Arts and Culture United States Project #9220

Teach Literacy through the Arts in DC, MD, and VA

by Story Tapestries Inc.

Teach Literacy through the Arts in DC, MD, and VA

Project Report | Dec 24, 2021
Reflect. Refuel. Renew. Headed toward 2022!

By Arianna Ross | Founder and CEO

Wishing you and your loved ones

space to reflect on this past year

time to rest and refuel your body and mind

energy and support to take on new adventures in 2022!

We took a moment to reflect with some of our teaching artists and wish to share these uplifting stories with you.

Last May 2021, while co-teaching my first on-site residency since March 2020, I was reminded of the fact that every student is unique and has individual needs. I encountered a student that was very detached and uninterested, which resulted in actions of fidgeting, inappropriate shouting out, and overall disruptive behavior. I took the time to meet with one of the teachers and found out that this particular student had difficulty writing and was more engaged when he was able to type his answers. Once we discovered and implemented this accommodation the student began to thrive as well as participate and even take on more responsibility. It was a nice reminder to always take the time to search for a solution. We never really know what the problem may be until we take the time to observe, inquire, experiment, and reflect.

- Valerie Baugh-Schlossberg, Program Manager and Teaching Artist

Working with the staff and young ones at Kids Villa was quite the delight! The power of beatboxing has a surprising way to relax an apprehensive 2-5 year old who is already used to an established pattern for their day. I was very fortunate to be a new addition to their daily schedule. Each group connected in their own way with the music, movement, activities and learning. We explored the 4 seasons, steady beat, end rhyme, and much, much more. I look forward to returning. They made me feel like I was famous!

- Jamaal "Mr. Root" Collier

We worked alongside a mentorship group created by YMCA Youth and Family Services. We coordinated a series of Amplify US! workshops with the mentors, with and without their mentees, to create space for self exploration regarding why they decided to be mentors, what kind of relationship they wanted to have, and what impact they would like to have on their mentee. By partnering with this preexisting program and creating an Amplify US! space tailored to their needs, we've created an opportunity for participating members' voices to be amplified and we can better track the impact of this specific program.

- Michelle Faulkner-Forson, Innovation and Partnerships Director

This remarkable period in our lives has intensified the need for connection and conversation. Through storytelling, we can capture narrative time capsules community experiences and their resulting impact. Let this moment be a reminder not to wait. Now is the time to have conversations...to share our stories and listen to the stories of our neighbors and friends.

Think it’s a great idea in theory but maybe you aren’t sure where to begin? A great conversation often starts with a question or a prompt. What's your favorite food? Tell me about your favorite holiday tradition. What is/was your neighborhood like? If you could make any wish for 2022, what would it be?

Our wish is for you to know how much we appreciate all the ways you contribute to the mission of Story Tapestries and the vision of a more joyful, equitable world for all! You were the difference for 350,000+ children, educators, moms and dads, and seniors in the Greater DC region, across Maryland, and beyond. You created exciting reasons to show up and participate enthusiastically at school, at work, and at home, and you provided valuable work opportunities to artists who were afraid they wouldn’t make rent.

On behalf of the Story Tapestries staff, Board members, teaching artists, our volunteers, community partners and me: thank you!

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Nov 23, 2021
Transforming our world of ME to a world of WE

By Arianna Ross | CEO

Cultivating a love for learning

Your dollars make all the difference! You are helping children fall in love with learning and realize their capacity to read and write. The video shared below (click to watch now) is just one example of the power of collaboration. It came about with the support of individuals like you who are invested in your community, alongside local businesses, educators, and artists. Story Tapestries has witnessed over and over again the incredible power of the arts to shift the dynamics so community members focus on what “WE” can create, realizing the capacity we each have to create possibility for another person.

It is so exciting and humbling to see businesses stepping up and supporting the ability to make this kind of “magic” happen. Our network - that’s you - is a true gift as you’re constantly thinking about how you can support the community. Your contributions have expanded the reach of arts programs to over 350,000 community members this year - WOW! Your support has grown beyond a simple donation of dollars to a true partnership that values the capacity for the arts to impact learning. The shift began with conversations with local business owners like Dottie Fitzgerald. When Dottie heard about the urgent issues community members were facing during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was moved to action. Families did not have the tools they needed to support strong, passionate, committed, thoughtful learners. Youth were failing - struggling academically as well as emotionally - and the education gap was growing. Parents were mentally exhausted and worried about how to make ends meet while also helping their children be successful. Story Tapestries had a proven solution: provide access to supplies and engaging learning opportunities that use the arts to make the information and experience fun and inclusive of all. Dottie, and others, jumped in to make sure the youth who needed these resources the most had access.

As a result, students expanded their minds and discovered a LOVE of learning! Another teacher shared that her students treasure the supplies they received in their arts and literacy kit like they are gold because before we sent them their pens, pencils, markers and journals, they used to do their math on paper towels. Last year, to complement our virtual and in-person programs, we gave out 9,000+ arts and literacy kits. The need is still great, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with you to expand our reach to 10,000 more youth who can’t wait to receive their own kit!

Bridging the education equity divide

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Sep 29, 2021
Movement makes you braver

By Arianna Ross | CEO

** Be sure to scroll down for a special invitation to an ONLINE celebration this Friday, October 1st - you won't want to miss it! **

As children, and truthfully at every age, when we experience emotion it can negatively impact our behavior and make us feel out of control. Just remember how it felt the last time someone cut you off on the highway - and then how you reacted physically. This emotions-mind-body loop is an important part of social emotional learning. A group of young learners had a chance to explore how movement and giving names to emotions can help make better decisions related to their subsequent behavior. Oh yes, and simultaneously build vocabulary and communication skills. Let's hear from Teaching Artist and Program Manager, Valerie Baugh-Schlossberg to learn more about this program:

"This past summer, July 2021, I was finally able to return to in-person indoor teaching for some of our youngest artists. It was such a joy to look into the eyes of students and experience the face to face energy exchange that drives so much of our work (from 6 feet away, of course). In the preschool class we mastered identifying emotions and learning how to make physical choices to help us alter those feelings. While working with three older preK students, just about to enter Kindergarten, we set daily personal goals centering around leadership and personal responsibility. Each student was guided to select a goal based on what they would like to improve.

Student 1 identified that he would like to be a better leader for one of the younger preschool students, by modeling best behavior when participating in the class activities.
Student 2, who regularly struggled with impulse control and attention seeking negative behavior, was guided to ask questions if he did not understand a concept or direction.
Student 3, a girl who was very engaging and participatory when in the small group, but would suddenly become very shy when joined by the younger students, was encouraged to share out to the entire group at least once daily during the residency sessions.

Each student rose to the occasion and made progress with their goal. What was most rewarding about this experience was the bravery that each student demonstrated as they took larger risks everyday as they successfully worked on their goal. I believe the social emotional movement activities introduced in the residency helped the students first understand how and what they were feeling and then take steps to alter their physical behavior. Once they had grounded themselves a bit, they were able to have the mental space to enact positive change."

Thank you, Valerie, for sharing this powerful story about one way the arts can support literacy and social emotional learning.

We are excited to shine light on stories like this, and on all of our supporters like YOU this Friday, October 1st from 6:30-8:00pm for our ONLINE Gala - Elevating Voices - Celebrating Community. As a donor and supporter via GlobalGiving, we extend this special invitation to join us:

Get your tickets now!

Every ticket purchase is a donation to support the mission of Story Tapestries.
If you can make a donation, it would be much appreciated.
If not, please use the code below for an exclusive free ticket:
GLOBALGIVINGFRIEND
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This entertaining evening - hosted by Emmy award-winning sportscaster, Jumoke Davis, and featuring guest performers and many more surprises - is our way of saying THANK YOU to champions for youth and community like YOU who have invested in our mission and vision.

I hope to see you there this Friday!

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