(Community Matters) Spent a bit of time with Clint Hufmeister and Tiffany Moreno who run the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department’s Totally Cool, Totally Arts program. Impressed.
For less than $12 per participant per class, TCTA is running 4 sessions of 8 classes each at 17 different neighborhood centers, employing artists, teaching kids art, teamwork, creative expression and communications – most importantly keeping most out of trouble.
Met with them to review a grant request for $25,000 to expand the program by 3 more sessions (that is 408 classes between the 17 sites). The marginal cost is only $3.06 per student/class.
This program is in its 12th year and is estimated to have served 14,000+ students (duplicated). It’s been named a National Recreation Parks Association model program. And, unfortunately, it’s withstood several deep cuts in funding from the City.
Community Matters 