Who We Serve
Unchained Talent currently serves the students at the Lake Clifton High School Campus in northeast Baltimore City.
These young people have the dreams, potential and talent of any other group of young people, but were not being afforded the opportunity to develop those talents.
Unchained Talent was formed because we believe that every young person deserves access to the performing arts.
Through our experience working with the youth, it became clear that there was a lot more need than just a lack of performing arts...
In 2006,
- Poverty – 63% of Doris M. Johnson’s students qualified for the federal free meal program and 30% of the student population received special education services.
- Academic Under-Achievement – In the 2005-2006 academic year at Doris M. Johnson, 13.9% of students passed the english HSA exam and 8.5% passed the algebra HSA exam.
- School/Community Violence – Baltimore City Data Collaborative statistics show that we serve neighborhoods that rank among the highest for juvenile violent arrests and unemployment.
- Lack of Community Resources – Arts programs in Baltimore schools have often been cut in favor of vocational programs and standardized test preparation. At present, Unchained Talent is the only performing arts program available to this community.
