Tuning Up with ACAT
It all begins with an idea.
On Tuesdays at ACAT it’s all about getting in tune. The Violin Class meets at 3:00, and they spend a while, sometimes half the class, working on tuning up. At 4:00, the Guitar and Ukulele Class meets, and it’s the same story, although this class has been meeting for several weeks longer and is getting better at this routine. I’ve also noticed that it is harder for the students in Music Nuts and Bolts class on Thursdays to maintain a sense of pitch when we work on singing the scale.
In “normal” times, when we are all together in one classroom, the teacher might tune the instrument for the student, or be able to demonstrate much more easily which direction and how much to turn the tuning pegs. I would sing along, or play on the piano, to help the students hear where they are going in the scale. None of this “works” on Zoom, which likes it better when only one person makes sound at a time!
So, the challenge for us teachers becomes how to communicate better verbally, and to have the patience to repeat instructions and demonstrations many more times than we are used to. The challenge for the students is to pay attention more closely, and to listen better than they might be used to. I’m pleased to say that everyone is rising to these challenges, and we are learning better each week how to “do ACAT” online!
This is another lesson that our ACAT students can apply in their lives as they grow to be more confident members of the community: communicate better, listen carefully, and above all, be patient with the process!
Dinah’s House During COVID-19
It all begins with an idea.
When COVDI -19 first started in March 2020, some of the women in Dinah’s House felt lost because they did not know what to do with their children when the schools suddenly closed. Plus they needed to go to work to support their families. Most of the women had no experience working with before, so offered support through video calls. Slowly women learned the basic steps how to use a computer: from how to turn on a computer, how to connect to WiFi and how to login to meetings. We are so happy that we were able to help all the families in need and to listen to all the new problems and obstacles that came with covid-19.
With generous donations from our community, our Program Director, Angela Soto, can connect with 5-10 women per week via phone calls.
Thank you!
Welcome to our new website!
It all begins with an idea.
In 2018, The Reverend Jane Bearden, (then Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church) and other leaders formed Urban Bridges, Inc to serve as a non-profit administrative umbrella for Trinity’s two ministries: Academy of Creative Arts at Trinity and Dinah’s House.
It has been a long journey…setting up our legal status as a 501c3, assembling a Board of Directors, creating this new website and so much more. Along the way we’ve learned that ACAT and Dinah’s House have important roles in Haverhill serving women and youth who are too often forgotten or pushed aside.
We look forward to continuing our work in 2021!