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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Courtney Ffrench, Artistic Director of Jamaica Center For Arts and Learning
2:19:20
ยท
170 sec
Courtney Ffrench, Artistic Director of Jamaica Center For Arts and Learning, shared the story of Daniel, a young man who started as a volunteer and developed technical skills, leading to the creation of a workforce development initiative. This initiative, called Stage and Screen Technical Apprenticeship (SSTA), was launched in partnership with Jamaica YMCA to provide training in backstage technical requirements and front-of-house duties.
- SSTA includes classroom instruction and practical experience at JCAL, Queens College, and York College.
- Workforce development in arts and culture teaches transferable skills and fosters opportunities for the local community.
- JCAL is the only Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) in Southeast Queens, operating out of two buildings and serving various artistic disciplines.
Courtney Ffrench
2:19:20
Hello, everyone, and thank you for having us here, chairperson Rivera.
2:19:24
My name is Courtney French.
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I'm the artistic director for the Jamaica Center For Arts and Learning.
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Hello.
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I bring you greetings from the Jamaica Centre For Arts and Learning located on Jamaica Avenue in Southeast Queens.
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We are the only CIG in this part of Queens.
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We operate out of 2 buildings serving our community in disciplines of dance, theater, music, visual arts, and arts education.
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Today, I will avoid speaking of our mission or glowingly about our freshly minted 5 year strategic plan.
2:19:54
What I will tell you about is Daniel.
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You might ask, who is Daniel?
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Well, Daniel apprehensively asked to see the manager, at the time, yours truly.
2:20:03
And I saw a young black boy filled with bewilderment.
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He had just graduated.
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He said his name was Daniel.
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He lived with his 3 older brothers and younger sister, with their mom next to the 40 projects in Queens.
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He says, can I work here?
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He asked, while admiring the lights and the grid.
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Can I volunteer?
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He paused.
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I'll do it for free.
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He left his number and promised to come back for a visit.
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A week later, we hired Daniel as an usher.
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He was affable, astute, inquisitive.
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By sheer proximity and observation, he learned how to set up and operate our mobile audio system.
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He then learned how to actually well, proficiently to operate our space sound system.
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In 6 months, he became proficient at these skills by sitting next to our tech staff.
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I got skills, yo, Daniel would always say, remarking after solving a problem.
2:21:01
What happened with Daniel was not planned or strategically thought out.
2:21:04
It was pure luck, but luck can be divine.
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By happenstance, perhaps even providence, we had made we had the making of a workforce development initiative.
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Where does it stand today?
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After Daniel, well, in October 2023, Jay Cal in partnership with the Jamaica YMCA launched a new workforce development initiative called Stage and Screen Technical Apprenticeship, or SSTA.
2:21:31
The the SSTA consists of 2 main components, classroom instruction and practicum.
2:21:36
During classroom sessions, apprentices will will receive more intensive training on backstage, technical requirements, front of the house duties such as box office, management, and ushering.
2:21:47
They'll also have an expanded opportunity throughout the the busy spring season to work at J CAL, Queens College, and York College, some of our partners.
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For us, workforce development in arts and culture teaches transferable skills.
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It fosters opportunity and serves the interest of our local, global, and multicultural community.
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My name is Courtney French, and thank you for
UNKNOWN
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having me.