Now More Than Ever

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the presentation of Otis's Report on the Creative Economy.  To a room filled with arts advocates, renowned experts in the field described the growing influence of creative industries on our local economy. What stood out to me was the discrepancy between the demands of our changing economic climate and the capacity of our current education systems to prepare for it.  As I listened, I realized just how critical and relevant the community advocacy work is that we are doing.

I'm happy to update that the advocacy initiative is moving forward with gusto.  To date, each team (Burbank, Culver City, Montebello, Paramount, Santa Monica-Malibu) has held 3-4 meetings.  By the end of the calendar year, each team should have a clearly articulated advocacy plan for implementation in the Spring and a team of leaders ready to begin taking the reins.  Through this process, we are laying the foundation for a culture of community advocacy that will ensure the continued movement toward equitable access to quality, sequential arts education programs for all students in LA County.

Now is an exciting time to get involved.  Each meeting continues to bring forth new faces with unique perspectives to share.  If you've been wondering what this initiative is about, or how you might be able to make an impact, it's not too late to find out.

With new state budget information coming down the pike this week, it is becoming increasingly clear that now is the time to mobilize.  School districts will continue to face tough fiscal challenges over the next few years, and it's all of our job to make sure that we work with district leadership to come up with creative solutions for ensuring that arts education programs are maintained and continue to move forward.