMCAT Award for Inspiration will be presented to a graduate of our Adult Career Training Program in honor of the late James C. Welch, WMCAT founding board chair. Join us at iBall to meet a truly inspiring honoree.

THANK YOU TO OUR iBALL 2019 SPONSORS

iBall 2018 put WMCAT on Tour. Join us this year at 20 Monroe Live.

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WMCAT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT WHO WE ARE

The West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology provides a culture of opportunity for people to make social and economic progress in their lives and community.

OUR STUDENTS

MALE

9%

Adults

48%

Teens

91%

FEMALE

52%

60%

192

FAMILIES

Adults

empowered to pursue new opportunity pathways through career training and arts + tech engagement

31%

29% 22%

17%

14% 6%

AFRICAN CAUCASIAN AMERICAN

Teens

HISPANIC

3%

ASIAN

3%

9% 1%

NATIVE NOT MULTIRACIAL AMERICAN REPORTED

HOW WE DO IT

OUR FINANCIAL POSITION AND STEWARDSHIP OF RESOURCES (operations, including social enterprise) FISCAL YEAR 2018 REVENUE:

$1,773,482*

6% Campaign 3% Allocation In kind

6% Individuals

30% Foundations

FISCAL YEAR 2018 OPERATING EXPENSES:

$1,907,272

7% Fundraising

8% Government

6% Management & General

87% Program Services

20% Corporations 27% Earned 4

5%

Source: Fiscal Year 2018 Audit by Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors *Does not account for surplus in net assets from prior years

WHAT WE DO SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Comprehensive career training courses in Pharmacy Technician, Medical Billing and Medical Coding.

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465

instruction

80%

adults enrolled

Public Agency at WMCAT brought design thinking solutions to 17 projects nationwide, engaging nearly 1,300 individuals.

completed program

average hours per student

CREATIVE PROGRAMS

SECTORS IMPACTED

82

NON-PROFIT leadership (6%) development HEALTHCARE (12%) on-the-job externship CORPORATE (17%)

GOVERNMENT (6%)

143

EDUCATION (59%)

Teens engaged in arts and tech studios: Photography, ceramics, illustration, video game design, fashion design, video and music production.

157

Grand Rapids Public high school students enrolled in after school program

78 teens served through daytime residencies with area schools

and high school 196 middle students in summer camps

120 average hours of studio instruction per student in after school program

APPROX.

55,000 T-SHIRTS PRINTED BY AMBROSE AT WMCAT

engaged in eight-week 25 teens summer program

OUR 2018 IMPACT TEEN ARTS + TECH PROGRAM 2018

92%

82%

ADULT CAREER TRAINING PROGRAM CLASS OF 2018

$15.06

Average starting wage per hour

graduating seniors applied to post-secondary programs

95%

agreed or strongly agreed program increased desire to stay in high school

96%

73%

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workshops around leadership, personal growth and professional development

graduates placed in career within six months

EMPLOYER PLACEMENTS WMCAT accepts me for who I am

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students involved in ArtPrize through WMCAT

WMCAT makes me think about my future

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community organizations partnered for studio projects

METRO HEALTH (5%) OTHER (14%)

MEIJER (19%)

MARY FREE BED (5%) SPECTRUM HEALTH (38%) MERCY HEALTH (19%) 5

Mother and daughter students: Valerie Perkins and Janie Russell

ALL IN THE FAMILY Sometimes opportunity knocks twice. For mother and daughter Valerie and Janie, respectively, opportunity came knocking at the same time.

A generation apart, Valerie and Janie found themselves in work situations where they’d had enough. They each wanted something better; a job with a larger income and opportunities for advancement.

“We knew WMCAT offered that opportunity,” shared Valerie.

Valerie and Janie are in WMCAT’s Medical Billing program and support each other daily through carpooling and encouragement to keep going when it gets Pharmacy Tech students celebrated entry into externships with blue coat ceremony

tough. They share a personal drive to complete the program to help their families and their futures.

“WMCAT has already impacted my family and impacted me to an extent I can’t really explain,” Valerie said. “The overall concept of not leaving a student behind, and willingness to work with students to make sure that no obstacles hold them back – the culture here is amazing.”

Providing opportunity for adults to reach income security is the foundation of WMCAT’s Adult Career Training Program. A two-generation approach across all WMCAT programs keeps families at the center and provides education, social support, and economic stability.

With your generosity, let’s impact generations to come through nationally-recognized

Students networked with local professionals at Mix and Mingle

workforce development in West Michigan.

THE ADULT CAREER TRAINING PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY

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UP IN LIGHTS: CREATIVE COLLABORATION Take a journey with us as four teen arts studios collaborate on one cool project. It started with teen artists in Intro to Video Production wanting to create a trailer for a movie called “Weed Killer!� the story of avenging high school bullies for their treatment of LGBTQ peers.

First stop: Video Production teen artists built a storyboard. They then turned to students in Fashion Design to bring the main character to life.

After interviews and brainstorming sessions, Fashion students created a life-size costume that amped up the quality of the movie trailer. The video shoot commenced.

The next stop was to promote the trailer. Intro to Photography and Graphic Design studios brought the concept to life with original photography and a specially-designed poster.

Your support has real impact on the opportunities given to students who are excited to collaborate, create, and share their original work with the world.

THE WMCAT TEEN ARTS + TECH PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY Final destination was on Halloween with a premiere for all students at WMCAT. 7

NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID GRAND RAPIDS, MI

614 first street nw suite 300 grand rapids michigan 49504 wmcat.org

PERMIT #552

DR. STEVEN C. ENDER: WMCAT BOARD PRESIDENT WMCAT Board President Dr. Steven C. Ender

Steve is helping WMCAT provide a culture that

has a unique career and personal history that

bridges the divide between lack of opportunity

focuses on development, education, and equity;

and access to opportunity in an equitable way.

experience that has benefited WMCAT to its core

His experience and commitment encourages the

during the last nine years of his board service. A

WMCAT staff and board to consistently curate

first generation college student, he eventually

an environment that is supportive and accessible

focused the course of his career on the community

to all.

college model he believes is so impactful – most recently as the president of Grand Rapids Community College. Now retired, he brings experience from a lifelong pursuit of creating opportunities for underrepresented individuals to his new role as WMCAT Board President.

“WMCAT truly is a village for its students and our community,” shared Steve. “You can feel it when you are here.”

Thank you for being part of the WMCAT village.

Your support and dedication provides the foundation for equitable access to opportunity.