JULY 2021
SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS NEWSLETTER
Dear Educators,

Even as students enjoy their well earned summer vacation, we at the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative know that the work in schools never truly stops, even in the summer months. This month, join me in celebrating our hardworking principals and administrators as they continue to work for equity, justice, and fair access to arts and humanities education. As we recognize their continued efforts and preparation for the fall, let us look towards the 2021-22 school year with hope and excitement for what is to come! 

Let me introduce myself: my name is Penelope Musto, and I am thrilled to serve as the School Partnerships Intern at the DC Collaborative this summer. I am a recent graduate of St. Olaf College, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Management Studies. Through my studies and professional experiences, I developed a passion for equity and access in the arts, especially in the classroom. This interest led me towards the DC Collaborative, and I am so excited to learn and grow through this fantastic experience! 

Table of Contents:

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DC Collaborative Announcements
Blog: Equity and Access in the Arts: How Arts Organizations Can Learn from the Pandemic

"For many people, the accessibility measures and creative presentation methods during the pandemic allowed them to access arts events in ways they normally could not. Online programming, though a necessary evil for some, is a priceless opportunity for people facing a wide variety of equity and accessibility barriers. How can we as arts professionals reopen our spaces, and continue to serve those people for whom the arts have only recently been made accessible?"

This summer's School Partnership's intern Penelope Musto shared her experiences and perspective on equity and access in the arts in a recent blog post. Check out this piece and other updates from the DC Collaborative on our Story Bank blog.
AHFES News for Principals
Informational Meetings for Principals

Do you advocate for equitable access to meaningful education for your students? Have you seen the arts and humanities education shift the mindsets of your students and educators? Then our signature Arts and Humanities for Every Student (AHFES) program is just for you! Our School Partnerships Manager, Ashlee McKinnon, manages over 119 DCPS and DCPCS relationships to ensure that educators are able to provide engaging, enriching, and equitable arts and humanities programming for grades PK-12th grade. Please schedule a 30 minute informational meeting with her to learn more about the AHFES program for SY21-22. 
Save the Date: AHFES Educator Orientation is August 23
 
AHFES Educator Orientation for the 2021-22 school year is taking place on August 23rd. Be on the lookout for more information coming soon!
Distance Learning Resource Database Program Spotlights

The DC Collaborative's Distance Learning Resource Database offers remote engagement opportunities for students in a wide variety of arts and humanities fields. Check out the featured programs below and find many more on the Database's program finder.


Early Education: GALA Hispanic Theatre: Leyendo Con GALita
Elementary School: IN Series: Duke Ellington's Neighborhood
Middle School: Day Eight: DC Poets, DC Stories
High School: Avalon Theatre: Film "Soundtrack for a Revolution"
Educator Opportunities
Creative Spark! Kickoff

This Monday marks the beginning of this summer’s Creative Spark! program featuring thirteen residencies taught by a diverse group of teaching artists. To kick off the program, Regie Cabico led his first workshop of Ego Tripping & The Marvelous “I”: An Introduction to Performance Slam Poetry with middle school students at Mary McLeod Bethune PCS- Brookland Campus. Creative Spark! programming will continue through the summer until August 6. Any summer school teachers still interested in requesting a program for their students should contact our Special Projects Consultant Kai Alexis at kai@dccollaborative.org.
The Center for African Studies Summer Institute for Educators presents Voices from the Swahili World: Part I


The 2021 Virtual Summer Institute for Educators will launch Part I of "Voices from the Swahili World", a series of planned workshops and educational experiences throughout the 2021-2022 academic year. During this three-day summer institute, educators will learn about the people and culture of the Swahili Coast through the lens of three ports of call - Lamu, Mombasa and Zanzibar. The program presentations will focus on the cultural arts (language, poetry, decorative arts, music, food and dress) of these regions.
 
Participants will gain an awareness of the diverse cultural heritage of the Swahili Coast through presentations, participant discussions and Q&A. The institute is open to K-12 educators across disciplines. No fee required.

The program will run 3 days: Friday, July 30, Monday, August 2, & Tuesday, August 3, 2021 from 9:30am - 2:30pm.
National Museum of the American Indian Summer Virtual Field Trips and Virtual Teacher Institute

Summer Virtual Field Trips
These live and interactive programs led by a museum educator focus on specific topics in Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary lives. All programs are conducted via Zoom. Virtual field trips are FREE, but advance registration is required. A variety of programs are available for participants ages 5 and older. Both families and camps are welcome during the summer sessions.

Youth in Action: Conversations about Our Future series
Hear from young Native activists and changemakers from across the Western Hemisphere who are working toward equity and social justice for Indigenous peoples. Topics vary from month to month and programs are designed for middle and high school students.

2021 Native Knowledge 360° Virtual Teacher Institute
Tuesday, July 20–Thursday, July 22; 1–2:30 p.m. EDT
Native Knowledge 360° is the National Museum of the American Indian’s initiative to transform teaching and learning about Native Americans. This free three-part webinar series is for education professionals who want a content-rich professional development experience that provides foundational knowledge about U.S. federal Indian policies and their impact on Native Americans. Participants will learn about federal Indian policy periods and how they shaped relationships between Native nations and the United States. Participants are strongly encouraged to register early and attend all three sessions. Attendance is limited to 1,000 and available first come, first served.
The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art's Summer Teen Writing Workshops- I Am: Narrating the Voices in Africa's Arts


The "I Am" teen summer writing workshop centers on inclusive leadership and social responsibility while studying works of African art. Following the popularity of African American poet and activist Amanda Gorman, spoken word and poetry has gained more popularity and relevance in the United States and globally.
Ways to Give
Donate to the DC Collaborative online or remit payment by check to:

DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative

The DC Collaborative is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

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The DC Collaborative is a recipient of an FY21 General Operating Support Service Grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
The DC Collaborative is proud to receive a grant for its Collective Impact work supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The DC Collaborative is the backbone support organization that leads members of the Any Given Child DC program, part of The John F. Kennedy  Center for the Performing Arts.