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

2.  Technology  Advocacy  Fundraising  Curriculum & PD  Communications  Research & Evaluation Our community 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. © June, 2009 by Big Thought. All Rights Reserved. A Common Vision & Working Strategy

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

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

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

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

7. Percent of Student Surveyed Said: This Discipline is “Very Important” to Me Learning: Survey Results Demand © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

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

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

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

11. 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 Learning: Family Interviews Preliminary Findings © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

12. 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.

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

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

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

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

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. Access & Quality Distribution

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

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

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

24. 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 Parent Demand Survey © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

25. Parents: Key Learnings Where learning takes placevaried informal settings How learning takes placebroad definition of arts How learning is deliveredschool & OST must be linked Why families take partbeyond learning a skill What kids needprograms that are diverse, relevant, multi-age Programmatic challengesuneven quality, availability, sequencing, inequity Accessibility challengeslack of info & advice, cost, transportation Who’s neededteachers, role models, supportive family, transporters, facilitators © June, 2009 by Big Thought. Thriving Minds is managed by Big Thought.

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

27. 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.

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

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