On April 1, the Tucson Jewish Community Center (The J) welcomed long-standing, local non-profit Arts for All Inc., to the organization under the umbrella of its Disability Program Services department.
For 36 years, under the outstanding leadership of Executive Director Marcia Berger, Arts for All, Inc. has been serving the Tucson community with innovative programs that combine the arts and human services. These programs help children and adults with or without disabilities build confidence, gain meaningful relationships, and develop performing and visual arts skills through specialized offerings. These include an Adult Day Program, Out-of-School Time, Summer Arts Camp, Laser Art Technique Program, and the Arts for All, Inc. Dance Company.
“Arts are the key to reaching people,” says Berger, “I’ve never met a person that some form of arts didn’t touch, whether it’s music or drama or art or ceramics.”
In addition to helping expand The J’s arts programs, as one of a handful of JCCs in the country with a day program for people with disabilities, the integration will make The J the largest provider of day programs for people with disabilities in Southern Arizona.
Together, both organizations can leverage their strengths to bolster their individual, and now collective pledge to provide the highest quality programs and services in a safe and secure environment for all people of all ages.
“The J is proud to have Arts for All as a key part of the programming at The J. The J has a deep commitment to working with people with disabilities and a long history of strong programming in Arts and Culture. Arts for All is truly a perfect fit, as we continue to make the J a space and place for all people of all ages.” says Todd Rockoff, President and CEO of the Tucson J.
Arts for All programs will remain at the current facility on Oracle Rd. and will continue under the direct leadership of Director Frank Hernandez. Berger is joining the J’s team as the new Director of Elder Adult Programming and Development Associate.
“On behalf of the board, we are thrilled to welcome the award-winning Arts for All program into the JCC family of programs to help better serve a critical community need. We are especially grateful to the staff and board members of both organizations who worked to make this vision a reality,” says Tucson J Board Chair, Sarah Singer.
