Session A3. Telling Our Story Together: Community-Centered Models for Arts Learning

Presenters:
Kelly White, Director of Education, Young Audiences of Louisiana
Ja’nese Brooks-Galathe, Director of Professional Learning, Young Audiences of Louisiana
Dr. Karen Brooks Favorite, YALA Board of Directors Member, Young Audiences of Louisiana 

This session examines how Young Audiences of Louisiana (YALA) centers community voices, culture bearers, and lived experiences to deepen professional development and arts learning. Through our Arts Integration Residencies (AIR), Transformative Change Initiative (TCI), and Teaching Artist Institute (TAI), we intentionally “pass the mic” to those whose stories define Louisiana’s cultural landscape. Participants will explore how YALA forms authentic partnerships with institutions such as The Historic New Orleans Collection, as well as with local historians, civil rights leaders, and Indigenous scholars. These collaborations bring rich, narrative-driven history directly into classrooms and training environments. The session will also highlight the role of media documentation—specifically Legacy Remains, a short documentary commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and honoring the experiences of our Teaching Artists. Presenters will demonstrate how film can uplift culture bearers, preserve intergenerational stories, and function as an accessible educational tool. Attendees will walk away with concrete strategies for developing community-rooted professional development models, elevating cultural narratives, and training teaching artists who reflect and represent the communities they serve.