About

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Class-ACT is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, Tax ID Number 10-0003835 (all donations are tax deductible)

Mission Statement:

Our purpose is to foster development of the performing arts, visual arts and technology programming to benefit children in the local community and the developing world.

About Class Act Arts

Community Recognition:

"Class-ACT's programs have reached a new plateau and we are honored to have programs of this stature in the city. The educational content and quality are leaps and bounds above the norm."

- Jim Gilliam, Arts Administrator, City of Encinitas

Board of Directors:


Board of Directors

President Dave Peiser, Owner
Peiser Solutions
Computer & Network Support
Encinitas, CA 92024
Treasurer Norm Nyberg, Owner
Nyberg Financial Services
Cardiff, CA 92007
Secretary Veronica Baker
Development Director
Volunteer San Diego
San Diego, CA 92123
Past President Michael D. Klein, D.M.D., APC
General and Cosmetic Dentistry
Encinitas, CA 92024
Member Suzanne Stucki-McCormick, D.D.S. APC
Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon
Encinitas, CA 92024
Member Richard Stevens, Mortgage Broker
West Coast Mortgage
San Diego, CA 92126
Member Peter Gray, Operations Manager
Ken Blanchard Companies
Encinitas, CA 92029
Advisor Peter F. DeFrancesca, CPA, PFS AKT
CPAs & Business Consultants
5946 Priestly Drive, Suite 200
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Executive Director Niels Lund

 

History:

Class – ACT (Class – Arts, Children & Technology, Inc.) was established in 1998 under the umbrella of a local arts organization, and gained it’s own independent non-profit status in 2002. For its first ten years it had the mandate to support children with curriculum-based school art programs presenting performing arts and visual arts programming from a variety of disciplines, including music, theatre, dance, fine arts, puppetry, creative writing, story telling, and computer technology as it applies to the arts. Art programs were coordinated in collaboration with school officials and a local artist who presented a standards-based sequential series of classroom art workshops to assist teachers in meeting the required art standards, giving children key educational advantages that are developed through the process of creativity. Students were inspired with hands-on art instruction one hour per week during a six to ten week period, after which a presentation of the students’ accomplishments would be presented to parents, friends and community members.

In 2008 we started our global outreach component, which is designed to support arts education for adopted classrooms (and general education of girls) in developing countries. Our local school art programs link the local classroom of children with those in adopted classrooms in a developing country where we fund school supplies, and school art projects and other educational needs.

Organizational Detail:

Class-ACT has been a viable organization serving the community since its inception in 1998. We have secured support from many organizations, businesses and individuals, as well as major city, county and state funding. Programming has increase steadily throughout our history, growing from 10 classrooms served in our first year to 150 classrooms served in our tenth year, which represents service to approximately 18,000 children - each receiving six to ten hours of art contact. Also, when considering the many performances done by children, the impact of our programming has extended beyond the classroom and into the community, touching the lives of many more estimated to be an additional 10,000 to 15,000 parents, friends and neighbors. Programming has brought not only arts and cultural enrichment, but also new technology skills that enhance academic excellence.

The executive director, Niels Lund, holds a California teaching credential and two university degrees in Education Administration. He is well known in the local business and education communities through years of volunteer work, and has wide knowledge and experience in Arts Administration and Marketing. He has for many years worked directly with children in the creative field of the performing arts, and founded the San Diego International Childrens Festival that served over 50,000 children over a period of five years. Mr. Lund is responsible for the management and operation of Class-ACT, establishing connections with local and developing world schools, and for securing all artists who provide instruction in the local community.