EnVision Me

EnVision Me is a 12-week project that uses the arts to empower and educate youth. The Gantt partnered with Julius L. Chambers High School to offer filmmaking instruction to a cohort of 20 interested and invested students. The cohort ranged from 9th to 12th grade students who learned every step of film production via a blend of virtual and on-site sessions. Students had access to state-of-the-art equipment and educators to learn the basics of filmmaking, from scriptwriting and cinematography, to editing and film treatment. The course included two 1.5-hour sessions per week and weekly homework assignments. Students who completed the program premiered their short films to family, friends, and the Charlotte community at the Gantt in uptown.

Click/tap here to see photos from the most recent EnVision Me course.

How Can My School Participate?

The Gantt works at the district and school leadership level to identify schools that are ready participate in EnVision Me. If you are a school principal interested in administering this program for your school, contact Nicole Beverly, Education Initiatives Manager at [email protected].

Contributors & Supporters

Envision Me is made possible through a major financial contribution from the Oscar & Heide Groomes Family Trust.

"We support The Gantt Center because of our strong sense of social conscience and sense of duty to tackle inequality. Our belief in uplifting Black culture, our personal values and desire to leave a positive legacy is why we give."

- Oscar & Heide Groomes

About The Groomes

D. Oscar Groomes is a Metallurgical Engineer, Physicist and Materials Scientist by trade. He earned BS degrees at both Tougaloo College and Brown University and an MS from Carnegie-Mellon University before joining General Electric (GE) in 1984, then GE Plastics in 1988. Mr. Groomes has held positions as President of GE Plastics South America in Brazil, General Manager of the Polycarbonate Business in Europe, President of GE Specialty Chemicals and President and CEO of GE Rail Services in Chicago, Illinois. In 2004 he left GE to join Almatis, a privately held LBO, as Chief Executive Officer based in Frankfurt, Germany. Oscar retired from Almatis after its successful sale in December 2007. Oscar is currently consulting with Groomes Business Solutions providing growth and transformation strategies, and is a Managing Director at consulting group Arcadia International and is a frequent lecturer.

Heidemarie "Heide" Groomes utilizes her 25-year record of success in leadership to help organizations reach and sustain an innovative market position in a global arena. Proficient in German, Heide has led culturally diverse teams in Europe, China, Japan, Brazil and India. Her industry experience ranges from financial services to pharmaceuticals, plastics and specialty chemicals. From 2005 to 2007 she served as Chief Commercial Officer at Almatis GmbH in Frankfurt Germany, nearly doubling the business during her tenure. Prior to this, Heide spent 11 years at General Electric (GE), where she developed a medical market strategy that launched GE Plastics into new markets. Subsequently, Heide held sales and marketing positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Mobil Plastics and PepsiCo. Heide is currently co-owner of Groomes Business Solutions with her husband Oscar, helping private equity firms from their vantage point as industry experts in the chemical and rail industries and serving as interim CEO and CCO roles for private equity-owned companies in transition.

Support is also provided by:

To learn more about making a financial contribution to support education equity, contact Aja Roberts, Director of Institutional Advancement at (704) 547-3781 or [email protected].

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