01 — Music for the Cause

Take Note Colorado is a statewide initiative to provide equitable access to musical instruments and instruction to every K‑12 student in Colorado. They support programs that are inclusive, student-centered, and culturally responsive and empower all students to participate in music.

Take Note Colorado.

02 — Mindful Awareness

In the work of Kennedy Pugh, both mindfulness and awareness are essential. In fact, Kennedy’s journey to understanding the mind and how to work with it is based on the synergy between the practices of mindfulness and awareness. Let’s have a closer look at the collaborative effort behind the production No One Hears Unless You Scream.

The Arts Academy is committed to doing theatrical presentations that not only entertain but bring thought provoking issues that can help young audiences deal with topics and pressures that have a limited forum for discussion. The District has sanctioned the presentation of “No One Hears Unless You Scream” to be preformed at all the D70 high schools and possible middle school performances to begin the conversation about suicide prevention and anti-bullying. Sixteen actors and six technicians bring this moving drama to the stage in a 45-minute presentation with a 30-minute post show Q&A opportunity. The District will have all staff psychologists on hand to assist anyone in need of support.

03 — Documentary Filmmaking

Documentary filmmaking is a non-fiction style of filmmaking that seeks to document some aspect of reality. This can be done for education, preservation, and entertainment purposes. Kennedy Pugh chooses subject matter that he is passionate about, and a great documentary can be about any non-fiction, real-world subject. Kilroy and the Boy Soldier is a story close to home and this documentary film is about Kennedy’s father who enters WWII at the age of 14.

"AFTER AN OLD WORLD WAR II JOURNAL IS DISCOVERED BY THE AUTHOR'S SON, HE SETS OUT TO TELL HIS FATHER'S STORY OF SERVICE IN THE US ARMY AT THE AGE OF JUST 14. THIS LEADS TO OTHER SOLDIERS OF THE DIFFERENT WARS THROUGH OUT YEARS DISCUSSING THE SIMILARITIES OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A SOLDIER AND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RETURN TO A POST WAR AMERICA. AS THE EXPERIENCES OF MODERN DAY IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN MIRROR WHAT IS WRITTEN BY A SOLDIER 75 YEARS AGO THE TRUTH OF WHAT OCCURS AS A SOLDIER IN COMBAT AND THE REALITY THAT FOLLOW UPON THE RETURN HOME ARE REVEALED."

Kilroy and the Boy Soldier Website

04 — Performing Arts

The performing arts encourages creatives to explore their emotions, expand their imagination and helps them develop their own, unique voice. Each discipline of music, dance and drama engage a child's brain, body and emotions in different ways to encourage their confidence and find joy in self-expression. Kennedy is both a professional performing artist and a teacher. Here you can learn about his latest productions and get tickets.

What does beauty mean to someone who doesn’t have it?

Nobel Prize and Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's is a story of 11- year-old Pecola Breedlove who wants nothing more than to be loved by her family and schoolmates. Instead, she faces constant ridicule and abuse. Blaming her dark skin, she prays for blue eyes, sure that love will follow. With rich language and bold vision, this story examines the standards of beauty, a young girl’s coming of age, and the devastating events she endures.

Toni Morrison’s Profound and Unrelenting Vision

“The Bluest Eye,” which was published fifty years ago, cut a new path through the American literary landscape by placing black girls at the center of the story.

The New Yorker | By Hilton Als | January 27, 2020

This article also includes an audio download so that you can hear the story.