The Multicultural Children’s Art Connection (MCAC) was created in 1990 by a group of parents with children of color who were seriously concerned that their children were feeling “isolated in the community and the fear that children going to after-school activities would hear racial remarks that would leave permanent scars.” Debra Leigh was part of the pool of parent volunteers and offered dance.

MCAC’s purpose was to intentionally:

• Enrich the social, physical and cultural development of children of color and enhance their self-image, self-esteem and self-responsibility.

• Provide role models for success in a multicultural community

• Reflect the values that place spirit, family and community at the center of our lives.

• Serve the community as a resource for schools, libraries, churches and other organizations advocating multicultural education.

• Educate the community to reflect a positive change of children of color and their value in the community.

• Serve as a vehicle for bringing new families of color into thecommunity network.

The Full House Dance Company formed for children 5 to 14 under the umbrella of the non-profit MCAC and by the next year, 1992, began the annual celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday.

I became the volunteer artistic director in 1996 and continued to direct several successful public art performances including events commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Black History Month, Asian cultural celebrations, St. Cloud Human Rights Day, and Kwanzaa to enrich the social, physical, and cultural development of children of color and all children in Central Minnesota. We also strengthened collaborations with St. Cloud State University, local churches, schools, and the Paramount Theater.

I took this opportunity to hire and nurture artists of color, especially women of color, to take on teaching positions and share their cultural heritage with hundreds of children that came through our weekly Saturday and after-school practices.

In 1998, I then moved into the Executive Director position and increased grant funding and outreach into the community.

I became a Board member of MCAC in 1998 as I accepted a full-time position with St. Cloud State University as the Coordinator of precollege programs for students underrepresented in higher education and in scientific, technical and business fields by developing and implementing various components of pre-college academic enrichment programs. MCAC hired a number of Executive Directors and continued, as much as possible, to offer programming but arts programs were experiencing severe cuts across the state. By 2005 there were other organizations that offered multiethnic arts-based programs like the Black churches, Chinese and Spanish immersion programs in schools and there was generally more awareness of the need of more inclusive curriculum changes - although there is still a lot to be done.