2021-2022 Impact Report
Dear Supporter,
For more than 60 years, Arts for Learning WNY has been the leading arts education organization in Western New York seeking innovative, equitable, and inclusive ways to infuse the arts into learning. Throughout this decades-long journey, we have continued to improve and adjust programming to meet the needs of the community. From the pandemic through the racial reckoning, we are constantly striving to ensure that everyone has access to arts integrated education. Our programs have evolved from our students viewing the arts on stage to becoming active participants in arts integrated education. They engage in hands-on arts exploration to learn science, math, and social studies concepts, create alongside professional artists, and have become the performers that they once viewed on stage. All of this while building the necessary skills for healthy social-emotional development. As our programs have evolved, so has our name. We are proud to continue our service to the community under our new name, Arts for Learning WNY, with the same commitment to our mission and a focus on inclusion, empathy, and awareness.
We are thrilled that this past Fiscal Year (2021-2022) saw a return to a more normalized school year for our students and our artists! In-person programming continues to grow to pre-pandemic levels including multi-session residency workshops and full school assemblies. While we are happy to be back together in-person, the residual effects of the pandemic and systemic racial inequities have exposed an increased need for social-emotional learning opportunities for our youth — a need Arts for Learning WNY is uniquely positioned to support.
Our staff, board, and teaching artists are committed to ensuring that we use the power of the arts to promote healing and systematic change to bridge racial equity gaps. This past year, we engaged in over 50 hours of training on topics including racial equity, social justice, inclusive language practices, supporting LGBTQAI+ students, trauma-informed care, and so much more! Knowledge and skills gained through these trainings will be integrated throughout every level of this organization to ensure we are continuing to combat the inequities that are systemically permeated throughout our society. Leveraging the power of the arts and the knowledge gained from these trainings, we will use our collective voice and empower local artists to guide students through healing, growth, and change.
Your support continues to provide transformative experiences for youth across all eight counties of WNY.
With Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Innovation (JEDII) at the forefront of our service to the community, we will continue to act as a reliable connector between artists and organizations, seamlessly infusing arts into every classroom.
Sincerely,
Amelia Schrader
Executive Director
Laura Douglas
Board of Directors, Chair
