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[1/30/2010 SteppersUSA Daily News]
Giving Back In 2010
By Markie Bee
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Today's Steppers Beat column is sponsored by: Steppers West Associates "A Memorial Day Weekend Jam" starting May 28, 2010 through May 31, 2010 at The Plaza Hotel and Casino One Main St., in Las Vegas, NV, 89101. They are offering a 4 Day Package Deal for $80!
I'm a strong believer in giving back and have always encouraged steppers to do the same. Back when SteppersUSA was new website (It was just a discussion board with a calendar in 1894 1994 2004) one of the first items I posted was a request for stories about steppers and their contributions to the greater community.
A few years ago I started mentioning in this column that I felt there weren't enough organizations in our community actively doing something to make a difference. Since then, quite a few individuals and organizations have started to make their mark on society as Chicago style steppers.
These days' things are different in our community as Chicago style stepping has grown to be a dance with national and international implications. So has the number of individuals and organizations who are giving back.

 

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One such organization, "Steppin' Across America Foundation" (steppinacrossamerica.org) has begun to flourish in California. This 501c3 organization is lead by directors Yausmenda Ali-Bey, Angie Fain, and Anthony "Tykmyn" Allen and was founded in 2008.
To summarize here is what they say their organization is about (directly from the home page of their website):
"We provide community outreach services through seminars, publications, workshops, special events and activities that are geared towards improving communal relationships, wellness, economic stability, and addressing social issues.
We also offer arts-in-education programs designed to equip our youth with confidence, self-esteem, respect, and determination so that they can achieve the goals that they have set for themselves and become invaluable assets to our global community. And we do it through STEPPIN'...more specifically, Chicago Steppin', a social dance."
Further evidence of what they are doing in the community can be capsulated from an email I received on Facebook from their Facebook group…
"Our program Steppin' 4 Life is soaring and requests are pouring in for us to come to elementary, middle and high schools from Southern to Central California.
Milli & I with the help of Sam Parker are three weeks into our pilot program at Windsor Hills Magnet School (22- 4th graders) and Figueroa Street Elementary (30- 5th graders), and the kids are really taking to Chicago Steppin' well. Of course most feel like they should be doing turns and partnering up by now, but isn't that what the adults think too when they first start? lol
We have a very culturally and educationally diverse group of students, and the teacher's participation and reinforcement is amazing! Thank you Mrs. Smith and Ms. Wooten for opening your classrooms and trusting us with your children. We are teaching them self-respect, goal orientation, physical exercise, cultural appreciation, classroom camaraderie, and school pride.
California's budget deficit has caused most elective and extra-curricular activities to be cut from the schools out here. The Steppin' 4 Life program is offered free to campuses & is wholly funded by private donations, and state/federal grants.
Steppin' Across America Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit and all donations are 100% tax deductible. We ask that you would make a donation to help us be able to take on more schools in the Steppin' 4 Life program."
To donate to this organization click here or Mail checks or money orders to:
Steppin' Across America Foundation PO Box 91677 Los Angeles, California 90009
As Chicago style stepping continues to spread its wings, I'm sure many more stories like this will become the norm. I'll continue to highlight such stories as we progress into the next chapter of our dances progression into the mainstream of American culture.
 

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