Alabama State University’s cultural and educational programs received a $50,000 boost, thanks to a community service grant from State Sen. Kirk Hatcher. Split between two flagship initiatives, the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) and the National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African American Culture, the grant will drive new opportunities in arts, history and community engagement at the university.
Sen. Hatcher, represented by the university’s Col. (ret.) Gregory Clark, vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation, presented the grant at a ceremony at the university Alumni House. The checks were accepted by Dean Wendy R. Coleman of CVPA and Dean Janice Franklin of the National Center.
“It is an honor to be able to contribute to Alabama State University and to two of the university’s dynamic programs, which are its College of Visual and Performing Arts and its National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African American Culture,” Sen. Hatcher said. “The continuous impact that the university makes to the community is wonderful.”
For CVPA, the grant will support theater and dance productions, as well as its expanding summer camps.
“Senator Hatcher stipulated that $10,000 would go directly to the department of theater,” Coleman explained. “If you’ve seen any of our productions or shows, you’d know that they’re filled with spectacles and amazing costumes and that stuff costs money! So that $10,000 would support production and departmental expenses for the theater and dance department.”
The remaining $20,000 designated for CVPA will fund the college’s growing lineup of summer camps, which provide arts education and scholarships for underserved youth.
“We’re up to seven summer camps now, between the end of May until the middle of July,” Coleman shared. “All of that would support our camps, and it usually ends up becoming scholarships for underprivileged children.”
CVPA summer camps serve various age groups, with programs tailored to young children, teenagers, adults and individuals with disabilities.
“Our goal is to serve every part of the population during our summer camps,” Coleman said. “T.A.P.S. stands for theater, artists, performance and school for ages 6-12, while 3T, which stands for teaching through theater, is for teenagers.”
Coleman expressed deep gratitude for Sen. Hatcher’s continued support.
“When they called me and told me we had some money, I was so excited! We are so humbled that Senator
