ROCA, Inc.
101 Park StreetChelseaMA02150
617-889-5210617-889-2145

Program: ROCA Chelsea, ROCA Revere Year Started: 1988 Focus: Multidisciplinary Arts Youth Served: 150 Ages: 12-21 Budget: $150,000 ROCA, Inc. operates two innovative youth and community development programs in Chelsea and Revere, Massachusetts, two of the smallest and poorest cities in the state. Through a combination of interdisciplinary arts and recreational activities, health programs, educational and vocational programs, street outreach, leadership skills training and community organizing, ROCA, Inc.'s youth development programs teach young people how to be leaders in their own lives as well as in the community. Arts programs are free, multilingual (English, Spanish and Khmer) and fully integrated into other programming. Classes are offered in African textiles, Cambodian and Latin dance, painting, video, theater, hip-hop dance, clay and more. Classes are held for a 1- to 2-hour period on a trimester schedule and are taught by professional artists and peer leaders who have apprenticed with professionals. The classes also are attended by youth trainers who provide instruction in leadership and health promotion in the context of the arts program. Additionally, ROCA, Inc.'s health peer leaders and community service programs utilize the arts to deliver messages through theater/discussion presentations, videos and visual arts projects. All participants are required to perform community service during the semester. At the end of each semester, youth present art exhibitions and performances to the community free-of-charge. According to program administrators, these events and activities are helping young people gain the skills and experiences needed to make constructive choices about their lives. They are staying in school, going on to college, demonstrating better coping skills and making a difference in their communities.