In 2020, we saw our nation’s schools thrown into chaos as teachers pivoted to online teaching and families transitioned to having their children learning from home. Schools in lower-income neighborhoods were hit even harder as they saw large staff turnover and struggled to locate and engage students as the pandemic continued. Technology gaps, funding needs, and burnout persisted. But 2021 was a rebuilding year for schools as they got to work on addressing the “COVID Slide”.

At the helm of the Performing Arts program at the Bradley-Otis Club is Heidi Yancey. To most of the students at the Bradley-Otis Club, she is simply Ms. Heidi, known for being loving and tough and a whole lot of fun. But what the kids don’t know is Ms. Heidi is not your average dance instructor.

First-grader, Malia, entered her first day at the Club a little anxious and nervous about a new environment. Bradley-Otis staffer, Ms. Arantxa, knew just how to put her at ease and spent extra time with Malia in her early days, quickly putting her at ease and giving her the confidence she needed to take advantage of all of the innovative and exciting amenities of the Club.