User:Evelynfrierson/sandbox

Unity Performing Arts Foundation (Unity) is a multi-faceted performing arts organization with a focus on developing young people in the areas of character, artistry, and leadership and promoting soulful arts education, training, and performances in the areas of choral music, dance, drama, creative writing, oratory, and instrumental music. Unity is the umbrella organization that oversees and manages 'The World Champion Voices of Unity Youth Choir' (Shoaxing, China 2010), the Expression, Inspired Creative Writing and the Arts Academy, a collaboration with the YMCA and Unity to offer additional artistic programming for children in the urban community.

History
Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Unity was developed in 2001 by Marshall White, Director and Life Coach, as an innovative quality-oriented performing arts entity that shapes and develops young lives into leaders using a unique artistic model designed to attract young people, not target them. Our unique method of programming combines arts relevant to this generation that we refer to as Soulful Art Forms, along with youth development that provides life coaching and mentoring consisting of a strong support system that builds hope and a will to be successful.



Unity was created to incorporate a medium that is not taught in traditional art environments that would appeal to a multiplicity of demographics in underserved populations. Soulful Arts includes music of jazz, Blues, R&B, Gospel, Spiritual, & Hip-Hop, and is taught with a higher level of discipline because of the range of performance outcomes for each music style. Soulful art forms have been enjoyed by many over the years, however, no formal instruction of these mediums have been found under one umbrella, until now. We expect to create a paradigm over the next 10 years to incorporate this type of instruction within secondary and post-secondary educational institutions. Unity has worked extensively with other related organizations collaborating in performances and programs. To name a few, Canterbury High School, Warsaw Community Schools, Dekalb High School, IPFW Choral Department and the Lansing Michigan Public Schools. We have shared offices with the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir and FAME and also extend opportunities to collaborate with Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) and University of St. Francis’ artistic programs for internships and student projects.

Location
Unity Performing Arts Foundation operates on the campus of Indiana-Purdue University- Fort Wayne, IN. This partnership allows Unity to expose young people to a college environment each weekend, therefore, eliminating the intimidation of higher education as they grow up in the organization.