Artists Striving To End Poverty (ASTEP) uses the arts as a tool to empower young people with creativity, knowledge, and a strong sense of self-esteem, factors which help them advance their lives and communities. At ASTEP, we provide artists with opportunities to connect with global youths, allowing them to use their gifts to create meaningful and effective change for young people in need.

Description and/or History:
ASTEP?s main goal is to create a community of artists who are actively engaged in using their talents to raise awareness about the plight of the children we serve and to dynamically assist by volunteering at our programs.

ASTEP?s hope is to cultivate safe spaces in these communities where these children can learn to communicate, express, and develop constructive decision-making skills by using the arts as a catalyst and by interacting with our participating volunteer artists/teachers and local partnering organizations. Topics covered range from self-empowerment and positive future-building to HIV/AIDS awareness.

ASTEP was conceived by Mary-Mitchell Campbell who, while volunteering at Mother Teresa?s missionary in India, was motivated to effect change in the lives of children in the developing world. After returning to NYC, Mary-Mitchell began work on forming an arts-based non-profit designed specifically to help combat worldwide childhood poverty.

Simultaneously, a group of enthusiastic Juilliard students had formed who, post-9/11, were looking for an effective way to give back to the community using the most significant tool they had -- their art. Mary-Mitchell, then a faculty member at Juilliard, was moved by the group?s energy and became their advisory mentor.

Collaboratively, they decided on a goal: to demonstrate the power of the Arts as a universal tool for engendering a greater sense of social understanding and acceptance in spite of any socially-recognized differences.

Contact person: Beth Konopka, Chief Operating Officer, (212) 921-1227, (email)

Address:

165 West 46th Street; Suite 1303 New York City, NY 10036 (See a map)

Directions:

Located in the Actor's Equity Building on West 46th Street (Between 6th and 7th Avenues). Take the elevator to the 13th floor. ASTEP is in Suite 1303 found down the long hallway outside of the elevators, second door on the. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: N/R/W 49th Street,   Walk distance (in minutes): 1