THE QUILT THAT CAME BACK FROM SPACE!

LELAND MELVIN'S LATEST PROJECT TO EDUCATE AND INFORM THE YOUTH!

Project Row Houses (PRH) is excited to announce that Astronaut Leland Melvin will be visiting our Arts/Education Program to return the quilt created in the program that traveled with him on the 24^th Shuttle mission to the International Space Station this past February. Mr. Melvin will visit on Friday, April 18, 2008 at 4:00PM to return the quilt and share his space mission experience with program participants.

Mr. Melvin inspired the youth within the arts program to make the quilt after his first visit to the program in the spring of 2007. PRH partnered with Houston Center for Contemporary Craft artist Jenna Jacobs to work with approximately fifty (50) neighborhood children and youth, between the ages of 5 and 14 years old, who diligently worked on creating the quilt during the 2007 Summer Arts Program. The quilt focused on futuristic communities in space.

As co-manager of NASA's Educator Astronaut Program, Leland Melvin is no stranger to moving inner-city youth to aspire to new heights. He has traveled across the country, engaging thousands of students and teachers in the excitement of space exploration, and inspiring them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The 24^th Shuttle mission (STS-122 Atlantis ) was Mr. Melvin’s first space flight. Mission highlight included the delivery and installation of the European Space Agency’s Columbus Laboratory. It took three spacewalks by crew members to prepare the Columbus Laboratory for its scientific work, and to replace an expended nitrogen tank on the Station’s P-1 Truss.

PRH’s Art Education Program utilizes the arts to enhance academic achievement, develop analytical and problem solving skills and to spark creativity through hands-on involvement for inner-city children and youth. In addition on placing a strong emphasis on the rich history of the Third Ward community, our program seeks to broaden participant’s appreciation of their heritage and the world around them, simultaneously preparing them to make intelligent life decisions through the disciplines of art.

Guided by some of Houston’s most gifted artists and teachers, participants are involved in a variety of artistic programming, including the visual arts, creative writing, music appreciation, Afro-Brazilian dance, contemporary dance, drama, and other creative activities.

Program participants are truly energized as they prepare for the return of Mr. Melvin and the Community Space Quilt on Friday, February 18^th.