HAMDEN, CT — December 17, 2025 — Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) is pleased to announce it has received a $1,000 grant from the Bloomfield Greater Together Community Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. This support will help launch Tell Your Story, an expressive arts learning initiative serving all 856 students in grades PK-8 at CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary School during the 2025-26 school year.
This program will engage students through a combination of school-wide performances and hands-on classroom workshops focused on storytelling, movement, poetry, and visual arts. These experiences are designed to strengthen self-expression, build confidence, deepen cultural connection, and support core academic learning. The school community is highly diverse, with 42.1% of students identifying as Hispanic/Latino, 34.7% as Black or African American, and more than 60% of students qualifying for Free or Reduced-Price Meals, making culturally responsive, inclusive arts programming especially meaningful.
Tell Your Story responds to essential needs within the school. By centering creativity and student voice, the program provides a joyful, engaging entry point for learners who benefit from additional support in building motivation, a sense of belonging, and communication skills. For many students, opportunities to see themselves represented in the arts or share their personal stories are limited outside of school, underscoring the value of this initiative.
The Bloomfield Greater Together Community Fund, established by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, supports projects that strengthen the Bloomfield community and empower residents to address local needs. For more information about the fund, please visit https://www.hfpg.org/donors/ways-to-give/community-funds/bloomfield.