HAMDEN, CT — December 18, 2025 — Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) is pleased to announce it has received a $500 Spark Good Local Grant from Walmart Store #3545 in Hamden to support creative, cultural arts learning programs for children and families in the Hamden community.
This funding will support AFLCT’s delivery of arts workshops, residencies, and cultural performances throughout Hamden during the 2025-26 school year. Programs will take place in schools and community settings, including early childhood centers, elementary schools, and Hamden Middle School.
Led by AFLCT’s diverse roster of professional Teaching Artists, programming will include storytelling, music, dance, puppetry, and poetry. These interactive experiences are designed to inspire creativity, strengthen self-expression, and build a sense of belonging while supporting school culture and student engagement. More than 1,000 young people are expected to be served, with a focus on students from low-income households and students of color who often face barriers to accessing high-quality arts learning opportunities.
“We are grateful to Walmart’s Hamden store for investing in arts learning that directly benefits local students and families,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director of Arts for Learning Connecticut. “Support through the Spark Good Local Grant program helps ensure that creative, enriching experiences remain accessible to young people in our own community.”
Walmart’s Spark Good Local Grants program supports nonprofit organizations that are making a meaningful impact in their local communities. AFLCT’s Hamden-based programming aligns closely with this mission by fostering creativity, community connection, and inclusive learning opportunities through the arts.