THEARC is expanding! Phase III to include children's health center, boy's school, pre-school, art gallery, black box theater & cafe!

The Advoc8te is very excited to share this news! In addition to my work as the blogger here I am also the Director of Marketing and Community Engagement for the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) in Ward 8.  I have spent the past six months meeting with members of the community, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and community groups to share with them the news of THEARC's planned expansion and solicit their feedback and ideas. So much wonderful information came out of those sessions that we can honestly say this is a community labor of love.  After ten years of service to the Ward 7 and Ward 8 community, providing free or reduced cost access to arts, education, health care and social services we are happy to announce we are growing! 

A lot of progress has been made but more work needs to be done which is why Building Bridges Across the River, the nonprofit that manages THEARC is pleased to announce the addition of three new partners in the Phase III building: The Bishop Walker School for Boys, Appletree Institute and The Phillips Collection. Together these nonprofits will be providing a tuition-free school for boys, a pre-school and early education innovation center and free community arts classes.

THEARC Phase III: Entrance for black box theater, Children's National Health Center at THEARC and AppleTree Institute

In addition, Children's National Health Systems will be relocating from their current space at THEARC's main building and will have double the space in the new Phase III facility. In their new space, Children's National will provide expanded services in mental health and asthma care! The new building will also feature a black box theater that will become the permanent home of the Frederick Douglass animation and the I CAN @THEARC Theater Internship program for east of the river youth! The expansion plan will also include renovation of Children's National's current space at THEARC to turn it into a teaching kitchen to instruct students on food handling and certification and health eating classes. The renovated space will be home to a new cafe that will provide dining options to the community.

THEARC Phase III: Entrance for The Bishop Walker School for Boys, a 100% tuition-free school for boys

THEARC Phase III project is scheduled to be completed in 2017. A special groundbreaking ceremony will be taking place on Thursday, October 22nd at 11am at THEARC. If you can, please join us as we celebrate this newest resource for Ward 7 and Ward 8 families! Go HERE to RSVP. 

To learn more about THEARC's Phase III Expansion, Washington Business Journal has the details. 

Go HERE to read the full article by Michael Neibauer.