2. Mission: To make imagination a part of everyday learning Vision: We envision communities where every learner, is immersed every day in opportunities to imagine, create and succeed .
3. What if… … we focused on changing the environment - not just the programs? … we worked as a system rather than as individual entities?
4. We rely on our strong public and private partnerships. It’s how we reach so many people through so many programs. At Home. In School. In The Community.
5. The City Teachers Colleges Museums Scientists Volunteers Libraries Park & Rec Centers By surrounding children with resources at a systemic level, we are able to maximize their chance for success. Librarians Cultural Organizations Funders School Districts Artists Civic Groups Youth Organizations
6. Students who suffer from an achievement gap have been issued a double inequality . We help to bridge that gap.
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11. “ If I was a ners, I would be feeling happy because I get to hwod the babby. And I like this child. First Grader’s Classroom Writing Before One-hour Museum Visit
12. First Grader’s Classroom Writing After One-hour Museum Visit “ Being playful makees me feel like going to the park. You can see the way I look. Being happy makees me feel like I am made up of all differn kind of colros on the inside.”
13. Six Traits of Writing Dallas ArtsPartners Longitudinal Study
14. 2009 Receives Arts Education Award from Americans for the Arts for excellence in arts education 2008 The Texas Education Agency awards $2 million for Dallas after-school programs 2007 Publishes More Than Measuring a book outlining Big Thought’s philosophy and methods of assessment 2005 The Wallace Foundation awards $8.3 planning grant for citywide initiative 2004 Receives the President’s prestigious Coming Up Taller Award 2003 The U.S. Department of Education awards a $1.1 million Grant in support of an ArtsPartners national Model 2003 The Ford Foundation awards grant to expand ArtsPartners Awards and Accomplishments
15. 20,000 elementary-age students will log a combined 45,000 hours in 112 cities across North Texas that will change the face of the region for generations.
19. We look forward to celebrating with you at the culmination event at American Airlines Center!
20. Thank you for your tremendous generosity of time and resources.
Notes de l'éditeur
The Junior League and Big Thought have a great and long history together. The Junior League helped BT to get off the ground over 20 years ago when we were founded, and our founding board, as well as past board presidents, were introduced to us through your incredible organization. Many Junior League members helped write study guides, mentor the organization, and volunteer in any way that they were needed. We have become to know the Junior League of Dallas as an outstanding ally and an amazing organization. Now is an exciting time for Big Thought as we continue our work and begin this amazing journey with SLANT 45. We’re so excited that you are playing such a big role, helping us to take hold of every opportunity for our young learners in the 21 st century.
At Big Thought, our goal is not only to provide meaningful ways for children to receive the arts, but to do it equitably and systemically.
This is how we aim to make imagination a part of everyday learning.
Notes Throughout
Unfortunately, there has been a decades-long inequality built into our school systems regarding creative learning. The achievement gap is a symptom of two major inequities: An opportunity gap and a creative gap. We have to solve the problems of opportunity and creativity if we want to break the cycle of poverty and give every child the chance to succeed.
**Taken from the Partnership for 21 st Century Skills What kinds of skills do real-world “right brainers” use? If you’ll notice, these skills are almost identical to what researchers have found in those that have high-arts involvement. As we’ve found through our research, these skills can be codified through the arts and the creativity it inspires in young learners.
Discuss our own research findings which clearly correlate 21 st century skills directly to the arts and creative learning.
Big Thought has been incredibly fortunate to receive local and national funding in order to maintain and expand our work. We were able to build national models of creative learning systems through our ArtsPartners and Thriving Minds programs.
Children from all corners of the Metroplex will take part in service learning activities Some will assist those in need or beautify neighborhoods. Others might stage a play for fundraising purposes. A few may even undertake the development of a large-scale mural project simply because it lifts the spirit. Area school districts and private school systems will be enlisted to recruit groups of students and volunteers in communities across North Texas to participate in SLANT 45. A full-length feature film documentary will be shot to chronicle children as they move through their projects. The 90-minute feature will reflect their personal struggles and how their commitments and service ultimately impact their communities. A Touring Art exhibit will also tour throughout the four-county region of North Texas. The SLANT 45 Community Heroes exhibit will showcase the triumphs, failures, successes, thoughts, feelings, attitudes and behaviors of our young participants as it relates to their service-learning experience. Together, the documentary and art exhibit will highlight various “service learning adventures” that took place across our region.
For the first time ever, all five Junior Leagues will work together for SLANT 45. We will utilize volunteers as team captains, assistants, project ambassadors and for the touring art exhibit. The training is scheduled to occur mid-February for volunteers. You will receive more in depth details about the program and information at the time regarding the ways that you can help!
