Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanette Greenwood.
Jeanette, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started Headline Mentors & Performing Arts in 2001 as a tutoring agency to help low-income families with tutoring services for youth struggling in reading. Later in 2009, I got the vision to add performing arts to help with mentoring at-risk youth. I incorporated the program and started teaching life-skills and acting for youth. We eventually applied for several grants and it became very frustrating because we could not obtain the support we wanted. In 2014, finances had gotten so bad, that I decided to close the doors of HMPA.
I had spoken with our board members at the time and our volunteers about closing the doors. I was so frustrated after all the let downs from applying for support. I had applied through Community Youth Development Program for a reimbursement grant and honestly didn’t feel I would get that. As we prepared for our December 31, 2014, closing gathering, I received word in August that we were approved for the reimbursement. This blessing allowed our doors to remain open.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As far as our programs, they have been fairly smooth. Our program is so unique that youth get in and remain in. The major challenges we face is finances. The Arts do not receive the recognition they deserve anymore. Many local schools have removed art programs from its curriculum causing our youth to be deprived of growing artistically. Many families we work with cannot afford to take their children to private acting, music, dance or vocal classes due to costs. So, programs like ours are needed to motivate and encourage our youth. The financial piece to keep these programs afloat has been our biggest struggle. Otherwise, it will be a piece of cake!
Please tell us about Headline Mentors & Performing Arts.
What we do is teach acting and life skills. The fact we deal with youth that desire to enter the entertainment industry we feel they need that reassurance as well as structure to maintain in the industry. We talk about things like money management, bullying, peer pressure, self-esteem, community involvement, personal health care, sex trafficking, healthy living and eating. We feel that all of these things and more are skills needed to be successful in life as well as the industry. Our youth are taught basic acting skills with a strong emphasis on Improv. Acting skills help build confidence, self-esteem, better public speaking and increase stage presence.
What makes us so proud as a company is the fact we work with some awesome youth and to see them work on stage or in film is amazing.
We’ve managed to get two of our youth signed with 1 of the top Talent Agents in Dallas & Los Angeles, Linda McAlister Talent. The youth come from underprivileged backgrounds and to be awarded this major opportunity was overwhelming. We also won 2nd place in a Children Awareness Mental Health Creative contest. We received recognition from 1st Lady Abbott of Texas recognizing us for being a. Fort Worth Junior Women Club was very generous in sponsoring our 2017 anti-bullying movie “Sisters”.
What sets us apart from others is that we don’t just talk about subjects we actually work those items. Our youth are able to perform hand on and work in the industry. Our youth have worked in short films, PSA’s with Women In Film Dallas, they also a won Telly Award. Our kids actually work!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Honestly, I don’t believe in luck. I believe in purpose and vision. When you work hard for what you want, luck doesn’t play in it. It’s based on your hard work or your lack of. That determines your success in your business.
Pricing:
- Free for youth living in 76106/76164 (Community Youth Development Program)
Contact Info:
- Address: 1190 W. Pioneer Pkwy
- Website: http://www.headlinementors.org
- Phone: (682)323-4859
- Email: info@headlinementors.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hmpainc/
Image Credits:
Women That Soar
Apt4B Band
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
