St. Paul charter school awarded Bush grant

A St. Paul charter school that has used hip-hop to engage students has won a $100,000 grant from the Bush Foundation.

The High School for Performing Arts is among 16 organizations selected by the foundation to be part of a "Community Creativity Cohort" that will help inform the Bush Foundation's endeavors in the arts.

"By working closely with the Community Creativity Cohort, we hope to increase our understanding of [the challenges they face] and thereby strengthen our future efforts to support work that meaningfully engages people in the arts and integrates arts into public life," the foundation said.

The charter school has worked with State Farm Insurance Co., a sponsor, on public service campaigns that include Click 4 Life, which encouraged seat belt use, and 26 Seconds, which set out to reduce high school dropout rates, contributing a song, "Take Control."

"We take being a part of the Bush Foundation Community Creativity Cohort very seriously," Tony Simmons, the school's executive director, said in a news release. "We will continue to work with our students and partners in providing a true 21st century education for our students while making the world a better place by using their public art."

The cohort project runs six to nine months, and will require its 16 participants to write monthly reflections on the progress of their work, the foundation's website states.

Other grant recipients include the Native American Community Development Institute, Center for Hmong Arts and Talent, the Children's Theatre Company, Lanesboro Arts and the Matthews Opera House & Arts Center.

Community members are invited to help Burnsville High School students build and plant the Giving Garden from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the high school.

The garden expanded last fall to a permanent area on the west end of the high school campus. On Saturday, volunteers will be building a fence and planting vegetables. Volunteers will get a bucket and beans to plant while supplies last. Lunch is provided for all-day helpers.

The garden's goal is to show the community how to grow food and to help serve families that don't have access to fresh produce. This year, participants hope the garden will yield 1,000 pounds of food for local nonprofit 360 Communities.

In the event of poor weather, a makeup day is scheduled for May 9.

Erin Adler

At the free event, participants can explore American Indian heritage and culture. Highlights will include artisan exhibits, demonstrations, college recruitment, community and curriculum resources, and contemporary Native American dancing and drumming.