Since its inception in 2007, the Arts After School Kids (AASK) program has provided countless children from ages 10 to 14 an opportunity to learn and play music and explore the visual arts.
John Gefucia, who has been involved in running the program for the last several years, explained its importance.
“It was started by an Eagle Place resident by the name of Gayle Myke in 2007, and it was meant to give kids a place to go after school…a safe place to explore the arts. My involvement started around 2018 …But when the pandemic hit…we were down for about three and a half years, and our organization scattered…myself and a lady by the name of Chloe Laro…stayed with it [and] resurrected the program,” he said. ”The focus of the program is to give kids in the Eagle Place area…in grades six, seven, and eight an opportunity to learn to play guitar, drums, keyboards, bass guitar, or participate in our art program which are being instructed by working musicians and artists.”
Despite some challenges, Gefucia talks about some of the highlights coming from the program, including their most recent event.
“It’s like any other program; some kids come and go. Some kids are marginally involved…although we encourage them to throw themselves in the program. But the real thrill is seeing some of the kids who thrive. We just had our year-end concert, and all the kids brought their ‘A’ game. It was just so satisfying to see them up there performing and doing the things that they practiced,” he noted. “But the whole thing behind this program is to give them more self-confidence, self-esteem, and teamwork-related experience, and to just be part of something bigger than themselves,” he noted.
However, there have been a few stories that has resonated with Gefucia over the years.
“I remember pre-COVID, we were having a concert, and there was a kid drumming, and another student was standing behind him whispering to him….one parent remarked, “why doesn’t the kid standing behind him just play the drums for him then?” The response was that the kid that was playing the drums is autistic, and he needed that feedback from the kid behind him to help him keep going and encourage him. And that really touched me,” he recalled. “And another highlight was the former principal of John Vanier [which is now Madonna Della Libera Catholic Elementary School]..,wrote us a testimonial, mentioning how important this program was for those kids [as some of them had behavioral issues]. He mentioned that the teachers had noticed a positive behavioral change in the classroom from those kids that were participating in the program. That was quite the compliment for the program.”
Along with Gefucia, there have been several people who have contributed in making the program successful, especially in the last several years.
“We have a person by the name of Paul MacDougall who is a musician. He has been with us for two years, and he’s taken on the role of musical director which has given this program the leadership it needed. As well, his musical knowledge and his personality has taken the program to another level,” said Gefucia. “We also have a drumming instructor by the name of Phil Scott, who’s been with the program the longest, and Carol Ann Conlin, who is the art instructor…the kids love them [and] they have done such a great job. We also have two newer instructors…Sydney Sollazzo and Cliff Rutherford, who both have great musical credentials. We have had a successful year, and our group has been fantastic.”
For Gefucia, leading this program maintains a deeper connection for him.
“I grew up in Eagle Place…my family moved here in 1963 [and] I’ve lived in this neighbourhood all of my life except maybe two years when I was younger…but this area has always had a bit of a stigma attached to it, which it doesn’t deserve. It’s a good place with great people and an incredible history,” he said. “I have been self-employed for many years and when I retired, I wanted to give back in some way… I got involved with the Eagle Place Community Association when it had just been formed. We did a lot of good work here in the community [and] they still do. I ended up stepping back from the association to concentrate more on Arts After School Kids, as I believe it’s a very important program in the community.”
Nevertheless, Gefucia and the AASK team look to attain some goals to ensure its future success.
“The goals right now are to reclaim our not-for-profit/charitable status and rebuild our board as we are also in the process of trying to expand the program. If we secure more funds, we would love to introduce vocal and drama…the major focus [however] is to solidify the organization so that it is stronger moving forward, and with the excellent people we have now, it seems like we will achieve that quicker,” he said.
