Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Barriga.
Samuel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
After 6 short months of constant hard work, becoming a 501-c3 non-for profit organization, opening our own cultural center/studio, we now provide programing to 85 active members and counting. As president of the organization I have taken the social responsibility and a fulfilling need to give back to what the community and community programing has given me growing up. I will be forever grateful to those artists and educators who have selflessly and loyally accompanied me throughout these years.
Since I was a boy in my early childhood, I always wanted to dance, and always had the urge to create art. I remember telling my mother “one day I will dance and I will travel the world” as I happily danced and put my hands in my back; at the same time she cooked and did domestic chores around the house. I was a very active and mischievous child like many in our neighborhoods. Well let me tell you, I have danced in 8 different countries and counting, I have lived my best experiences dancing, met some of the most influential people in my life through dance. I have a lot of people to thank for that opportunity. From my teachers, dance instructors, educators, family and community, I had all the necessary support and positive influence as a child to love and create art. I will be forever grateful to have had that benefit, support and opportunity to be given a platform as a child to grow as an artist, express my self, feel important and live a healthy, confident, social life style
In behalf of CICA, we all share the same hope, enthusiasm, passion and desire that all children have the same opportunity I had. From this desire, CICA has given it’s self the task to transform Art (dance, music and visual arts) into a way of life, bringing to the kids a sense of importance and a sense of belonging. We offer a platform where kids can experience social growth and cultural pride through the arts. Bringing a positive reality to all children and young adults. A positive reality that in the absence of artistic opportunity it may be a negative one.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The need of financial sponsorship and grants has definitely been an issue running any type of arts program (music, dance, visual arts ) there will always be that need of materials that are essential to give a well rounded program.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Collaborative Institute of Cultural Arts story. Tell us more about the business.
Collaborative Institute of Cultural Arts (CICA) is a non-for profit organization that focuses on providing quality art education to children, youth, and adults, following a given set of strands (Art making, Art literacy, Cultural understanding, Social justice, Critical thinking and Community/family engagement). CICA’s main objective is to provide a well-rounded, ongoing cultural and social youth development program through cultural folkloric arts such as dance, music and visual arts, in harmonious congruence of a rigor discipline and adherence to assure the fulfillment of each participant’s set of artistic, academic and future career goals.
CICA counts with a professional and international Mexican folkloric dance company that focuses on the teaching, preservation and diffusion of Mexican folkloric dance, music and its culture. The folkloric dance company serves as platform for youth to practice and feel proud of both cultural identities as multi-cultural American. The folkloric dance company is an opportunity giver for our community and low-income participants to travel around the world, a program that gives beyond what their economic and social status can offer at this time.
With the help of generous sponsorship and parent donations Collaborative Institute of Cultural Arts strives to positively impact each of the artistic ensembles, and influence the change and life trajectory of socially needed children, deeply benefiting youth from all ethnic backgrounds. Developing responsible, positive, and contributing citizens, CICA strives for each participant to posses a high sense of importance in their home, self-esteem, auto efficiency, and self-cultural awareness in order to project themselves as humble, sensitive, and compassionate human beings towards our society. Participants will feel a personal and artistic ownership of the program, and the Collaborative Institute of Cultural Arts will continue to promote the contribution of our participants to future generations and communities.
Far more then learning how to successfully master the art of Mexican folkloric dance the students will be challenged and encourage to think critically about the meaning of identity while guiding them into the world of cultural curiosity. By providing them the tools, the students will then explore beyond their knowledge and will discover and revive past family traditions and customs. As the students engage in this art form, they will not only find links to their native culture but they will also build criteria and appreciation for the arts, themselves, increase positive social interaction, behavior, increase discipline and continue to contribute to the production of Mexican culture.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We are lucky to count with a lot of wonderful people who support the mission of the organization (parents, members, neighbors and close friends), without their countless time, help and dedication it would have been impossible to have accomplished what we have accomplished in such a short time.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4330 S Archer Ave Chicago IL 60623
- Phone: 7733949071
- Email: ciculturalarts@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cicachicago/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collaborative.institute.of.cultural.arts/?ref=bookmarks
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