Thriving Minds Building a Responsive System Erin Offord

Thriving Minds Building a Responsive System Erin Offord, director of parent & family engagement Funmi Okunbolade, communications manager Seattle, WA June, 2009 © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

A Common Vision & Working Strategy Our community §Technology §Advocacy § Communications § Research & Evaluation §Fundraising §Curriculum & PD © June, 2009 by Big Thought. All Rights Reserved. believes that it’s the relationship between a variety of high quality creative learning experiences, designed to build over time, that results in lasting benefits.

Overarching Steps § Listen: Build feedback loops § Learn: Use research § Respond: Customization © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Overarching Steps Listen: Build feedback loops © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Listening Research § Surveys - 5 k kids, 2 k caregivers, 2 k educators § Family Interviews Ongoing Feedback Loops § Neighborhood Leadership Teams § Campus Parent Engagement § Partners © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Overarching Steps Learn: Use research © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Learning: Survey Results Demand Percent of Student Surveyed Said: This Discipline is “Very Important” to Me Dance Music Theater Visual Arts 140 120 100 33 80 60 40 20 36 18 16 6 29 18 9 24 29 31 29 Grades 4 -6 Grades 7 -8 Grades 9 -12 0 © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Learning: Survey Results Supply Arts Learning Opportunities Citywide and By Quadrant 21% of Total © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Learning: Survey Results Supply Arts Learning Opportunities by Age Middle School © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought. High School

Learning: Survey Results Supply Arts Learning Opportunities Excluding School Courses by Age Middle School © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought. High School

Learning: Family Interviews Preliminary Findings When families engage in creative activities together: § Homes become hubs for learning & sharing § They learn about one another & their heritage § They develop skills they value § They have skills & products they can contribute to their communities © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Learning: Family Interviews Preliminary Findings § Dallas families want creative learning but some struggle § Young people use creativity 24 / 7 § There are new ways to reach parents & caregivers § Timing of information is important § Materials should appeal to students © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Overarching Steps Respond: Customization © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Responding: Parent Engagement Pathway Awareness Personal Experience Education Involvement Advocacy Awareness: Craft message & spread the word Personal Experience: Education: Provide access & information Involvement: Advocacy: Connect message to real experiences Neighborhood Leadership Teams Mobilize parent leaders © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Responding: Neighborhood Leadership Teams Document & Report Partnership Impact Host Community Orientation Reach Community Share Meet with Neighborhood Leaders Research & Learnings Consensus on Values & Identify Develop Information Neighborhood Session Plan & with Identify Community Target Providers Neighborhood Resources & Gaps in Services Goals © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought. Programs & Summer Planning Meeting with NLT Members Allocate Funds & Review Implement Program Summer Delivery Programs to Kids for Kids & Look at Families Overall & Community Summer Providers Process

Responding: Partners Influencers Implementers Instructors School Board Dallas ISD Fine Arts Specialists Superintendent City of Dallas City Council Park & Recreation General Classroom Teachers City Manager Police Cultural Providers Private Funders Library System Individual Artists Business Community Churches Park & Rec Staff CBOs Librarians Community Boards Parents Childcare Workers Arts Commissioners Parents Church staff CBO staff Trained Volunteers Parents © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought. Beneficiaries All Dallas children Parents

Responding: Customization § Customized plans @ the neighborhood level § Customized plans @ the campus level § Communication tools © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Additional Discoveries § OST is a goldmine of opportunity § Schools are the neighborhood hubs § Need to be culturally responsive on a systemic level – not just programmatic © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Access & Quality Distribution © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Parent Demand Survey Neighborhood problems § Wasting time, unproductive activities § Unsafe outdoor play § Low achievement, over-emphasis on testing § Vandalism Creative learning solutions § Multi-age programs § Programmatic pathways fostering progressive learning § Mentorship & leadership opportunities § Community building & networking © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Parents: Key Learnings Where learning takes place varied informal settings How learning takes place broad definition of arts How learning is delivered school & OST must be linked Why families take part beyond learning a skill What kids need programs that are diverse, relevant, multi-age Programmatic challenges uneven quality, availability, sequencing, inequity Accessibility challenges lack of info & advice, cost, transportation Who’s needed teachers, role models, supportive family, transporters, facilitators © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Importance of Arts in OST Benefits of Afterschool Learning Benefits of Arts Learning § Improved engagement in learning & school attendance § Improved engagement in learning & decreased drop-out rate § Increased academic achievement § Kids handle conflict more effectively § Helps decrease involvement in delinquent behavior § Students at greatest risk show greatest gains § Keeps kids safe, healthy & on track for success § Helps students overcome obstacles of disadvantaged backgrounds § Improves attitudes about themselves & the future § Helps working families http: //www. afterschoolalliance. org/after_out. cfm Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning, President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and the Arts Education Partnership Working for Children and Families: Safe and Smart After-School Programs, U. S. Department of Education, April 2000 Involvement in the Arts and Success in Secondary School by James S. Catterall, Ph. D. © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Importance of Arts in OST Quality arts education can help students develop the four C's: Cognition think critically, solve problems, analyze & synthesize information, evaluate & make decisions Culture understand people, traditions & symbols … bridge gaps in a diverse & complicated world Communication use sights, sounds & movement to convey meaning beyond words. …interpret & understand complex symbols Creativity develop imagination, invention & innovation…. linked to scientific discovery, business planning & negotiation http: //www. ed. gov/pubs/After_School_Programs/Arts_Programs. html © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

Responding: Creative Learning Workforce Variety of involvement levels Culmination Team Volunteers Guides/ Assistants Creative Workforce Enhance Skills Creative Citizens Sharing Your Creativity Low Intensity Workshops Low - Mid Intensity Workshops & Residencies High Intensity Workshops & Residencies Performance/ Exhibition How People Learn Pre-Professional Creatives (Students) Planning Learning Experiences Sharing with Groups (Unincorporated) Professional-level Creatives Professional Teaching Artists Training © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought. Working in Schools, After Schools & Community settings Special Issues in Sharing Creativity

Neighborhood Hubs Current presence Planned Future Library Religious Inst. CBOs Rec Center High School Middle School Elementary School © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.