Kiwanis Club of East Brainerd has made a generous $1,000 donation to Siskin Children's Institute for the purchase of three outdoor painting easels to be installed permanently for the children's use on the playground at the Early Learning Center-East Brainerd (ELC-EB).

The ELC-EB currently is expanding its arts programming in line with the Engagement Classroom Model, an evidence-based method of teaching children, providing interventions to them and working with their families that was developed by Institute researchers and has been implemented at both ELC campuses. The arts are an important component of the model, so a large area of the ELC-EB has been expanded to accommodate a stronger focus on the arts. In the spring of this year, an indoor/outdoor classroom was constructed as a space for visual and dramatic arts. The space flows into the playground where the arts will be promoted along with social engagement, independence and relationship building, which are the key outcomes of the Engagement Classroom Model. 

For many years, Kiwanis Club of Brainerd has been a strong supporter of the children and families served by Siskin Children's Institute. The Institute is extremely grateful for this most recent gift.