On today's show our editor, Mark Marshall, takes us back to look at a couple of amazing organizations we've highlighted on earlier shows...A World Fit for Kids and The Art of Elysium.

While there has been an increased focus on reading, writing and mathematics at the elementary school level over the past years, programs in art, music, and physical education have been cut, leaving students with few physical and creative outlets during the school day. 

The cuts in these areas have occurred at all levels of education even as research evidence shows that all three of these subjects contribute to an increase in achievement in academic subjects and the overall health and well-being of young children.

Yet sadly, it's these programs that are the first to be eliminated.

And this brings us to today's highlighted organizations...working hard to fill this void in the lives of children.

A World Fit for Kids (WFIT) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit committed to ensuring that students are fit, healthy and ready to learn. They provide vital healthy behaviors programming and targeted academic support to instill in youth the knowledge, skills and confidence required to make healthy choices that last a lifetime. WFIT training and programs integrate youth development principles with physical activity to positively impact the lives of students and the adults who work with them. Since 1993, they have brought more than $46 million into under-served communities in Los Angeles, made life-changing opportunities available to over 300,000 low-income children and young people and trained more than 10,000 classroom teachers and expanded learning staff members.  @WorldFitForKids

 They’ve offered their programs free of charge, saved parents millions of dollars in childcare costs and made it possible for many single parents, and especially women, to become financially self-sufficient. And, by addressing childhood obesity, the most common and costly medical condition facing our country today, they aren’t just changing lives, they’re saving lives.

Today we are joined by Normandie Nigh, the CEO of A World Fit for Kids, Happi Price, Rauol and William.

The Art of Elysium empowers artists and communities of need to join together and emotionally triumph over their circumstances through art.  @TheArtofElysium

Their “full circle” approach engages emerging artists in inspiring acts of service that forge opportunities for them to share their creativity in diverse and meaningful ways with individuals of need. They support and acknowledge their volunteer artists by providing platforms to showcase their art within the community. 

Their programs cover a wide range of the arts...Fashion and Design, Visual Arts, Theater and Film and Music and Movement.  Elysium Esteem is a program that works with youth faced with acute or chronic illnesses.   These children often contend with a range of emotional challenges. Lengthy hospitalizations can lead to feelings of social isolation, while pain or medically-related limitations can cause severe anxiety, depression and poor self-esteem. To help pediatric patients cope with the many psychosocial challenges, The Art of Elysium offers a special selection of arts-based support programs and resources. These programs are focused on providing youth with positive psychosocial skills to cope with chronic illnesses or physical disfigurements that set them apart from their peers.

Elysium Bandini Studios is the only philanthropic streaming video subscription. They fund, produce and release the work of emerging artists and provide mentorship from prominent industry professionals. Subscribers of their streaming platform support future Elysium Bandini Studio Projects as well as the charitable programming of The Art of Elysium.

Adrian visited The Art of Elysium to learn the impact this charity is making in the community they serve.  He spoke with Jennifer Howell, the Founder of Art of Elysium.