The Auditorium Theatre’s ADMIT ONE program provides free tickets and transportation to Chicagoland organizations and community groups with limited resources for experiencing the performing arts. While the Auditorium is closed to the public due to COVID-19 and we are unable to welcome our ADMIT ONE partners to our theatre, we wanted to spotlight the incredible work of these organizations.
The Open Arm Foundation provides community and economic development services in the Chicagoland area, working primarily on the South Side of Chicago. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, they have been hosting giveaways of necessities and other items to members of their community as well as doing deliveries of goods to the elderly and single parents. Founder Dr. Barbara J. Andrews shared a bit with us about the work they do and how they became involved with the ADMIT ONE program!
Tell us a bit about your organization/group and the community you are serving.
The Open Arm Foundation is a registered 501(C)3 Charitable Tax-Exempt organization. Our purpose is to provide community and economic development, training, and resources for homeless, disadvantaged and at-risk children and their families, as well as afterschool tutoring for school age children. In addition, we provide services for emerging adults who are not in school (graduate or dropout) ages 16-24 and their families in the Chicagoland area, primarily the Washington Heights and Roseland communities.
What is something interesting or unique that people may not know about your community?
The most interesting thing about the people of my community is that they are loving, hardworking people who are striving hard to overcome the stigma and difficulties of poverty and who have done things like developing and maintaining a community garden and numerous other projects to improve the quality of life for themselves and their children.
How did you hear about ADMIT ONE?
Through an internet search.
What show or shows has your community attended through the ADMIT ONE program?
Alvin Alley American Dance Theater
What’s your favorite memory at or involving the Auditorium Theatre?
Seeing how the parents and the students respond to the performance and hearing that many look forward to enjoying such an activity in the future.
