Art nonprofi t starts GoFundMe
Decade old org. works with artists living in underserved communities
HYPERTENSION
STUDY
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,44 NOVEMBER 13-19, 2020 BTR
Bronx Center residents participate in its fourth “Shelter in Place” event.
Photos courtesy of Bronx Center
BY JASON COHEN
On Oct. 28, the Bronx Center did
its fourth “Shelter in Place” meal
due to an overall push from the residents.
This time, the Center’s residents
were treated to food from El
Nuevo Pollo Sabroso located on
Westchester Avenue.
Tasty foods included pollo al horno
(roasted chicken), arroz con gandules
(rice and beans) and platano maduro
(sweet fried plantain) with a selection
of beverages like water and juices. After
the meal, residents were served
coffee and tea with cake.
“If COVID did anything this year, it
created the “Shelter in Place” outings
and the residents really look forward
to these events,” said Diane Garofola,
recreation director at the Bronx Center.
“Our Administrator Jeff Sicklick
has also become a fan.”
BY JASON COHEN
A decade ago, lifelong
Bronx resident Amira Mustapha
founded Art Defi ned
Productions, a nonprofi t that
caters to artists living in underserved
communities.
Among its slate of arts
programming, Art Defi ned
offers free poetry, fi lm and
playwriting workshops led
by award-winning authors
and directors. Typically,
these workshops along with
an open mic night take place
once a month, but since
the pandemic, programming
has drastically increased
due to people being
shuttered home.
“Art Defi ned sought ways
to continue efforts in bringing
arts education and performance
to the community,”
Mustapha said. “Through
online platforms like Zoom
and Instagram Live, we are
able to bring the arts to anyone
right in the comfort of
their own living rooms.”
However, it has been a
struggle to pay the teachers
and guest who participate
and money is tight as it is for
many organizations in the
art world. The nation’s largest
nonprofi t organization
serving creative writers, Poets
& Writers, usually funds
Art Defi ned but it is also fi -
nancially strapped by due to
the coronavirus.
So sensing the urgency to
keep the nonprofi t alive, Mustapha
recently launched a
GoFundMe and has raised
$740 so far.
“We are humbled at the
fact that we can now meet the
needs of those who traditionally
were not able to attend
our workshops, but because
of this global pandemic,
they are now able to do so,”
she said. “Now that’s seeing
the silver lining in this dark
cloud. With your support, we
will continue to extend our
reach and provide hope for
those in need.”
Mustapha told the Bronx
Times that while the Bronx
does not have Broadway or
Carnegie Hall, many people
ranging from college students
to middle age adults
attend the programs. In
fact, since going virtual, it
has spawned new relationships
with local and professional
artists from across
the United States and overseas,
including arts enthusiasts
from the UK, India and
South Africa.
“People need an escape
to develop their art,” she explained.
“Programs like this
are what’s important.”
A virtual event with Art Defi ned Courtesy of Amira Mustapha
Bronx Center treats
residents to Latin cuisine
Living with Hypertension?
CHEAR Center is conducting a Clinical Research Study
for Volunteers with Hypertension
Qualified Volunteers must:
• Be at least 18 years old with Hypertension
• Be taking Hypertension medications on a regular basis
• Have blood pressure of 130/80 or greater but less
than 180/110
• Not work night shifts
QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS:
• May receive compensation for time and travel
• Will receive study related medications and
examinations at no cost
If interested please call us at:
917-540-4645