Non-profit promotes art, community in Oregon Hill

ograms exist for children. SynerGeo, in Oregon Hill, not only employs students to offer free art and other outreach efforts in a historically low-income area – it offers community.

One part of SynerGeo is community outreach. They do art and music programs with neighborhood children, operate a teen center, host monthly community dinners and initiate other efforts to make a positive impact – such as coat drives.

“We do this to help promote dialog and to build community with one another,” Director Bonnie Hofmeyer stated in an e-mail. “Many times we don’t get to meet people just one block over. So, we provide the space for community building to grow.”

The second part of the organization is Jonah House. Every year, four residents are selected to live and work together. This is designed to be a year of personal reflection and immersion into the community’s needs.

“Together as a staff and residents, we run programs and work to accomplish the set goals,” Hofmeyer said. “The residents meet weekly to share meals, chores and household responsibilities. I like to refer to it as a year of discernment where the residents figure out what they want to do with their lives.”

Katie Cowles, VCU student, Jonah House resident and SynerGeo volunteer director says the residency allows them not only to provide services to Oregon Hill but to develop a better understanding of life in the area.

“We do the program with the kids from the neighborhood and then we live in the neighborhood too,” Cowles said. “So we … know kind of what it’s like to live in the neighborhood that the kids are from and the needs of the community. So you’re full force in the non-profit life.”

Hofmeyer said SynerGeo was formed in 2000 and started its Artsplosion program after doing surveys in the neighborhood. Founder Bill Berry asked members in the community what they needed. Interest was expressed in art and music programs for their children.

“Children need art and music stimulation,” Hofmeyer said. “The exposure to the arts helps children to explore their world, learn about other worlds, express and process the world that they live in. We find it helps build self-esteem and strengthens their confidence.”

John Bliss, an art student and arts program co-director at SynerGeo, said this is the most fun he has had in a job. He says the organization has given him an opportunity to explore art education as a career. According to Bliss, art is important for children, especially those who might not be inclined toward basic academics like math and science.

“I think that it really allows the kids to discover their own potential,” Bliss said. “At school, the first programs that are going to be cut are art and music programs. Not every kid out there is going to be a math whiz … Being able to allow some of these kids to find out that they’re good at something – to have positive reinforcement that they might not be getting anywhere else is something that really just brightens a kid’s day and makes them feel better about themselves.”

Music Director Bean Weatherford, says SynerGeo uses their art and music programs as a way to introduce kids to other cultures.

“It lets them know about awesome cultures around the world. We did Appalachian Folk music and I brought my fiddle and played a song and they started dancing and jumping and going wild.”

Weatherford said SynerGeo’s programs are a fun outlet for the staff and children alike.

“Art and music are just like playing on the playground –
there are no rules to it,” Weatherford said. “Doing it as adults, it’s one of our few last glimmering shots at childhood. It’s amazing.”

One hard part of running the organization, according to Hofmeyer, is funding.

“It is very competitive to go after grant money,” Hofmeyer said. “There are so many organizations that offer quality programs and funding is limited.”

Despite the challenge of funding, Hofmeyer says being involved with SynerGeo is a worthwhile experience.

“We have been able to work with some pretty compassionate young adults and get them involved in creating and running our programs,” Hofmeyer said. “Doing all this on a shoestring budget can be stressful but it is definitely worth it.”

Hofmeyer said the organization has been working with AmeriCorps for the past six years. According to its Web site, AmeriCorps is a blanket organization formed during the Clinton administration to consolidate various community service and non-profit initiatives of past administrations. AmeriCorps works locally and nationally to promote intensive community work and help provide funding and manpower to qualifying organizations.

“I started out as an AmeriCorps member … and in 2004 became director of this organization,” Hofmeyer said. “It’s been a very humbling experience for me. I see people giving so much to help others – it leaves you speechless.”

Through AmeriCorps, Synergeo is able to provide a living allowance for full and part-time workers as well as an education award at the end of the year intended to pay for college, graduate school or student loans.

For Cowles, the hard part of the job can be learning how to handle children who act out.

“You never know what their home life is like, so if they’re crazy and screaming and pushing … there might be something behind that behavior,” Cowles said. “I really struggle to take a deep breath and realize that there might be something else, some anger issue there.”

Cowles also says they are always in need of volunteers willing to work a few hours each week or during special events.

Bliss said [sometimes working with young children] can be hard, especially if they are not interested in the planned activities.

“Sometimes it is a little crazy, but you’ve got to expect that … because kids really aren’t prejudiced about what they’re going to say,” Bliss said. “They’re going to tell you if they like it or if they don’t like it, if they’re having fun or if they’re not. So, you have to go with it and roll with it.”

[For Hofmeyer] he most memorable part of SynerGeo is working with the residents.

“Being around them so much, you get to see the passion they have for people and art,” Hofmeyer said. “They are willing to try just about anything creative to get kids and volunteers involved with programs. They have so much heart and want to do so much, it takes my breath away sometimes.”