SPRING FUNDRAISING
P. R. A. A. D. A.
Pat Rosby Armstead's
Academy of Dramatic Arts
PRAADA, an acronym for Pat Rosby Armstead’s Academy of Dramatic Arts. Praada Inc. began when founder Pat Rosby had a vision coupled with a strong desire to reach the world through performance art. She along with two ministers, one which was to be her husband of 30 years decided to move forward. Praada Inc. started in 1973 when the also actress/playwright Patricia Rosby (1946-2006) incorporated in San Mateo California with Emanuel Armstead (1946-2006) and Sam Carter. At that time Emanuel and Pat were only dating. But Pat often commented that she always knew that Emanuel would be her husband deep in her heart. Praada Inc. has been in existence for over three decades and has a proven track record in Southern California of helping students learn to read and enter/qualify for college. Although it was almost five years untill they were actually married, their work together had already begun. Through the years Praada Academy developed into a scholastic and preparatory academy providing quality education to America's youth -reaching out to students with special needs and talents.
Praada Academy places a keen emphasis on theater, literature science and math. It is our goal at PA to implement a systemic approach to comforting and rehabilitating students who suffer the ill effects of living in an impoverished community. At Praada we believe that there are resources within that can change the outside world.
This includes reaching out and expanding our boarders to encompass forgotten students in America, namely those with disabilities or challenges –to introduce them to excitement of learning through the creative process. PA focuses more on the individual rather than the group. Because each child is different, no remedy designed for groups will yield such positive results as community, peer and mentor support. We will use all available resources for the furthering of the child including peer/mentor support groups. In many ways PA hopes to be a second chance school developing creative cognitive confidence through formative years. Most importantly the school seeks to break the economic barriers and create a level playing ground for education.
The directives are as follows:
• Provide an educational choice for parents students, and community members
• Incorporate and provide service satisfaction
• Ensure a school where students and parents feel connected and success is proven
• Offer annual teacher and administration training
• Serve as community resource center for greater Atlanta,GA; Los Angeles, CA; and Tampa, Fl areas
• Provide incentives for staff to reach performance benchmarks
• Utilize character education
• Design and implement comprehensive and enriching learning curriculum
• Provide training and trade courses for children and residents in surrounding areas
• Provide a low-cost/no-cost learning
• Maximize learning and creative resources
• Provide a functional arts library and voice recording studio
• Provide Art, Modern Dance, African Dance, Voice classes, Theater production
• Provide opportunities for parents to sit on the board, volunteer in classroom, and have a voice in the community
THE ARTS
The arts are an important part of creative learning at Praada. We are excited to offer music, voice, orchestra, theater, drawing and dance --just some of the arts that PA offers. Lack of resources makes it hard for public schools to keep these programs in the curricula. However, at Praada we are developing innovative methods of teaching through the arts.
With these goals of rehabilitating or reaching new students each year, whether they are disabled, held back or returned school dropouts in metro Atlanta, we will provide minimal or no cost instruction with low student/teacher ratio. Working with qualified educators who are dedicated to the developing of student’s minds, society as a whole will benefit. With a low student/teacher ratio schools will be less crowded and students will have a fair chance at education. Praada Academy will take traditional learning to an individualized level thus promoting creativity. From our grading policies to extra-curricular activities, we develop the interpersonal skills used for effective learning.
We redirect youth and giving them a second chance. Society as whole will benefit. Providing outlets for those interested in all forms of art and art appreciation, Praada Academy Inc. teams up with a plethora of community supporters and volunteers to keep progressing. Join us in taking learning to "a whole nother" level!
Praada Academy places a keen emphasis on theater, literature science and math. It is our goal at PA to implement a systemic approach to comforting and rehabilitating students who suffer the ill effects of living in an impoverished community. At Praada we believe that there are resources within that can change the outside world.
This includes reaching out and expanding our boarders to encompass forgotten students in America, namely those with disabilities or challenges –to introduce them to excitement of learning through the creative process. PA focuses more on the individual rather than the group. Because each child is different, no remedy designed for groups will yield such positive results as community, peer and mentor support. We will use all available resources for the furthering of the child including peer/mentor support groups. In many ways PA hopes to be a second chance school developing creative cognitive confidence through formative years. Most importantly the school seeks to break the economic barriers and create a level playing ground for education.
The directives are as follows:
• Provide an educational choice for parents students, and community members
• Incorporate and provide service satisfaction
• Ensure a school where students and parents feel connected and success is proven
• Offer annual teacher and administration training
• Serve as community resource center for greater Atlanta,GA; Los Angeles, CA; and Tampa, Fl areas
• Provide incentives for staff to reach performance benchmarks
• Utilize character education
• Design and implement comprehensive and enriching learning curriculum
• Provide training and trade courses for children and residents in surrounding areas
• Provide a low-cost/no-cost learning
• Maximize learning and creative resources
• Provide a functional arts library and voice recording studio
• Provide Art, Modern Dance, African Dance, Voice classes, Theater production
• Provide opportunities for parents to sit on the board, volunteer in classroom, and have a voice in the community
THE ARTS
The arts are an important part of creative learning at Praada. We are excited to offer music, voice, orchestra, theater, drawing and dance --just some of the arts that PA offers. Lack of resources makes it hard for public schools to keep these programs in the curricula. However, at Praada we are developing innovative methods of teaching through the arts.
With these goals of rehabilitating or reaching new students each year, whether they are disabled, held back or returned school dropouts in metro Atlanta, we will provide minimal or no cost instruction with low student/teacher ratio. Working with qualified educators who are dedicated to the developing of student’s minds, society as a whole will benefit. With a low student/teacher ratio schools will be less crowded and students will have a fair chance at education. Praada Academy will take traditional learning to an individualized level thus promoting creativity. From our grading policies to extra-curricular activities, we develop the interpersonal skills used for effective learning.
We redirect youth and giving them a second chance. Society as whole will benefit. Providing outlets for those interested in all forms of art and art appreciation, Praada Academy Inc. teams up with a plethora of community supporters and volunteers to keep progressing. Join us in taking learning to "a whole nother" level!
DirectorMore on Pat Rosby Armstead
Sonya is an educational innovator, non profit expert and the founder of several schools and learning centers. She created a unique learning model that scaffolds knowledge acquisition in academic subjects through metamorphic stages via performance arts. Through These programs she offer intensives “camps” as a means for children to engage in their own learning empowerment.
She has BA in Theater and Creative writing from The University of California, Riverside and Masters of Education Degree in Special Education/cross categorical. I have worked in the educational field for more than 25 years. She has worked with nonprofits since 2006. She finds joy in providing practical nonprofit education workshops to clients in the community. She assists business in all sectors but, specializes in helping those in the area of art, children/youth, religion, housing and social programs. 
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Pat Rosby Armstead was an actress, lecturer, playwright and author of such works as Freedom's Song, Poems of Comfort Encouragement and Special Occasions, Season's Greetings and The African American Woman/The Journey 1500-Present. She offered consolation, warmth and encouragement to the suffering world, the outcast and hurting. She was once quoted saying "...any amount of comfort to help the downcast, the weary traveler, the sick and afflicted the lame, the wounded soldier, the discouraged saint to be able stand still and see [their salvation] is worth the effort."
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Ms. Armstead was an employee of the late Jim Henson's Sesame Street and attended Portland State University, California State University at Northridge, Anderson University and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. She was married for more than 30 years to the love of her life. She and her husband were born the same year and departed the same year only months apart. She left a legacy with her children Sonya, Jonathan and Marc.
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