Emma Rodgers Learning Laboratory

Established in 1993, Bishop Arts Theatre Center offers year-round arts education programs designed to engage students in self-development, critical thinking, decision-making, and vocabulary building. The majority of participants come from under-resourced neighborhoods and single-parent households, where access to quality arts education is often limited.

Emma Rodgers

From 1977 to 2006, Emma Rodgers co-owned Black Images Book Bazaar with Ashira Oya Tosihwe, where she cherished connecting readers with authors. In 1995, along with bookstore partners and romance writer Francis Ray, she co-founded the Romance Slam Jam (RSJ), the largest national event dedicated to African American romance writers, aspiring authors, and readers. In recognition of her commitment to the Black Romance genre, the EMMA Award was created in her honor by author Brenda Jackson, reader Brenda Woodbury, and bookseller Jackie Perkins. The first EMMA Awards were presented at RSJ 2001 in Orlando, Florida.

Today, Mrs. Rodgers describes herself as a full-time community volunteer and serves as Board Chair for Bishop Arts Theatre Center. She has also served as Curator for the Dallas Civil Rights Museum (co-founded with Lois Lilly and Ann Brown Ervin), Facilitator of the Generations Book Club (founded in 2008), and advisory board member for both the UT Southwestern DFW COVID-19 Prevalence Study (2020–present) and Remembering Black Dallas (2020–present). She is also a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including:

  • Community Hero, D Magazine’s Best of Big D Special Heroes Edition (August 2020), for creating Storytime at Bedtime at BATC

  • Volunteer of the Year Award, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 38th Annual MLK Gala (2020)

Beyond her service, Emma treasures time with family, traveling, visiting museums and historic sites, and commemorating key moments such as the Centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 2021. She also enjoys line dancing, walking four miles daily, and continuing her lifelong commitment to community and culture.

EMMA_RODGERS-Storytime-At-Bedtime

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Only 50 applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

  • A $55 non-refundable application fee reserves your space.
  • BATC follows CDC protocols for safety, and all staff and volunteers will be fully vaccinated and boosted.
  • Campers will be grouped by age range. Group 1: Ages 6-9, Group 2: Ages 10-12
  • Tuition is only $75 per week and must be paid in full by May 30, 2023. No refunds or exchanges.
  • Camp hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. We serve breakfast, lunch, and snacks. 
  • Our summer theater camp will culminate with a showcase by student participants on July 29, 2023. 
  • Financial assistance programs are available if needed. Please contact our office for assistance.
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