Today we’d like to introduce you to C. L. Robinson.
C. L., can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Greetings! My name is C.L. Robinson. I am a two time graduate of The Illustrious Clark Atlanta University (B.A. & M.A. in Sociology) with the emphasis in Sociological Theories, Deviant Behavior, Helping Relationship Skills, and Career Counseling. Growing up, I was always fascinated with music and the arts in general, and from the time I started 6th grade throughout my matriculation at Clark Atlanta University, I participated in and performed with a number of ensembles, which include: Concert Band(s), Marching Band(s), Jazz Band(s), Jazz Orchestra, the AUC Orchestra, and have been cast in community plays. I have served as Trumpet Section Leader, Co-Band Captain and Dance Routine committee captain. I hold professional membership in Tri-M Music society and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity Inc. I am currently enrolled in a dual program at my illustrious institution, Clark Atlanta University (third times a charm) in the School of Education, working towards a second masters and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. As an Alumnus of an HBCU, and a lover of the Performing Arts, I sought to create a Performing Arts organization that resembles and values Historically Black College & University culture.
The Performing Arts taught me discipline, hard work, self-confidence, teamwork, imagination, concentration, and communication skills. I was also taught how to control my emotions, how to work on memorization, and how to navigate through physical barriers. In short, being a part of Performing Art ensembles helped groom me into the man I am today Of all the things I’ve gained from the Performing Arts, one, in particular, stands out to me the most: My high school band directors’ enthusiasm to expose me to and grow my love for Historically Black College and University (H.B.C.U.) Performing Arts culture.
Mr. Carroll devoted countless hours to grooming the leaders of my generation. He would drive several of us to and from auditions, plan HBCU tours, and challenge our thoughts about the arts enabling us to be critical thinkers. However, it wasn’t until after graduating with my Master’s degree that I gained a full understanding of who and what my director was in my life and how he had a hand in helping God steer me in the direction of my destiny.
After graduating, I started my career as a teacher. Although I loved every moment of teaching, it did not feed the artist in me, so, I took the time to do self-evaluation. I knew that I had a Master’s degree, I knew I had a job, but I had no idea what I could do to infuse my job with my art. After several months of talking with God, I found myself up planning one day. I had no idea that the little plans that I had would turn into Agape Performing Arts Incorporated. In my self-evaluation, I realized that I wanted to be another version of my band director. I wanted to provide opportunity and training to those that loved the arts while simultaneously help positively shape the trajectory of their life. I wanted to help young Black and Brown performing artists gain a choice-filled life.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I noticed that in the beginning, I struggled with the idea that people would not understand the reason behind why I created Agape Performing Arts Incorporated. I struggled with introducing the idea to friends and family because I didn’t think that people would care about the arts as much as I do and would often get frustrated when met with disagreeing opinions.
Agape Performing Arts Incorporated – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Agape Performing Arts Incorporated is an exclusive 501(C)(3) organization rooted in Historically Black College and University culture. APA Inc. strives to aid and mentor Performing Art Scholars in Atlanta and its surrounding cities through scholarship initiatives, worthwhile community projects, and leadership/career development projects. Our primary goal is to build character, pride and integrity through performing arts education.
At Agape Performing Arts Incorporated, we believe that the service to the Performing Arts and its scholars are the essences of who we are. Our Guiding Principles are Community, Effectiveness, Desire, Self-Discipline, Dedication, Punctuality, and Love. Our principles are used as a foundation to secure that our commitment to transform our communities and to strengthen our scholars are achievable. They help us exude excellence and transform our current reality to the reality that we choose. Agape Performing Arts Incorporated was created to resemble and value Historically Black College and University (HBCU) culture while simultaneously building character, pride, and integrity. Each genre of the Performing Arts teaches different social skills that are needed to help develop and foster strong working relationships, contribute to increasing team and organizational productivity, and create an overall positive performing arts environment for our families, scholars and staff. Listed below are the meanings behind our Mission, Vision, and guiding principles.
Mission: With an educational safe-haven and access to the right resources, our mission is for scholars to develop self-awareness and become empowered by their own abilities so that they gain the confidence to fulfill their fullest potential.
Vision: Through the spirit of Musicianship, Community, and Educational helpfulness, we are indisputably committed to becoming Atlanta’s standard of excellence for Performing Art scholars.
Guiding Principles our guiding principles are used as a foundation to secure that our commitment to transform our communities and to strengthen our scholars are achievable. Each principle is defined as:
Community (Village): We build strong relationships with each other so that we can maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and solve them together.
Effectiveness: We believe in doing the right things for the right results. Producing and advocating for worthwhile community projects and performances.
Desire: Enables us to be fueled by our “why”. That fuel pushes us to relentlessly chase after and accomplish our dreams.
Self-Discipline: Teaches us how to stick with and achieve tough goals that are set for self. This enables us to keep growing through all obstacles ending with great results, no matter how seemingly insurmountable the odds.
Dedication: When one is dedicated, they are responsible for their own body and mind. One of the primary factors of a successful person is the level of dedication they have, which signifies a strong sense of support for something or someone
Punctuality: A sign of professionalism that helps one stand out as a reliable and trustworthy person. This etiquette encourages us to realize the importance of time and make the best of it.
Love: We love and honor ourselves, our scholars, our families, our communities, and our organization. Scholars, families, and our team (The Village) understand that our guiding principles are essential qualities that we must value if we are to obtain success in reaching our goals. When The Village demonstrates these guiding principles we ensure that all scholars are utilizing their voices to love themselves and each other; Are responsible for their own body and mind; Scholars stick with and achieve tough goals that are set for self; Scholars are fueled by their “why”; Scholars will do the right things for the right results; Scholars realize the importance of time and make the best of it; ultimately resulting in building strong relationships so that we can maintain our community.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
The community represents people who share a culture, history, and traditions, all of which are held in neighborhoods, towns, and cities so success, for me, would be having a fully operating Community center and private Performing Arts Academy (K-12). The community center and academy would be a safe haven for Black and Brown performing art scholars all over Atlanta. The leadership structure would be based on the transformational leadership model.
All scholars would earn full scholarships to the Historically Black College or University of their choice. Atlanta and its Black and Brown Performing Art scholars would be heavily exposed to HBCU culture. The communities in which these scholars live would start to become reimagined spaces that enable a choice filled life.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 7705957062
- Email: agapeperformingartsinc@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agapeperformingartsinc/
Image Credit:
Mia Edwards
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