Local arts nonprofit seeks renewed county support for free summer program after $20,000 shortfall

At the public-comment portion of the April 1 meeting, Moving Education program director Frenchy Haynes and volunteers detailed a free summer arts intensive that offers dance, visual arts, music, writing and food-justice activities for local youth.

Haynes described program growth since 2021 and said the 2025 program cost $50,000 to stage; he reported the program currently faces a $20,000 funding gap despite having raised $30,000 in private support. He noted partnerships with FSU Panama City, FAMU extension and Gulf Coast CareerSource and emphasized that CareerSource funds youth stipends for up to 15 participants. Volunteers James Grater and Kathleen Binder recounted a multi-arts project (“Letters to Our Fathers”) and urged continued county support to keep the program free for children.

Commissioners thanked presenters and did not take immediate funding action at the meeting; the program coordinator said he would send video and documentation to the county coordinator for distribution to commissioners.

Quote: “It costs us $50,000 to do the camp and that is providing a space rental... we are at a $20,000 deficit,” program director Frenchy Haynes said.

Ending: No appropriation was made at the meeting; commissioners received the request and asked staff to route the program’s materials for future consideration.