Session C3. Soul of Langston: Crafting Community Narratives Through Arts and Humanities

Presenters:
Anna Heywood Green, CEO, Arts for Learning Virginia
Katie E. Driskill, Arts Integration Director, Arts for Learning Virginia / Affiliate Director, Coastal Virginia Wolf Trap
Aisha K. Noel, Programs & Community Engagement Manager, Arts for Learning Virginia
Jackie R. Adonis, School and Community Program Coordinator, Arts for Learning Virginia / Curriculum Support Specialist, Coastal Virginia Wolf Trap 

This session explores how centering marginalized voices transforms arts education and community engagement. Arts for Learning Virginia’s Soul of Langston program combined arts-based workshops with a culminating performance at Norfolk’s historic Attucks Theatre, using the Langston Hughes’ themes of identity, resilience, and justice to inspire personal storytelling through poetry, spoken word, visual art, and music. Through partnerships with Norfolk Public Libraries, Norfolk Public Schools, and the Virginia African American Cultural Center, and more, the initiative demonstrated how narrative can amplify authentic voices and foster collaboration. Attendees will gain practical strategies for integrating narrative into arts learning, including a replicable framework for community workshops, tools for measuring impact, and approaches for building sustainable partnerships. The session includes a case study presentation, an interactive storytelling exercise, and lessons learned—such as aligning marketing early, strengthening partner communication, and using post-event SWOT analysis for continuous improvement.