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<br />About Your Organization <br /> <br />Description of the Proposer <br />OCCT AC is staffed by highly qualified credentialed teachers, artists and therapists certified <br />to provide services to children with and without special needs, There are 4-Full-time staff <br />and 25-Part-time staff who are employed in various classes and operations of the Center in <br />the following areas: Early Start and Pre-School Program; ArtlMusic/Dance/Technology <br />Instructors: Resource Specialist and Receptionists/Secretaries; Accounting & <br />Administrative Assistant: and volunteer Parent Committee. <br /> <br />Founded in 2000 the Center has quickly grown to be recognized as one of Orange County's <br />leading community builders and most successful new nonprofits for families of culturally <br />diverse backgrounds and limited resources. In our six and a half years of operation, <br />aCCTAC and its leadership have received numerous awards and recognition. This year, <br />OCCTAC won the prestigious Community Building Award by the City of Santa Ana and <br />was nominated for the Peter A. Hartman A ward for Successful Startups by the Children and <br />Families Commission of Orange County. <br /> <br />First and foremost. we educate and empower youth in Orange County's most at-risk, <br />underserved and diverse community through innovative after-school programs that build <br />self esteem, leadership skills, self discipline, good study habits and creative expression. <br />These low-cost programs integrate parents and children \"iith and without disabilities in a <br />nurturing, community-based environment that teaches respect, cultural diversity, disability <br />awareness and inclusion. Weare the only facility in Orange County that offers this <br />powerful combination of the arts, academics and creative therapies for children and youth <br />with and without disabilities. Our programs have cultivated many success stories, where. <br />students have improved their literacy tests scores; some of our High school dropout <br />students have re-enrolled in classes towards earning their diplomas and young mentors <br />providing support to assist in educating young children to succeed in school. <br /> <br />The Center has had a tremendous impact on Santa Ana youths and their families. It is a <br />catalyst for change and provides students and families access to new opportunities. By <br />offering a wide variety of support services to the students and their families; the Center <br />offers a holistic approach to learning by integrating creative learning strategies into all of <br />the classes and programs. The follO\ving are examples of OCCT AC programs: <br /> <br />. Social Justice Initiative & Technology Training for Santa Ana Youth <br />. After-School Arts-Music. Dance and Visual Arts <br />. After-School Learning Academy Program <br />. Media Lab & Technology Training <br />. Therapeutic l\rts <br />. Leadership & Support groups for parents & youth <br />. Family Counseling <br /> <br />Our parent committee, which meets regularly at the Center, has consistently increased in <br />size and strength since the center began. The parents have organized events and activities to <br />unite with the community and attract even more parent involvement with the school and <br />local businesses. They have initiated fundraisers to support the school and to further add to <br />the educational resources at OCCT AC. They also participate in the community education <br />