This symposium will focus on developing leadership capacity within towns and cities between like-minded citizens who support the arts and arts education, including local cultural council members, parents, arts educators, school policy makers, and practicing artists.  Featured will be staff of The Ariel Group, Lexington.  Through experiential exercises from the theater, participants will learn how great actors develop powerful communication skills and how these skills apply directly to their leadership roles. The day will leave you feeling energized, motivated, and ready to tackle arts advocacy locally, regionally, and nationally!

8:30 AM  Registration, refreshments

9:00 AM  Plenary Session: LEADERSHIP PRESENCE: Dramatic Techniques to Reach Out, Motivate & Inspire.  Belle Linda Halpern, Founding Partner, The Ariel Group

11:15 AM  Lunch-"Job Alikes" Tables

12:15 PM  Plenary Session: Identifying What You Want & How to Ask For It! (A|L Leadership Team)

1:15 PM  Break-Out Sessions-Please Choose One:

A.  Being "Arts Smart." Young Audiences-Gail Zarren, Facilitator.

B.  Plenary Session: Making the "Ask." A|LAdvocacy Leadership Team Members, Facilitators. 

2:30-3:30 PM  Group Presentations of role plays; Wrap-up of day's events.  Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, Representative Kay Khan, Westborough Superintendent Marianne O'Connor

Join Our Other Honored Guests:
Nick Page is a composer, conductor, author, and inspirational song leader. From 1983 to 1986, Mr. Page was a conductor with the Chicago Children's Choir and he currently directs the Mystic Chorale of Boston as well as leading sings and workshops throughout the Americas and Europe. He has guest conducted at many festivals and concert venues including Carnegie Hall. He is the author of three books for teachers including his SING WITH US songbook (Hal Leonard) and SING AND SHINE ON (World Music Press).

Sonia Chang-Diaz is the first Latina woman elected to the Massachusetts State Senate, serving her first term representing various Boston neighborhoods.  Currently, Sonia serves as the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, vice-chair of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business committee, as a member of the Education, Elder Affairs, Housing and the Municipalities and Regional Government committees, and is Co-Chair of the newly formed Cultural Caucus.  

Kay Khan is the State Representative for the 11th Middlesex District in Newton serving her eighth term.  She has been a leading voice for affordable and compassionate health care, public education, housing and human services. Kay strongly promotes better transportation and a healthier environment. She has also been the legislature's leading advocate for progressive policies for incarcerated individuals, including women and their children.  Kay co-founded the Newton cultural Alliance, a coalition of non-profit arts and cultural organizations. She is a member of numerous caucuses, including the Cultural Caucus in the MA Legislature.

Marianne O'Connor, Superintendent of Schools, Westborough, Massachusetts, just recently assumed her position as superintendent after serving 18 years in the Westborough Schools as teacher, principal, director of curriculum, and deputy superintendent.