Parenting with Art® 101: Deepening Connection Through Creative Encounters
Discover how putting your children in the way of art can transform your parenting journey and help your family flourish. This foundational four-week course explores how intentional engagement with the arts deepens belonging to ourselves, others, the divine, and the world around us in ways that support broader parenting hopes and goals.

In person option: Friday mornings from 10-11:30 a.m. CT February 21-March 13, 2025. Register for the in-person Birmingham class at The Threshold Center here.

Online option: Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. CT February 19-March 12, 2025. Register for the online class here. (Recordings will be available to all online participants.)

Each week explores a different artistic medium—literature, music, visual art, and film—providing practical tools for fostering belonging, emotional development, relational intimacy, and spiritual growth in children of all ages.

Through guided exploration, hands-on experiences, prompts, and practices, you\'ll discover how art can help navigate parenting challenges while creating meaningful spaces for curiosity, dialogue, and connection. Join us to unlock the transformative potential of arts engagement in your family\'s daily life—no artistic experience required.

Session Details:
Week 1: The Power of Story
Explore how literature opens doorways to emotional and spiritual development. Learn to inhabit a posture of curiosity alongside your children as you discover new ways to engage with stories that foster belonging and understanding.

Week 2: Musical Pathways
Uncover how musical encounters create spaces for connection and emotional expression. Experience practical ways to incorporate music into ordinary daily life, enhancing your children\'s relational and mental development.

Week 3: Visual Arts as Connection
Learn to navigate the mysteries of parenting through visual art experiences. Discover how engaging with art creates opportunities for meaningful conversations and deeper understanding between parent and child.

Week 4: Film as Family Dialogue
Transform screen time into opportunities for growth and connection. Explore how thoughtful engagement with film can enhance your family\'s emotional and spiritual development while creating lasting bonds.

Learn more about Parenting with Art® here.

Recordings will be available to all online participants. Registration for the online course ends on February 17, 2025.

All caregivers of children of all ages are welcome to participate. Everyone who registers for the online option will receive an information email and Zoom link by February 18. All sessions will be recorded. Please contact Charlotte at charlotte@charlottedonlon.com if you have any questions. Thank you!

If you have previously taken our Adult Acting class (or just love the idea of performing) and now want to take those acting skills to the stage, this is the class for you! As a branch off of our original class, this two-week intensive will go through the entire process of putting on a one act play, from casting to performance! Enrollment in the class guarantees you a role in the show. By the end of the course, you will have a better understanding of how an actor analyzes a script and develops a character, as well as memorization skills, scene work, and ensemble work – plus the added bonus of actually getting to perform your piece for an invited audience! Availability for all classes is a must. Once you register, we will send you a survey to get an idea of your previous acting experience.

Fly to Faraway for a comedy show about leaving the nest!

DIVA. ICON. INSPIRATION. She was a girl from Boston with a voice from heaven, who shot through the stars from gospel choir to dance floor diva. But what the world didn?t know was how Donna Summer risked it all to break through barriers. Travel with Donna on the path to superstardom, in a world where glitz can hide hard truths. With a score featuring more than twenty of Summer's classic hits including "Love to Love You Baby," "Bad Girls," and "Hot Stuff," this electrifying musical is a tribute to an icon of an era.

Dead for Love - The Upstairs at Avondale

Millennial Jones, Mettle and Mercury Red

Wiggly, Squiggly, Curious, and Fun with Dr. Lisa Gibbs! This dance class explores movement using the concepts of space, time, and energy in a fun, creative way!  Artist Bio: Dr. Lisa Gibbs, a former professional dancer with Southern Danceworks and the Alabama Ballet, has over seventeen years of performance experience. She has taught at Samford University, Shelton State Community College, Birmingham-Southern College, and The Pointe Dance Arts. Currently, she is a teaching artist at The Dance Foundation. Dr. Gibbs holds a BA in Dance, an MA in Elementary Education, and an EdD in Higher Education Administration, and is ABT National Training Curriculum certified. She is also an Investment Advisor Representative, helping artists invest for their future. Join her class to learn from her extensive experience and expertise in dance and education.

Alabama United Hearts for Ukraine invites you to join us in commemorating the three-year anniversary of the full-scale war in Ukraine. The event, titled "Three Years Defiant, Three Years Resilient," will take place at Railroad Park. We will gather together to honor the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people during these challenging times.

Date: Saturday, February 22

Time: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Location: Railroad Park, 18th Street, Birmingham, AL 35233

Organizer: AUHU (Alabama United Hearts for Ukraine)

More information on our website: auhu.org

Join us to show your support for Ukraine.

#StandWithUkraine #SupportUkraine #UkraineStrong #ThreeYearsDefiant #ThreeYearsResilient #AUHU