Rockford Promise is honored to have been selected by the Rockford Area Arts Council as one of the recipients of the 2021 Community Arts Access Grant. With this grant of $2,316, Promise Scholars will have the opportunity to create a children’s book, “The Untold Adventures of Promise Scholars”. The book will be aimed at teaching fourth-grade students the importance of overcoming economic and social barriers to achieve higher education. Two of our artistically talented Scholars, Diana and Mariana, will be the illustrators. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Rockford Area Arts Council which receives support from the City of Rockford, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and its members.
Rockford Promise Scholars have experienced challenging circumstances in attending college. They want to share their experiences and encourage other students down the way. “Receiving this grant is a great opportunity for me as an artist since I’m able to express the stories and struggles of so many scholars by illustrating them. It gives me a chance to represent and inspire my community by giving a little back for everything I’ve been given!”- Diana Sanchez-Arrieta, 2019 Scholar.
Fourth graders at Lewis Lemon Elementary and Ellis Arts Academy will receive copies of the book later this year.