MOVING IN THE SPIRIT INC
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Mission Statement
Moving in the Spirit is an award-winning creative youth development program that uses the discipline of dance to help children and teens develop the social, emotional and cognitive skills they need to thrive.
About This Cause
Our story began in 1986, when founders Dana Lupton, Genene Stewart and Leah Mann came together to activate a shared vision: use the art and rigor of dance to enhance young people’s lives with the skills and competencies needed to gain confidence, solve problems, and cultivate a work ethic that prepares them for success. At times the trio encountered pushback because they were “outsiders” in the Atlanta neighborhoods where they started connecting with young people. But as they focused on their founding values of mutual respect, responsibility, accountability, and self-discipline with dance as the foundation, they began to develop relationships that have spanned generations and evolved into a beautiful and beloved community. In the three decades since its founding, Moving in the Spirit has blossomed into a thriving nonprofit leader whose innovative programs annually serve more than 250 students ages 3-18, focusing on some of our city’s most challenged communities. We reach thousands more every year through performances and community events. The need for our programs and their associated outcomes is great, particularly in the neighborhoods we serve. We target vulnerable youth who stand to benefit most from the safety and structure our programs provide. Many of these children live in hostile environments, confronting toxic levels of stress that researchers say limits cognitive development and predicts poor health in adulthood. Living in survival mode, they lack coping mechanisms to help navigate obstacles, and as a result they experience hopelessness. Our innovative approach emphasizes artistic literacy along with the acquisition of social, emotional and cognitive skills to help young people thrive even when facing hardship. Our dance-centered programs provide relief from stress and support physical fitness without the stigma that often accompanies youth intervention programs. Students exit our program as confident dancers and courageous, compassionate leaders prepared to excel at school, on the job and in their communities. ------- In 2005, Moving in the Spirit became the first Georgia nonprofit to receive a National Youth Program Award, presented by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. This award program, which ran between 1998 and 2017, was known as the country’s highest honor for afterschool arts and humanities programs. Our organization has closed out every program season in its 32-year history without debt or deficit, and in 2011, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta recognized our sound operating practices and organizational strength by presenting Moving in the Spirit with the Managing for Excellence Award. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal presented Moving in the Spirit with a 2013 Governor’s Award for the Arts & Humanities, lauding our impact on Georgia’s cultural and civic vitality. In 2018, Moving in the Spirit was included in a select group of small to midsize arts organizations in Atlanta chosen to participate in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts Innovation & Management (AIM) program.