Expanding and Enriching the Arts in Waterloo and Beyond
Mission
The mission of the North End Cultural Center (NECC) is to develop and to showcase the artistic talents and achievements of those who live on the northeast side of Waterloo and to utilize the arts to enhance the development and success of the area’s youth and adults.
Vision
Our vision is for the NECC to become a strong and vital center for arts programming, with a special emphasis on promoting and supporting the arts within the African American community.
We believe that the arts can be truly transformative in promoting individual and community growth and well-being, and we want to be an important part of that transformation. There are already many creative artists at work in this community, but we can enable them to do their work more effectively by providing vital spaces and organizational support, and we can also stimulate further involvement in artistic endeavors by other members of the community.
Goal
The current goal of the NECC is to expand our organization capacity through adding professional staff. This will enable us to continue our current programs successfully and to support new artistic endeavors in the community. With adequate staffing, the NECC can become a vital center that fosters a variety of artistic achievements in the Waterloo community. We are also proposing some new programs for which we have planning in the works.
The Community Need
Current arts programming in Waterloo is open to all residents. However, the focus of these programs is necessary on broader audiences and offerings. Because of the historical exclusion of Black identities and creative expression in American society, programming that is focused on showcasing these cultural elements provides an important service to both the Black community and the community as a whole.
Recent events in our society have focused concern on issues of racial equality, and a number of local initiatives are taking place in the areas of economic development and criminal justice. The arts are sometimes portrayed as less “substantive” than other areas, but we believe that they are integral to bringing the community forward. A 2018 study of New York neighborhoods by the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice found that neighborhoods with greater cultural resources had significantly less crime and child abuse and that resident youth had higher English and Math scores. The positive impact of the arts on school performance has also been documented by many other studies.
In sum, the arts instill pride and confidence in community members, and they present the Black community in a positive light, helping to counteract negative stereotypes. Artistic expression, particularly among young people, can help set them on a positive path towards achievement in other areas of their lives.
Current Programs
The NECC currently operates two programs; the North End Arts and Music Fest and the Summer Hip Hop Literacy Program. The steady support for these programs from a variety of funders in the community has been gratifying. These successful programs provide us with a proven track record of accomplishing what we set out to do.