My family and I support Detroit communities through art installations and
assisting DPS students involvement . For the last five years I have volunteered
as an art assistant to local students and as a painter, dancer, cleaner-upper
and all around worker for Heidelberg Project. My first experience was as a
painter for Tyree Guyton's art installation representing homelessness in
Detroit. I've decorated/set up for their annual fundraiser, helped children
express themselves through painting, assisted in the gift shop and danced in a
collaborative video with Japanese filmographers which resulted in an
international friendship video between Detroit and Japan. (Called "Fortune
Cookie Love"). Mr. Guyton believes that art can save a community and give
hope to embattled citizens and I believe that too.
Total hours of service
5 years, off and on, every chance I get... Too many hours to count
With the help of friends, family, and our church youth group, we donated 100
filled Thirty-One bags to the families staying at the Ann Arbor Ronald McDonald
House over the holidays. The bags were delivered early December and included a
thermal coffee mug, candy, gum, puzzle book, pen, magazine, facial tissue,
granola bar, popcorn, and notepad. These were items the Ronald McDonald house
requested for the parents to help them during their stay with their sick child
at Mott Hospital. It was wonderful to help give these families hope away from
home.
Work It Out was founded by Danialle Karmanos in 2005 to address the epidemic
of childhood obesity. As a mother of four of which three are DCDS students, she
knew the importance of creating a program that would empower children to lead
healthy lives. To date, more than 4500 Detroit-area school children’s lives
have changed for the better because of their participation in this unique and visionary
program. This program has and continues to be offered at no cost to the
children or schools.
The mission of Danialle Karmanos’ Work It Out in partnership with the DMC
Children’s Hospital of Michigan is to promote optimum health in mind, body and
spirit through a comprehensive yoga-based approach that reduces anxiety,
prevents childhood obesity and increases self-esteem.
The success of Work It Out is due to not only the organization’s leadership but
the caring and committed volunteers. The organization provides 10-week yoga and
nutrition programs targeting elementary school-age children. The program is
implemented by Certified Yoga Instructors who have completed Work It Out’s
specialized instructor orientation. The students not only receive professional
instruction, but they also receive their own personal Yoga mat and workbook.
Each of the ten sessions teaches a lesson in breathing techniques, Yoga and
Nutrition. There is also a worksheet for each session that is given to the
student to take home. At the end of the ten weeks, the students receive a
certificate of completion to acknowledge their hard work and commitment to the
program. They are also given their workbook and Yoga mat to take home so they
may continue their practice.
The stars of our program are the children. They continue to speak to us in
powerful and profound ways, and we realize that the Yoga component has given
them a life changing opportunity. These are the words from some of our past
students.
“Yoga makes me feel great, happy and healthy!”
“It makes me feel good about myself”
“It gives me energy and helps me relax”
“I feel like I just took all the anger out of my body”
“I use the breathing when I am doing my homework that I don’t understand”
“I used to eat chips now I eat bananas, fruits and yogurt.”
Work It Out knows that when you’re working with children, there is no room for
error. We continue to engage only the best and dynamic volunteers to instruct
our students. We are determined to continue our work for the children and offer
our 2015 program to 1000 or more Detroit-area children.
To learn more about the organization, go to www.dkwio.org
