Berrie Center guest artist Ronvé O’Daniel
College
Bridging the
Arts Access Gap
By Rebecca Gathercole ’24 | Spring 2025
When she arrived at Ramapo College five years ago, Director of the Angelica and Russ Berrie Center for the Performing and Visual Arts (Berrie Center) Lisa Campbell had a goal: to develop partnerships with schools and other organizations in the surrounding communities within Northern New Jersey. “Public funding of the arts in the schools has been cut radically, and so, as a state institution, I was looking for partners to contribute to that continued learning, growth and availability,” Campbell said.
The Berrie Center works with Paterson Public School No. 28 (P.S. 28), a pre-K through eighth-grade school with Title I designation that houses the Paterson Academy for the Gifted and Talented and a self-contained special needs program. Each year, the Berrie Center brings four programs to P.S. 28 that encompass diverse art forms, such as music, theater, dance and visual art. More importantly, Campbell makes sure to bring artists of color or who belong to minority groups – P.S. 28 has a 93% minority student population – to allow students to interact with artists who either share identities with the students or have unique experiences. P.S. 28 Principal Nancy Castro advocated for this kind of diversity when forging the partnership with the Berrie Center and is excited about what has come to fruition.
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The performances have allowed our students to not only learn about the importance of the arts through technique but also, more importantly, to develop their inner creativity, social skills, creative problem-solving skills, as well as their decision-making and risk-taking skills.
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— Nancy Castro
Principal – Paterson Public School No. 28
The students saw performances by musician Rodney Marsalis, storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston and Broadway actress and author Ali Stroker. They also learned about Chinese ribbon dance, flamenco and origami.
While most have been school assembly programs, some have included class workshops. Fifth graders participated in a writing workshop with Blake Alston, where she taught African oral traditions, allowed students to practice writing and performed a mini oral history for themselves. Sixth and seventh graders also gained hands-on experience with origami, which Campbell said the teachers related to the geometry the students were learning in their math classes.
The Berrie Center has also worked with Passaic Preparatory Academy, a public magnet high school in Passaic. Students and parents are given free admission and bussing for educational programs, such as Calpulli Mexican Dance Company and the Les Paul Festival Concert featuring Amythyst Kiah. Passaic Prep Principal Stacey Bruce shared the partnership has already positively impacted the students. “The beauty of the setting, the diversity of the performances and the positive interactions with staff members exposed our young adults to the necessary and uplifting influence of art in their lives,” she stated.
The Berrie Center’s partnerships with public schools embody its strategic plan, which aims to “serve all members of our community and aid in recruiting students to Ramapo College” by specifically connecting with underserved community members. By offering opportunities for students to explore creative outlets and bridging the gap between high school and college programs, which many underserved students often don’t have access to, the partnerships provide an impactful resource to the community.
Public school partnerships leverage Ramapo College faculty and guest artists from Arch Performances.
Dr. Gilad Cohen leads a workshop with students from Passaic Preparatory Academy.
Berrie Center guest artist Ronvé O’Daniel performs for Passaic Preparatory Academy students.
Dr. Gilad Cohen moderates a workshop with guest artist Ronvé O’Daniel and Passaic Preparatory Academy students.
The Berrie Center has also recently partnered with local women’s shelters: Several Sources in Ramsey; and Strengthen Our Sisters (SOS) in Hewitt. When available, complimentary tickets are provided to the adults and children at these shelters to attend the Berrie Center’s family-oriented programs. Campbell views it as another small way to support the local community.
Coincidentally, both organizations have ties to Ramapo. At Several Sources, the Chief Operating Officer, Venetta Ellerbe ’03, is a Ramapo alum. In 2001, SOS and its Founder and Executive Director, Sandra Ramos, received the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award, which “honors New Jersey residents whose outstanding community service and heroic acts have made a substantial impact on the lives of others.” Ramapo College has been fortunate to be a partner of the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award, having hosted the award ceremony on campus for over 25 years.
Celebrating the Berrie Center’s 25th anniversary this year, Campbell shared that, “While there has been great change over the past 25 years of operation, the future promises to be even more remarkable.”
“I believe the next 25 years will be rooted in an increased interdisciplinary focus of the arts, a more global perspective of art forms and advancements in technology, which will impact both content and how audiences engage with the arts,” she added.
Campbell expressed her hope for growth in outreach programming and partnerships, emphasizing a more contemporary focus that aligns with the curriculum while fostering stronger community engagement. “I hope to see growth in our outreach programming and partnerships, a more contemporary focus that mirrors the curriculum and stronger engagement with the community.”