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ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) — Amir Ali is a recreation program specialist for Ithaca Youth Bureau, working behind the counter at Cass Park and supervising the front center. Nominated by Ithaca Youth Bureau Deputy Director Suki Tabor, she said “We are really fortunate to have him as an art instructor when he isn’t busy with pool or ice rink season activities.”
Amir’s role encompasses many responsibilities, as he helps to supervise the tennis program and has also been teaching youth art classes. “Intro to Drawing” and “Intro to Painting” are two of the classes that he’s taught, aiming to give kids a more hands-on way of learning and expressing themselves.
How he got started in the arts at the Ithaca Youth Bureau/Cass Park
When Amir started working full-time for the Ithaca Youth Bureau/Cass Park in 2018, he didn’t have many colleagues that had backgrounds in the arts. The person who had taught art classes there was no longer working for the IYB/Cass Park, so he picked up where they left off. A graduate of Ithaca College with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, he has an important history with the arts that have influenced him to push for more programs that can allow kids to find themselves and explore new outlets through art the way he was able to.
“In high school I went to Lehman Alternative Community School, and then onto Ithaca College where the arts were emphasized pretty heavily. I did independent studies and was given the opportunity to learn through art, which has pushed me to want to provide that for kids in the area,” Ali says.
In addition to being an art student, Amir has also been playing guitar since he was twelve and was even accepted to the California Institute of Arts. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, he was teaching virtual guitar lessons as a way to bring more access to music education to those who wanted it. One of his many ambitions is to eventually bring these lessons back, and this time in person in order to diversify what the IYB/Cass Park can offer.
What the arts have to offer
In his time with the IYB/Cass Park, the tennis program has expanded significantly, with classes being taught almost every day. Redoing the Stewart Park tennis courts and assessing financial needs for it are also high on Amir’s list. Though sports are great, Amir really values the arts and wants to give kids who aren’t necessarily sports inclined an opportunity to have well-planned and thought-out programs as well.
“Art is about different perspectives, it requires a lot of problem solving and allows students to think about things differently. It gives them the ability to see a project all the way through and push boundaries in ways not always welcome in schools. I try and push kids to put their best foot forward. If they still have time left on their project but don’t know what to do, I’ll just encourage them to fill in all the space and think outside the box.”
Many parents have expressed their gratitude to Amir for the programs and how they’ve helped their kids.
“A lot of parents have said they wish there were more art programs. Some kids don’t always take to a sports environment or other academic extracurriculars, so having these programs gives parents a way to see their kids come into their own. I’m always grateful for their feedback and really appreciate hearing that.”
Accessibility to the arts
Ithaca is art-friendly, though it is not always accessible for everyone. At the IYB/Cass Park, rates are diversified and reasonable Amir says. Working on accessibility and making sure their programs are easier to access for youth in the community is always something IYB/Cass Park strives for, but the art classes they offer now are “hard to beat” according to Amir.
One of the reasons accessibility is a challenge is because it’s hard to generate revenue for the arts.
“Requesting art programs, classes, giving feedback, and contacting us is a good way to encourage program growth. Programs typically max out and have waitlists that gets back to the administration here which helps. Just showing up and being enthusiastic about the programs helps us out a lot,” Amir says regarding increasing the popularity of their art programs.
In the future, Amir wants to establish a part two to the classes being taught, which would give students more opportunity to enroll and thoroughly learn more forms of art.
“I would really like to have more frequency. I want to expose as many kids to the arts as possible, which would be easier if we could teach more consistently. Hopefully in the near future we’ll be able to actualize that. Art is therapeutic, it helps a lot of the kids if they’ve had a tough day at school or have other stuff going on, so being able to offer more for them is a definite goal.”
Classes typically meet twice a week and are usually four to six weeks long. To learn more about what the IYB/Cass Park is currently offering and what their schedule is, visit their website here.
Neighborhood Heroes series
The underlying message in these stories is that the actions of one individual can compound and become far-reaching. Think back to something a teacher, coach, family member or even a passing stranger did or said that stuck with you, molded you. These are the stories that matter in our community. Would you like to nominate someone for the “Neighborhood Heroes,” series? Email MCavataio@cayugamediagroup.com with your nomination and summary of why you want to recognize this unsung hero!