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Community Outreach for Developing Artists (CODA)

About CODA

Since its inception in 2006, CODA’s mission has been to seek out and give artistic access to underexposed talents in our community who might not otherwise have the opportunity to develop their creative abilities.

One of the primary ways in which Community School of the Arts (CSA) serves the local community is through our Community Outreach for Developing Artists (CODA) program. CODA currently provides no cost weekly music instruction to nearly 400 students in DuPage County. All the communities that we serve reflect student populations of over 60% low income and over 60% Hispanic, Black, Asian and Multi-racial ethnicity, per Illinois Report Cards.

Early Childhood Music classes are offered by CODA.

CODA-logo-ministry

Goals of CODA

  • Provide a window of opportunity for young, under-served students to experience the arts and become more culturally aware 
  • Assist students with limited-English proficiency through music classes 
  • Contribute to improved student academic achievement through disciplined musical training 
  • Play a strong role in character building and enhanced emotional well-being

CODA Instructors

  • Kathy Cathey
  • Emma Cooksey
  • Joyce Anne Wilder 

CODA Locations

District 33 – West Chicago

At District 33 in West Chicago, CODA offers children weekly Early Childhood music classes at Pioneer School.

Educare West DuPage

CODA offers weekly Early Childhood music classes at Educare West DuPage located in West Chicago.

Young students colorfully dressed and in a line

Grants Help CODA Thrive

CODA classes are offered at no cost to students in qualifying school districts and community settings. However, CODA is not cost free. Without the generous grant support of donors, nearly over 400 students would lack the present and ongoing weekly benefit of music instruction.

The benefits of artistic instruction for students (and by extension their families and communities) are well documented and include optimal brain function, perseverance, responsibility, strengthened memory, improved math and science skills and healthy social connections. Increased competency in so many areas, leads to heightened potential, and in many cases, an opportunity to give back to the community.

It is impossible to assign a monetary value to an arts education, however generous funding is needed in order to maintain the CODA Program. We are humbly grateful for those individuals and foundations who support CODA and we encourage others to consider a gift of any size. Early and ongoing music instruction can be instrumental in changing the trajectory of a life.

Our sincere thanks to foundations providing grants:

coda grant sponsor logos

Make a Gift to CODA

Contact Us

Community School of the Arts

Armerding Center for Music and the Arts
501 College Ave
Wheaton, IL 60187

630.752.5567
csa@wheaton.edu