About Us
About Us
We can do so much with so little,
and you can be a part of that!
Overview
IMAA is a nonprofit organization that develops at-risk children from low income, marginalized, and minority families by engaging them in movement arts and educational activities.
Movement arts activities include gymnastics, acrobatics, and dance. This conditioning strengthens youth emotionally and physically as well as prepares them for competitions and special events.
Educational programming focuses on leadership development as well as emotional and social intelligence. This programming and these activities assist youth to improve their adaptive functioning, leadership, and resiliency, increasing their participation in healthy and productive behaviors and decreasing their involvement in maladaptive activities (violence, crime, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, etc.).
Mission
Promote positive youth development through the movement arts of gymnastics, acrobatics, and dance.
Vision
Children develop into productive, successful, and healthy adults. A sustainable charitable organization that fosters the well-being and empowerment of youth through the movement arts and education so that children develop into productive, successful, and healthy adults.
History
Founded in 2018, the International Movement Arts Academy is initiated by an international award-winning gymnast who founded the original model, the Foundation Santiago Marino in New Sparta, Venezuela approximately 15 years ago.
Founded in 2004, the Foundation Santiago Marino is a non-profit organization dedicated to the comprehensive development of low-income children and adolescents through gymnastics, acrobatics, dance, and the arts. The Foundation is registered in the Municipal Sports Institute of Marino, the Sports Institute of New Sparta, the Venezuelan Gymnastics Federation, the International Federation of Gymnastics, and the Suvalterno Register of New Sparta.
Foundation youth represented Venezuela internationally at events in Japan 2010 and 2012, Colombia 2014, and Ecuador 2016. The Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life of children and adolescents providing an opportunity for positive change and a better world.