Broad-based Effort:
• Generate awareness through ongoing media effort, o-eds, letters to the editor, radio interviews, etc.
• Create a slogan (create a curiosity), ex: bumper sticker
• Host a large event that draws attention from diverse groups
• Seek media training
• Create a campaign to bring attention to Arts Education Month in March
• Develop a countywide strategic plan for building and sustaining arts education
Targeted to Diverse Stakeholders:
• Support the efforts of organizations currently involved in education, i.e., the Innovation Council, United Way of the Wine Country, SR Chamber
• Create advocacy talking points for community arts providers to share at the beginning of every performance
• Create localized advocacy toolkits for the different sectors: parents (PTA’s, PTO’s, etc.), school boards, arts providers, students
• Host an all day event – bring together stakeholders, what is the role of art education in Sonoma County. Future search conference.
o Educational piece –
o What can we do as a community – moving towards action plan
• Get the message out to: Businesses, Board of Realtors, SR Chamber, etc.
Targeted to Educational System:
• Find artists for community arts projects with students
• Develop an overarching arts theme for the year
• Present to Superintendents
• Use countywide PTA to promote arts ed message
• Build community support with those who hold the decision makers accountable, like parents, etc.
• Provide teachers with information about arts education resources currently available in Sonoma County
Monday, June 29, 2009
Meeting Minutes - 6/24/09
Sonoma County Arts Education Alliance Advocacy Network
Notes from Meeting June 24, 2009
Attending: Cheryl Scholar, Mary McDougal, Fred Vedder, Bonnie Raines, Gaye LeBarron, Karin Demarest
1. Review of Proposed Action Steps compiled from past several meetings
Karin presented a list of action steps, arranged in 3 categories: Broad-based Effort, Targeted to Diverse Stakeholders, and Targeted to Education System. A discussion followed about how these efforts fall on a continuum, and if we were to choose action steps from each of these categories, we would maximize reach.
Additions were suggested for the potential action steps list, including:
Collect anecdotal support data from local schools, develop strategy to send our message via social art projects such as ArtStart, design a card for distribution, develop an interactive web presence, seek out existing venues for distributing our message (ex. Hand Cart Regatta), compile resources of what already exists, have schools post shows, performances, etc. for the public, encourage schools to “bundle” their arts (music performances, art displays at plays, etc.), seek out a Latino advocate, find ways of getting teachers/parents to value the arts, establish a membership structure to our efforts.
2. Development of Collateral Material:
We reviewed the overview document that Karin put together for Cheryl to share with Oscar Chavez. Group agreed to review in greater depth and share feedback with Karin.
Additionally, we discussed the possibility of creating a postcard. Ideas included:
• An identifying phrase, such as: Be Smart. Do Art.
• Might also include actions such as: 5 Things You Can Do to Support Arts Education:
o Talk about Arts Education
o Attend Student Arts Events
o Display Student Art Work
o Donate money, time and/or materials to local schools
o Visit our website
The postcard is in the preliminary stages of development. Cheryl offered to bring the ideas to her design team.
3. Report on meeting with Oscar Chavez, Innovation Council:
Cheryl spoke with Oscar, and he shared that the Innovation Council has already defined actions for achieving their stated goals. He is interested in our efforts. We agreed there’s value in finding out what actions they have set forth, to determine if we can provide any support.
Next Meeting: We will skip the July meeting, and reconvene in August (date TBD)
Notes from Meeting June 24, 2009
Attending: Cheryl Scholar, Mary McDougal, Fred Vedder, Bonnie Raines, Gaye LeBarron, Karin Demarest
1. Review of Proposed Action Steps compiled from past several meetings
Karin presented a list of action steps, arranged in 3 categories: Broad-based Effort, Targeted to Diverse Stakeholders, and Targeted to Education System. A discussion followed about how these efforts fall on a continuum, and if we were to choose action steps from each of these categories, we would maximize reach.
Additions were suggested for the potential action steps list, including:
Collect anecdotal support data from local schools, develop strategy to send our message via social art projects such as ArtStart, design a card for distribution, develop an interactive web presence, seek out existing venues for distributing our message (ex. Hand Cart Regatta), compile resources of what already exists, have schools post shows, performances, etc. for the public, encourage schools to “bundle” their arts (music performances, art displays at plays, etc.), seek out a Latino advocate, find ways of getting teachers/parents to value the arts, establish a membership structure to our efforts.
2. Development of Collateral Material:
We reviewed the overview document that Karin put together for Cheryl to share with Oscar Chavez. Group agreed to review in greater depth and share feedback with Karin.
Additionally, we discussed the possibility of creating a postcard. Ideas included:
• An identifying phrase, such as: Be Smart. Do Art.
• Might also include actions such as: 5 Things You Can Do to Support Arts Education:
o Talk about Arts Education
o Attend Student Arts Events
o Display Student Art Work
o Donate money, time and/or materials to local schools
o Visit our website
The postcard is in the preliminary stages of development. Cheryl offered to bring the ideas to her design team.
3. Report on meeting with Oscar Chavez, Innovation Council:
Cheryl spoke with Oscar, and he shared that the Innovation Council has already defined actions for achieving their stated goals. He is interested in our efforts. We agreed there’s value in finding out what actions they have set forth, to determine if we can provide any support.
Next Meeting: We will skip the July meeting, and reconvene in August (date TBD)
Monday, June 1, 2009
Meeting Minutes - 5/27/09
Sonoma County Arts Education Alliance Advocacy Network
Notes from Meeting May 27, 2009
Attending: Cheryl Scholar, Mary McDougal, Jennifer Sloan, Vickie Arden, Bronwen Sheers, Noel Buehler, Laura Bennett, Karin Demarest
1. Report on past Action Items:
Karin shared that Paul Flores (Latino Poet) has been contacted, and is interested in supporting our efforts (see attached email.) Also, El Sistema USA is developing a Fellows Program, and will be looking for communities interested in developing their own “nucleos.” Karin is working with El Sistema USA and Harmony School in Brooklyn to learn more.
2. Review of Goals & Objectives:
We reviewed the document generated in our first meeting outlining initial goals & objectives, highlighted the areas of interested, and called out what was missing:
• Engage students in the planning process
• Develop a broad network of advocates: create a database
• Provide spokesperson training to key advocates
• Leverage existing local research to advance our message
• Identify gaps that have been called out by the Innovation Council, and determine how arts education can fill those gaps
• Investigate how the arts have turned around drop-out rates
3. Short-term Goals:
Everyone agreed that leveraging local efforts was an effective approach. We focused on the efforts of the Innovation Council (IC), as they have highlighted education as one of three primary strategies for supporting the growth and health of Sonoma County.
• Meet with the Innovation Council to develop strategies that will support their initiative
Action Items:
- Generate questions for Cheryl for her meeting with Oscar Chavez of the Innovation Council (everyone!)
- Meet with Oscar to explore further connections between our group and IC (Cheryl)
- Meet with Don Russell to discuss the Aiming High program. (Karin)
- Collect research that shows how the arts impacts drop-out rates, community engagement, workforce skills (everyone)
- Collect names of students to serve as advocates (as needed bases) (Bronwen)
4. Long-Term Goals:
With and eye towards the future, we also discussed:
• Establishing long-term funding support, such as ¼ cent tax (similar to Open Space)
• Developing a countywide Strategic Plan for Arts Education
• Working with the 11 countywide Chamber’s to establish a commitment from the labor force
Next Meeting: June 24, 4:00 – 6:00
Notes from Meeting May 27, 2009
Attending: Cheryl Scholar, Mary McDougal, Jennifer Sloan, Vickie Arden, Bronwen Sheers, Noel Buehler, Laura Bennett, Karin Demarest
1. Report on past Action Items:
Karin shared that Paul Flores (Latino Poet) has been contacted, and is interested in supporting our efforts (see attached email.) Also, El Sistema USA is developing a Fellows Program, and will be looking for communities interested in developing their own “nucleos.” Karin is working with El Sistema USA and Harmony School in Brooklyn to learn more.
2. Review of Goals & Objectives:
We reviewed the document generated in our first meeting outlining initial goals & objectives, highlighted the areas of interested, and called out what was missing:
• Engage students in the planning process
• Develop a broad network of advocates: create a database
• Provide spokesperson training to key advocates
• Leverage existing local research to advance our message
• Identify gaps that have been called out by the Innovation Council, and determine how arts education can fill those gaps
• Investigate how the arts have turned around drop-out rates
3. Short-term Goals:
Everyone agreed that leveraging local efforts was an effective approach. We focused on the efforts of the Innovation Council (IC), as they have highlighted education as one of three primary strategies for supporting the growth and health of Sonoma County.
• Meet with the Innovation Council to develop strategies that will support their initiative
Action Items:
- Generate questions for Cheryl for her meeting with Oscar Chavez of the Innovation Council (everyone!)
- Meet with Oscar to explore further connections between our group and IC (Cheryl)
- Meet with Don Russell to discuss the Aiming High program. (Karin)
- Collect research that shows how the arts impacts drop-out rates, community engagement, workforce skills (everyone)
- Collect names of students to serve as advocates (as needed bases) (Bronwen)
4. Long-Term Goals:
With and eye towards the future, we also discussed:
• Establishing long-term funding support, such as ¼ cent tax (similar to Open Space)
• Developing a countywide Strategic Plan for Arts Education
• Working with the 11 countywide Chamber’s to establish a commitment from the labor force
Next Meeting: June 24, 4:00 – 6:00
Education one of three areas of focus for Innovation Council
This from a 2/26/09 article in the North Bay Business Journal about the Innovation Council's education efforts:
"Without improvements in education levels, pending retirements of baby boomers coupled with a fast-growing Latino population and higher costs in Sonoma County’s communities will create skilled-labor shortages, the council found.
“One objective is to build a world-class work force based on educational achievement, career training and exploration as well as lifelong learning,” Mr. DeCaminada said.
“Sonoma County has an acute problem – only 62 percent of Hispanic high school students graduate. In a recent survey, 66 percent of major Sonoma County businesses had difficulty finding qualified job applicants. The current education system does not fully equip students with necessary real-world job skills,” he said.
“At the same time,” he added, “the availability of career technical education courses offered in public schools is declining. Only 31 percent of California high school students possess some form of career training, and only 25 percent are expected to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.”
This task force will bring together educators, businesses and Latino leaders to determine what needs to be done to provide workplace-skills training and close the education gap by increasing the percentage of Hispanic students graduating from high school. The group will also explore mentoring and tutoring programs, internships and ways to offer more career technical education to more students (MESA, STEM, Math/Science Academy, Algebra Academy, Work-Ready Certificates, Online Career Planning, etc.)."
Click here for the full article
"Without improvements in education levels, pending retirements of baby boomers coupled with a fast-growing Latino population and higher costs in Sonoma County’s communities will create skilled-labor shortages, the council found.
“One objective is to build a world-class work force based on educational achievement, career training and exploration as well as lifelong learning,” Mr. DeCaminada said.
“Sonoma County has an acute problem – only 62 percent of Hispanic high school students graduate. In a recent survey, 66 percent of major Sonoma County businesses had difficulty finding qualified job applicants. The current education system does not fully equip students with necessary real-world job skills,” he said.
“At the same time,” he added, “the availability of career technical education courses offered in public schools is declining. Only 31 percent of California high school students possess some form of career training, and only 25 percent are expected to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.”
This task force will bring together educators, businesses and Latino leaders to determine what needs to be done to provide workplace-skills training and close the education gap by increasing the percentage of Hispanic students graduating from high school. The group will also explore mentoring and tutoring programs, internships and ways to offer more career technical education to more students (MESA, STEM, Math/Science Academy, Algebra Academy, Work-Ready Certificates, Online Career Planning, etc.)."
Click here for the full article
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