Bloco’s beat in jeopardy
An innovative Windsor youth program is in danger of shutting down, but not for lack of interest. Windsor Bloco needs funds.
Windsor Bloco is dressed and ready for the Day of the Dead celebration in Petaluma, 2010. (Photo courtesy of Dennis Bone)
Bloco is an award-winning youth after-school program that averages between 40-50 local youth ages 10 to 19. They perform Afro-Brazilian style music and dance, with hip-hop finding its way in as well.
“It has evolved into world hip-hop with a Brazilian flavor via Windsor, CA,” said Dennis Bone, Windsor Bloco program director.
“The concept comes from poorer African neighborhoods in Brazil. The Bloco’s main focus is strengthening and supporting community first. Being entertaining musically and visually is second,” said Bone.
The group participates in the community in a variety of ways, including performing at this year’s first Day of the Dead celebration in Windsor.
“Unfortunately we were having to face shutting down Windsor Bloco after 12 years,” said Bone. To continue operating, the group needs money to pay after-school staff including the program coordinator, dance instructor and music teacher.
“We also pay our older youth a minimal stipend so that we don’t lose them to McDonald’s. We show them that their involvement in the community and with the arts has value. $50 or $100 per month isn’t a lot, but it keeps the successful role models in the group.”
Additional costs include costumes, snacks and drinks for after-school practices, and to repair and replace worn out drum components.
Some community members have already stepped up to support the group, which keeps youth off the streets after school and provides them an opportunity to belong to a positive, community-minded group rather than getting involved other more destructive activities.
“We’ve been fortunate to have been supported by the Community Action Partnership and Supervisor Mike McGuire. The Town Council members supported us with a donation as well– not from the Town, but from them as individuals.”
Despite a recent influx of support, Bloco still needs a committed sponsor in order to continue operating in Windsor.
For more information or to learn how you can help, visit www.windsorbloco.org.
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….To continue operating, the group needs money to pay after-school staff including the program coordinator, dance instructor and music teacher.
A year of adults VOLUNTEERING their services as an option?
Local audiologists and hearing professionals should be willing to chip in to support the program, since drummers will be their clients in a few years after the constant drumming noise.
What happened to volunteers? Do the middle school sports coaches get paid? Do they pay the best players? Sorry for being negative, but I live close by and am sure that I do not stand alone when I say the group’s noise is very intrusive to our neighborhood. How about practicing inside?
Hi I’m Daniel Bone the musical director of the program and Id like to clear up some of questions. the money is not simply to pay individuals it is mainly to pay for the program itself. the cost of practice space, insurance for the kids, the cost of healthy snacks for the kids, the cost of repairs etc. The best players do not get paid no and yes, middle school coaches get a stipend they do not work for free. Lastly, we do practice indoors and the noise is not seven days a week just two days to help kids from falling into gangs or other illegal activities.
Gee, I wonder if the “poorer African neighborhoods in Brazil”, on which the program is based, had the funds to hire “.after-school staff including the program coordinator, dance instructor and music teacher.”
Puhleeze. This is but one more example of “nanny state” mentality that wants every one else to fix their problems. Grow up. Find some volunteers. Find a church to donate space.
Hi Daniel Bone again, musical director of Windsor Bloco, I am not sure what Windsor Bloco has done to you to cause you to be so rude towards us and even though your comments tone offends me I will be civil and respectful to you and explain what goes on in our program. We do not want everyone to solve our problems if we wanted that then we wouldn’t have finished our season last year when our biggest supporters stopped funding. “Grow up”? That just isn’t right all we are trying to do is keep a program alive that helps kids get off the streets and get away from a gang environment. Here is a fact you may not have heard but with our program many of our kids behave better at school get away from gangs and go to college. One of our first drummers was picked up off the floor getting jumped in middle school and is now the manger of a fed ex branch. Also do the staff at the boys and girls club volunteer all those hours that they spend with most of the children in Windsor? No all the staff gets paid so maybe you should go on to their website and tell them to grow up also. Because that’s what you believe correct?
The white middle class community members do not want to support a small after school program meant to help members of the Latino/Hispanic community. A little noise helping at risk youth stay off the streets and out of gangs is a bad thing? What about the bright football stadium lights and and the parking situation at a basketball game. The working class community in Windsor keeps the town running and picks the grapes. The community has a responsibility to provide programs for their children while their parents are out working three jobs.
Thank you David Douglass for both your positive support on this article and the courage to leave your name unlike the negative posters. Your feedback is appreciated.
-Daniel Bone
I am really disappointed in how unsupportive our community is being toward this, i have had several friends in this program that i have grownup with and personally witnessed what a positive impact that this has had on their lives. Seeing as how a lot of the youth these days is being sucked into drugs, gangs etc. It is nice to know there is something to pull them away from the streets, and at what cost? a little noise. Is that really such a bother? Come on now lets try and be a little selfless, a little patience for a few hours two days a week can have a positive impact on future adults of our community.