Patron is a champion for cultural life in North Louisiana
Community Gems, a program in cooperation with Th e Community Foundation and Clarkes Jewelers, is recognizing another deserving Gem in a unique way – with jewelry.
Tina Kendrick will be honored as the next Community Gem and will enjoy a beautiful necklace, courtesy of Clarkes Jewelers. Nicknamed “Gemma”, this exquisite piece is part of a loan to Kendrick and prior Gems as a way of recognizing local women for their hard work and community contributions.
“To identify Tina Kendrick as a Community Gem is perfect because her warmth, expertise, hard work and passion are precious commodities,” Alexander Kent, executive director of the Robinson Film Center, said. “[Kendrick] is invaluable. Our community is just plain lucky to have such a clear voice speaking out for arts and education.”
Although a native of Lafayette, Kendrick has been a Shreveport resident since 1980 and aft er her retirement in 2009 has become a great champion for the cultural life of her adopted city.
Kendrick earned a degree in music education at Louisiana Tech University and began teaching piano and music while still in Ruston. With a deep interest in music therapy – she was offered an opportunity to teach students with special needs and returned to Tech to become certified in special education and later earned her master’s in special education and administration. Following her years as a teacher, she was afforded several opportunities to serve in positions of educational leadership - both in Lincoln and Caddo parishes. It was those professional experiences that opened the door for her to serve at the regional level – initially as the special education coordinator and later as the director of the Region VII Educational Service Center for the Louisiana State Department of Education where she served until her retirement in 2009.
Her passion for the arts and community has led her to become involved with a number of nonprofit organizations.
Some of her projects have seen her working with Louisiana Association of Non-Profi t Organizations, Leadership Coaching Grants, Caddo Council on Aging, Highland Restoration Association, HOPE for the Homeless and the Dittles Fairfield Community Garden.
Aft er her decision to accept the invitation to serve on the board of the RFC, Sylvia Goodman, Henry Price and her passion for education convinced her to step into the role as chair of the education committee as she saw the exciting and innovative educational opportunities the Robinson could off er the community.
“I felt the Robinson would be a great outlet to engage our talented and high performing as well as our at risk students to become motivated and inspired to learn the required core content and skills using fi lm as an instructional strategy,” Kendrick said.
She became, and remains a member of the Robinson Film Center Board of Directors and served as president in 2010-12.
“Volunteering allows you to share the heart and soul of your life experience and be rewarded by contributing to your community’s quality of life. Th e Robinson exposes the community to the world through film,” Kendrick said. “It has been incredibly rewarding to be involved with the Robinson Film Center. To be a part of something that started with a dream of its Founders to becoming a stable and vital partner in downtown development and the arts and education community exceeded my wildest expectations as a Board Member. Th e RFC is a real cultural asset to the Shreveport- Bossier community – one that most cities our size simply does not have. We are so fortunate that the RFC founders, Alex Kent, and his staff coupled with the leadership of the board of directors are committed to continuing to build a sustainable future as a State of the Arts Independent Film Center facility,” Kendrick said.
– Karl Hasten
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