NEWS from CAA
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June 2019 NEWS from CAA We are Different. We are Able. Mission CAA provides an equitable collegiate experience to Mayor Sam Liccardo inspires the crowd at CAA's Visionary Luncheon at Scott’s Seafood adults with special needs who historically have not had access to college education. Momentum is accelerating for this lifelong collegiate model Vision The first half of 2019 has been truly historic Community collaborations continue to grow Empowering the student body for the College of Adaptive Arts. Thanks to the and strengthen with the San Jose Museum of Art to creatively transform the way tremendous underwriting by Cisco, CAA was able New Terrains Project, which allowed CAA to the world views individuals to produce four ABC7 Bay Area LIFE segments produce its graduate theatre troupe to perform with disabilities. CAA creates featuring CAA and community partnerships, the Camping Trip at their beautiful venue. as well successful contributing citizens students and families, professors and staff, and CAA’s School of TV/Film’s 10th Annual Best of the through the arts. CAA’s quest to take this model nationwide to Fest Film Festival. The Latizmo Hip Hop Troupe Motto become the Special Olympics-type model in the DreamTeam and the Graduate Theatre Troupe Showcase Ability! education space. showcased their incredible dance and teamwork abilities at sjDANCEco festival and at STEAMfest On January 10, we launched our ten-month of Redwood City. The Sign Language, Adaptive Epic Party celebrating our 10th year of existence. Guitar, and Children’s Music troupes were received Founders Executive Board of Each month we will feature stories about CAA’s Dr. Pamela Lindsay, EdD/CI Directors by a standing ovation from 400+women educator beginnings, students, donors and supporters, DeAnna Pursai, Exec. Dir. Ali Barekat leaders at the State Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) and CAA professors, all of whom are pouring Board of Directors Reverend David Bird Convention in May. Adrien LeBiavant, Chair David Cross their hearts and souls into making this equitable Toni Cook Piero Dusa collegiate model a viable reality for adults with CAA continues to grow and flourish thanks to the Stephen A. Fiss Fleet Easton special needs who are hungry to learn past age 22. collective goodwill, spirit, and belief that education Mimi Giannini Omair M. Farooqui truly is for all adults who want to continue to In March, CAA received a Certificate of Sandee Raval-Kiehl Hubert Gotuaco grow and learn and to become the best versions of Commendation from Mayor Sam Liccardo and the Nicole Matarangas Geri Jewell themselves. Thank you for your steadfast belief in San Jose city council. In April—Autism Awareness Teresa Montes de Oca Sam T. Liccardo this model. Please join us at Saratoga Springs on Month—we were honored with a Congressional Ivan Rodriguez David Maley 10/10 for a #CAA10YearsStrong Epic Party of the Joe Siecinski Michael Pritchard Certificate of Recognition by United States decade! Jen Mulry, ex-officio Blair Williamson Congressman Ro Khanna for providing lifelong Gail Williamson collegiate education to adults who historically have not had access to higher education. The Rotary Club of San Jose Silicon Valley Foundation gave us a grant for new classroom tables and chairs. And the Office of Cultural Affairs awarded the College @CAACardinals of Adaptive Arts a TakepART grant to build out caacardinals the School of Fine Arts. In May, Mayor Sam Liccardo spoke at CAA’s collegeofadaptivearts sold-out Giving Luncheon. Donations tripled over collegeofadaptivearts that of previous years, thanks to the exquisite talents and skills of Dee Dee Kiesow of BenEvent www.collegeofadaptivearts.org Auctions. The audience was spellbound by 1401 Parkmoor Ave., Studio 260 compelling speeches from CAA film actor Oliver San Jose, CA 95126 Motiee and Cisco Executive Karen Sanders, who 408-538-3809 has been a steadfast supporter and underwriter of Trying out Adaptive Guitar [email protected] the College and its School of Health and Wellness. From the board Reflections on 10 years of growing this college model Ivan Rodriguez …from the journals of the founders I loved CAA as soon as I walked in. DeAnna’s daughter, Nina, remembers when Almaden YMCA, HOPE Services, and other the idea of a college for adults with disabilities generous community locales. The students There was something powerful about was born: and instructors worked hard to spread the College of Adaptive Arts. I was eager to get word about this collegiate model for adults of involved; I thought “maybe I can offer my It was 2008. I was in the back; DeAnna and all abilities, and the power of ongoing educa- theater training and experiences or help Pam were driving. DeAnna said, “You know, tional opportunity. In 2015, CAA was ac- out in any other way needed.” Shortly after we should start a college for adults with knowledged as an approved state program for our first visit, I talked to DeAnna and Pam differing abilities.” Pam, who was interested the adults served and we moved to our current about the possibility of getting involved. in developing a theatre arts program, replied, Cardinal “nest” thanks to Barry Swenson I had the privilege of becoming a Board “OK.” Pam suggested, “How about if we call it Builders. Member two months later. the College of Adaptive Arts?” DeAnna replied, “ O K .” Over the years, our student body has steadily In January, as the Graduate Theater class grown from 25...to 40...to 60...to 114 students rehearsed their play, the Camping Trip, What followed was brainstorming, research- enrolled this Spring ‘19 quarter. However, Professor Katie encouraged me to offer ing, writing a business plan, talking with a bigger story exists behind that number. acting notes to the students. Each week, parents of adults with special needs, more Most students enroll in multiple classes, and the students worked tirelessly, as we dug brainstorming. Homebase was a local coffee currently, they are filling over 425 seats at the deeper into their characters. And recently, shop where town hall-style meetings were physical and virtual campus. That’s over 425 volunteering during the play's preview at held. There were many moments of joy and individual, adaptive learning experiences that San Jose Museum of Art, I was as nervous as pride; one of DeAnna’s was receiving a note- our amazing professors plan every quarter, I used to be as a young actor. pad emblazoned with the CAA logo that Pam sketched. gathering resources and developing engaging I believe in CAA’s mission of providing an curricula. We’ve also grown from offering a equitable collegiate experience to adults The 2009 inaugural school year began with handful of classes to 10 Schools of Instruction, with special needs. I believe in the students’ small group classes at Pam’s house. By the welcoming our new School of Business to competence and unique abilities. I believe summer, CAA had received its charitable the line-up during our 10th year. All of these in a culture of active engagement, high organization status and moved the show to wonderful developments are due to a robust, expectations, and empowering students to Capitol Dance Company where a musical the- part-time staff of over 30 leaders and profes- expand their strengths while maintaining atre workshop class dubbed the “Showboaters” sors who teach over 40 courses each week. a safe space for creativity and expression. I served 12 students. By fall, more adults found We have a long way to go to bring this model believe in CAA. the College and the course offerings grew to include choir, guitar, songwriting, and visual into full fruition but today feel nothing but It is important for me to dedicate time to arts. In the fall of 2009, the de Oro Cupertino gratitude. We’ve made it #10YearsStrong. We an institution which can serve and teach Club invited the students to perform. Pam and are debt-free. We have a healthy and vibrant someone like my younger sister, who has DeAnna were so grateful for the opportunity community of learners, professors, and sup- Down Syndrome. College of Adaptive Arts to illuminate the students’ abilities; that trip porters. We are helping adults, their families, has become an essential part of my life. launched the development of CAA’s beloved and support team realize that there is so much That something powerful is the students, dance, music, and spirit squad community more out there for them, even after they make faculty/staff, parents and leaders of the touring ensembles. that profound transition out of the public College of Adaptive Arts. I am very excited school system at age 22. Since then, the students have consistently to continuously assist in the growth and be a elevated their work, goals, dreams, and ex- Each day looks a bit brighter than the previous part of the CAA community. pectations. Over the years, we’ve held classes day. Our hearts are full. Immeasurable thanks Warmly, Ivan Rodriguez, MFA at Capitol Dance Company, Randol School, for your belief in the CAA students, mission, Redwood City Senior Center, Starting Arts, and vision. UGMX Recording Studio, Trinity Cathedral Pam and De Church, Silver Creek Sportsplex, CCO, the CAA board member Ivan Rodriguez kicks off Broadcast personality Brian Adams is Sound check the Visionary Luncheon at Scott's Seafood interviewed for a CAA podcast Cardinal student highlight: Kaleah Maldonado When Kaleah Maldonado was three, her severely triggering her negative autistic parents learned that Kaleaha had Jacobsen tendencies. Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that only affects a few dozen families across the US. The Kaleaha’s ILS service referred the family to average life expectancy was two years of age.