Dear Friends:

Today was such a joyful Friday with DCPS Bruce-Monroe 3rd and 4th graders at the Gandhi Memorial Center. This fieldtrip reminds me of how important our collective voices are in making great change. Together, we can make a difference.

Gearing up for Arts Advocacy Day and Arts Education Month with a great group of speakers-- Winter Members Meeting February 12th:

A reminder to RSVP for our Winter Members Meeting on Thursday, February 12th, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. at the Kreeger Museum in Washington, D.C. We will be holding a panel discussion regarding Arts and Humanities Education Advocacy including a presentation from Americans for the Arts. We are especially pleased to have guest speaker Councilmember David Grosso, Chairperson for the Committee on Education of the Council of the District of Columbia join us. This is a special opportunity for us to hear his vision for arts education for DC public school students.

Join Americans for the Arts Action Fund and tell the Senate to support Arts (and Humanities) Education before Monday, February 2:

As you know, some radical changes are being proposed by top Congressional leaders in the majority that could have a terrible impact on arts education.

New Senate education committee chairman Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has released a proposed reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Specifically, he has proposed terminating references to all federal core academic subjects, including arts education in the classroom.

In addition to several other changes, Senator Alexander has proposed terminating authorization of $1 billion in after-school programs, of which many include after-school arts activities for children.

Here's how you can help. Senator Alexander's Committee is inviting public comments to his proposal. Please take two minutes to review the Arts Action Fund talking points and send a customizable message to the Senate education committee by the deadline of Monday, February 2, 2015 at midnight EST.

Our collective voices can make a difference.

Namaste,

lr-y.

Join us for our Members' Meeting at the Kreeger Museum:

Throughout the fall, students from The Inspired Teaching Demonstration Public Charter School participated in a series of "Everyday Africa, Everyday DC" workshops in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. In this residency, professional photojournalists taught students about photography basics and how to share their personal stories -- and the stories of their city -- through photography.

Last week the DC Collaborative staff attended the Everyday DC reception at the Pulitzer Center. Fifth and sixth-grade students from Inspired Teaching PCS displayed their photographs, presented what they learned and held a Q&A with community members and parents. These students and teachers did a tremendous job and it was a pleasure to see the exhibition and hear the photographers talk about their work.

The DC Collaborative is proud to support the Pulitzer Center and their new partnership with Inspired Teaching PCS.  We hope to offer this program to other schools in the near future.