CityStep

Our Mission:
CityStep is a dedicated undergraduate organization committed to enhancing the educational journey of public school youth. Our mission revolves around introducing students to the transformative power of dance and other creative activities. We believe in fostering self-expression, boosting self-esteem, and promoting mutual understanding through these mediums.

Our Activities:
As part of our mission, CityStep actively engages in various activities, with a primary focus on providing dance classes at the Integrated Refugee and Immigration Services (IRIS) Afterschool Program. Our volunteers commit their time and efforts each week to collaborate with creative students, creating an environment that encourages exploration and expression.

CityStep is proud to contribute through direct service initiatives. By conducting weekly sessions at IRIS Afterschool, we aim to build meaningful connections with the students, utilizing dance and creative activities as tools for personal and communal growth.

Student Leaders:
Our organization is led by passionate individuals dedicated to the cause. Maddalena Ledezma and Annelise Quintero serve as Co-Coordinators/Co-Presidents, guiding CityStep with their vision and commitment. Their leadership ensures that the organization continues to make a positive impact on the lives of public school youth through creative exploration and self-expression.

Mission

CityStep is an undergraduate organization that aims to enrich the educational experience of public school youth by introducing them to dance and other creative activities as a medium for self-expression, a method to enhance self-esteem, and a means to mutual understanding.

Student Leaders

Maddalena Ledezma – Co-Coordinator/Co-President Annelise Quintero – Co-Coordinator/Co-President

Activities

Rising Stars: Find Your Personal Style (End Of Year Showcase) Direct Service The End of Year showcase is an opportunity for students to share the choreography and structured improvisation exercises they’ve learned over the course of the year. This show also brings Yale dance groups to the IRIS space to perform for the students. IRIS End of Year Showcase Direct Service The End of Year Showcase for the IRIS Afterschool Program gives students the chance to demonstrate what our dance classes throughout the year have culminated in. Students perform an originally-choreographed dance, followed by a teacher dance as a surprise for students, and ending with a ceremony to award each student for their commitment to dance class throughout the year. It is truly the highlight of our year! IRIS x CityStep Fundraiser Fundraising This action will be split into two fundraising activities. A bake sale on February 25th from 3-8 PM in Bass Cafe. We’ll also be coordinating a fundraising party with other dance groups on February 28th. Both of the proceeds of this fundraiser will go directly to IRIS’ after school program (which is currently facing financial strife and layoffs). Annual Bake Sale for IRIS Fundraising Beginning last year, we hold a bake sale to fundraise for IRIS, especially as the organization faces extreme budget cuts in federal funding. The sale encourages Yale students to not only donate, but engage with this local, New Haven organization. Solidarity Soiree Fundraising Solidarity Soiree is a semi-annual fundraising gala that we throw for IRIS. It is a dance party, co-hosted by the various dance organizations on campus. All proceeds go directly to IRIS.

How Others Get Involved

Volunteers can email us at youthinmotionatyale@gmail.com to get information. We meet at Silliman every Thursday at 4:15p to walk over to IRIS together.