ART INC. Vol. 1 - January 2019
Written by Silvia Garcia Rojas
 
PAME (Performing Arts Master Classes and Events) has been the result of numerous experiences after living in Mexico, San Antonio, Texas, and Peoria, Il. So many creative and perseverant children from different back grounds and cultures inspired the creation of PAME. 
 
PAME Peoria is a group of people passionate about creating and organizing events in order to help children in need and improve the quality of life for families. The group activities consist of building a values based societyand assisting youth in becoming formidable philanthropists.
 
We offer a platform of expression and communication to our children. Youth works with us in the pre-production of the events, production, and are challenged to understand the cause. We are doing great things with young minds building kind hearts. 
 
Our group is organized by great human beings and professionals, Julia Fegley, Nayeli Gonzalez, Jason Fegley, Francisco Ramirez, and Silvia Garcia Rojas. Many other dedicated volunteers join us in each of the events. 
 
PAME started in San Antonio as an activity to help children with cerebral palsy from the TeletonUSA Children’s Rehabilitation Center. We started with ten kids who were friends of my children,  and after the first activity I was amazed by the reaction of the families and children we were helping, but even more so by our kids and their joy from helping others. Joining with the Mexican Consulate, the support from San Antonio government, and wonderful friends and professionals in a variety of fields, I decided to converge my three passions of production, Arts and charity. After a great number of successful events in Texas, my family was moved to Peoria. It is a city where I was surprised by the kindness of the people and the passion to help their community. 
 
Now, after 3 years living in Peoria we have done events and activities reaching a total of 400 children working together for a common cause such as Voices of Light (Peoria Riverfront Museum), Coloring Christmas 2017, Coloring Christmas Yoga Class for kids with Sculpt Mode by Micheline Fitness, Steps of Joy Dance Charity performance, and Coloring Christmas 2018, among others.
 
With Voices of light, we helped The Saint Gerard Foundation to support a school in Andhra Pradesh, India where they needed to finish building classrooms and 15 children were waiting to be sponsored for a year of studies. With a multimedia production, children on stage, and the Peoria International choir lead by Masako Johnson, the event reach its goal.
 
There is no more satisfaction for us than seeing the children’s faces and expressions when they make someone happy. Nothing is too simple. Dancing and singing for seniors is what Coloring Christmas is about! It is instant gratification for children, grandmas, and grandpas. What great satisfaction! Important businesses, kind families from Peoria, and the Neighborhood House have been supporting our event to have the opportunity to give each of the seniors the gift they need. This year we made a memorable Christmas for 94 seniors in the area.
 
A dance production created to offer new opportunities for people in need, Steps of Joy Dance Charity Event, for the first time in October of this year,  gave a stage performance featuring a great number of dance studios and performing groups from Peoria and surrounding areas to help the Neighborhood House to Alleviate Poverty. With Shelbey Roberts, host of WMBD news and Good Day Central Illinois, the presence of the Rivermen Hockey team, the great support from sponsors and dedicated dance studios in the area, we created a unique multicultural event, full of energy with a total of 200 children performing on stage and helping on the production.
Dance performances in Steps of Joy included Peoria Ballet Academy, Miss. Laura’s School of Dance, Kim’s Academy of Dance, Creations Dance Studio, Peoria Area Performing arts (PAPAS), Germantown Hills Dance Team, Foulger Dance and UMA’s Dancing Stars, Bradley Orchesis Dance Company, Peoria’s Explosive Gems, Peoria Mexican Folklore, Studio 38 Dance Company, and the Peoria Chinese Association. Thank you to all of you!
 
We are so grateful for the opportunity and exposure Senator Chuck Weaver gave us in the 1000 pounds project and for the unconditional support of Becky Rossman and Roberta English from the Neigborhood House, among others.
Our passion for making things happen is bigger than all the obstacles we have had. When children have an opportunity to be part of PAME’s events, we already know they will do amazing things.