Just learned about Turnaround Arts. Turnaround Arts is a public-private partnership led by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in partnership with the White House, U.S. Department of Education, and several private foundations. It is managed by Americans for the Arts. Through the program, celebrities in the creative arts individually adopt schools and work directly with students and faculty.
For instance, Josh Groban, having grown up with an arts upbringing, is passionate about arts education and exposing students to the arts. His adopted school is Chalmers School of Excellence in Chicago, IL. His most recent visit to the school included classroom visits, talking with students and working with them on arts integrated projects and performances.
Alfre Woodard is also a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Involved with Turnaround Arts since the program’s pilot phase, she has visited, talked and read to, and worked with students on utilizing acting and the arts in their education at a number of schools, including ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy in New Orleans, LA, Noel Community Arts School in Denver, CO. With the expansion of Turnaround Arts beyond its pilot phase, Ms. Woodard has adopted St. Helena Elementary School in Greensburg, LA. In the latest expansion of Turnaround Arts, Ms. Woodard will be working with Kamaile Academy Public Charter School and Waianae Elementary School in Waianae, HI.
This is virtuoso ukulele artist Jake Simabukuro’s first year serving as a Turnaround Artist, and he will be working with Kalihi Kai in Honolulu, HI.
Adoptions are closed for now, but next round….!
Shanahan for Ojai 