High-quality early education is critical to the well-being and future success of children, but high costs keep it out of reach for too many families. A recent report found that the average annual cost for full-day child care is $17,000 for infants and $13,000 for four-year-old children in Massachusetts, ma...
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Our Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs are doing their best to make an impact on the lives of elementary aged children in our community through focusing on their socio-emotional development as much as their academics, and no one understands the importance of this mission more than parents. That’s why we have made parent eng...
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Since Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States 68 days ago, we have seen many changes; but we have also seen the power that many voices have when they join together. These changes have motivated people of all ethnicities, ages, and genders to be informed about the operations of our government, so they can stand up for their beliefs. What is even greater, is the posit...
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Our mission here at IBA is to empower and engage individuals and families to improve their lives through our housing and programs. We know that as our community grows & changes, so must our programs; which is why we are re-introducing our College & Workforce Development (CWD) as College and Financial Empowerment (CFE). CFE Director, Tiana Bonner, hope...
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Arts Education increases learning engagement, self-confidence, and cultural acceptance; it empowers our Youth to discover their voices and speak out through creative expression, so one day they will be the leaders our community wants to see. Today, our Youth Development Program is transforming young people's lives by providing quality arts education opportunitie...
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Spending time with family in December is one of the best parts of the season. You share old stories and make new memories while going through your holiday traditions together - like cooking special meals, watching your favorite holiday movies, and decorating the tree. This year, add to those memories and make more that will last for many years to come by decorating your tree with some of these hom...
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We’re all thankful to spend more time with family over the holidays - we can enjoy delicious meals together, see distant relatives, and spend more time with our children while they’re on vacation for a few days. A great idea for making memories during this time is to read together - your child will remember these moments forever and have the book to keep making memories all year long! And since No...
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You could feel the burst of joy, appreciation, and excitement spread throughout the room when First Lady Michelle Obama presented us with one of the 2016 National Arts & Humanities Youth Program (NAHYP) Awards. Many gathered for our live viewing party to celebrate all of the hard work of our staff, students, and commun...
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The future of our community lies in the hands of our youth. This is why our Youth Development Program (YDP) gives them opportunities to participate in dynamic workshops, lead groundbreaking conversations, and express their opinions creatively - through visual art, poetry, film, and more. We strive to give our youth the tools they need by planning a curriculum arou...
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October 12th celebrates Spanish Language Day - a day highlighting the importance of the Spanish Language. Started by the United Nations in 2010, we couldn’t agree more with the reason for its creation, with an “aim to promote and support initiatives that promote multiculturalism and multilingualism.” At IBA we want to promote this initiative everyday of the year through our variety of programs roo...
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As parents, at times we may experience the lingering thought, “Am I doing this right?” We’re worried about giving our children the best life possible as we make decisions for them every day. One of the greatest concerns shared by multicultural families is if we should expose our child to a second language. We share the same worries, often afraid a second language will cause confusion in our child’...
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We live in a country that thrives on diversity. Where a mixture of backgrounds supports our development as a nation, whether our ancestors have been here for generations or if we are the first generation of Americans, we integrate our roots into our daily lives and share our culture with those around us so that we may learn from others and others may learn from us. [caption id="attachment_7069" a...
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Smiles, laughter, tears, hugs, and “Congratulations” filled the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts (VVCA) as thirty-five children, dressed in red caps and gowns, walked through the doors and toward the stage for their Preschool Graduation Ceremony. Parents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and Guardians carried bundles of balloons and flowers almost larger than their graduates. The room was bursting with p...
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In an increasingly demanding workforce environment where businesses require a more technical skill set and higher education degrees, what better time to continue your education than now? According to IBA’s HiSet Program Coordinator, Tiana Bonner, “all it takes is the motivation to excel.” The College and Workforce Program offers students the opportunity to do just this. The HiSet Exam (formerly k...
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Starting preschool can be nerve wracking for both the little ones and their parents. It is common for both parties to feel a bit of separation anxiety, but there are ways to make this transition easier and a positive experience. Here are a few tips we’ve picked up along the years at IBA’s preschool which you can do in preparation and also on the actual day. ...
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