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X-WR-CALNAME:National Arts in Education Conference
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for National Arts in Education Conference
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T134500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T180258Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T211329Z
UID:3484-1774616400-1774619100@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session G4. Board Member Circle: Conference Recap and Next Steps
DESCRIPTION:Moderators:\nJames G. Gellert\, National Board President\, Young Audiences Arts for Learning\nBill Pearson\, National Board Chair\, Young Audiences Arts for Learning \nParticipate in a dynamic and interactive conversation about lessons learned and next steps for organizational health and vitality!
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-g4/
LOCATION:Ashlawn South
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions G,Conference Sessions,Track: Executive Leaders & Board Members
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T134500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T180121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T211306Z
UID:3483-1774616400-1774619100@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session G3. You’re Already Doing This: Simplifying Action Research and Integrating It Into Your Practice
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nSusanne Harnett\, Managing Senior Associate\, Metis Associates\nMatt Klepfer\, Research Associate\, Metis Associates\nNyla Guadalupe\, Research Assistant\, Metis Associates  \nThis session introduces the simplified IDEA approach to action research (Identify\, Design\, Enact\, Adjust)\, equipping participants with a tool to enhance the continuous improvement they already do. Educators already focus on continuous refinement and improvement of practices. Action research is simply a tool to more formally approach this refinement and tell the story about your growth as an educator and your students’ learning. Participants will learn the basics of formative assessment and action research—including how\, when\, and why to use it—and will have the opportunity to test the process. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-g3/
LOCATION:Ashlawn North
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions G,Conference Sessions,Track: Program Administrators
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T134500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T175906Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T211245Z
UID:3482-1774616400-1774619100@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session G2. Using Data to Shape the Narrative of Program Impact
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nDr. Amanda Mayes\, Data Research Manager\, Delaware Department of Education\nEllamonique Baccus\, Executive Director\, Arts Partners Wichita\nEsther Runck\, Program Director\, Arts Partners Wichita  \nIn this session\, we will examine the data from Arts Partners Wichita’s Assistance for Arts Education program. The goal of the program is to provide arts integrated education to 5\,000 students. Through visual art and music lessons\, coupled with the stories\, the program aimed to improve ELA scores and social emotional learning/work habits in elementary program participants. We will use the data collected as part of the program evaluation to begin discussing how data can be used to shape narratives around arts programming impact. We will discuss how different data points can be used to tailor discussions to a variety of stakeholder audiences. Participants can come with some of their own programming in mind and we will discuss how their data can be used to shape narratives around the impact of their programming. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-g2/
LOCATION:Ballroom A
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions G,Conference Sessions,Track: Educators & School Staff
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T134500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T175502Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T211226Z
UID:3481-1774616400-1774619100@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session G1. Let's Play! Developing Arts Learning Programming Rooted in Creative Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nAlex Novak Foster\, Education Manager\, Arts for Learning Connecticut\nJed Kornbluh\, Director of Business Development\, Arts for Learning Connecticut  \nArts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) offers a session exploring the development of a new after-school program centered on creative expression and student-led learning. This presentation will guide participants through our program design process—from initial needs assessment and visioning to curriculum development\, staffing\, and implementation. We will share the resources and tools we’ve created to support teaching artists and school partners\, including adaptable lesson frameworks\, evaluation approaches\, and strategies for building equitable\, student-centered learning environments. Attendees will gain insight into our early outcomes\, challenges\, and successes\, and leave with practical considerations for building or refining their own arts-based after-school initiatives. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-g1/
LOCATION:Ballroom C
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions G,Conference Sessions,Track: Teaching Artists
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T114500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T124500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T175239Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T211140Z
UID:3480-1774611900-1774615500@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session F4. From Story to System: How Narrative Drives Arts Education Policy in Alabama
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nAshley Lucier\, Executive Director\, Amp Up Arts\nKat Stoves\, Amp Up Arts Mobile Site Director\, Mobile Arts Council  \nIn Alabama\, the arts story is deeply tied to education and community change. Amp Up Arts\, a statewide collective impact 501(c)(3) organization and official partner of the Alabama State Council on the Arts\, has seen how storytelling can strengthen partnerships and influence policy. Working alongside the Alabama Governor’s Office and the Turnaround School Initiative\, Amp Up Arts uses narrative to highlight the role of the arts in improving engagement\, attendance\, and belonging in schools that need it most. This session\, led by Executive Director Ashley Lucier and Mobile Site Director Kat Stoves\, gives participants hands-on experience using storytelling as an advocacy tool. Together we will explore how local stories from classrooms and communities can shape conversations with superintendents\, legislators\, and funders. Participants will practice combining data and personal stories to make a clear case for arts education and will leave with templates and examples they can apply in their own work. Through this process\, we will look at how narrative helps build lasting relationships among schools\, districts\, and state partners and how shared stories can move systems forward.  \n 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-f4/
LOCATION:Ballroom C
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions F,Conference Sessions,Track: Executive Leaders & Board Members
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T114500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T124500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T211120Z
UID:3479-1774611900-1774615500@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session F3. Artistic SEL Core Practices: Foundations for Intentionally Embedding SEL in Arts Education (Pt. 2 of 2)
DESCRIPTION:Core practices are foundational\, research-based teaching and learning actions\, routines\, and strategies that support student learning and improve instruction quality. Effective teachers rely on core practices to advance learning and support consistent\, high-quality learning experiences for all students. Building on the results of artistic SEL professional learning associated with the Young Audiences RAISE project\, the ArtsEdSEL team conducted site visits to determine what artistic SEL looks like in practice\, then identified and labeled these common practices across observations as Artistic SEL Core Practices. This session will explore the practices through examples and facilitate opportunities for participants to translate these practices for themselves and their own teaching context.  \nThis session will build on Session E3. Supporting Reflective Practice: Tools to Guide Teaching Artist Growth. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-f3-artistic-sel-core-practices-foundations-for-intentionally-embedding-sel-in-arts-education-pt-2-of-2/
LOCATION:Ashlawn South
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions F,Conference Sessions,Track: Program Administrators
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T114500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T124500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T174601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T211054Z
UID:3478-1774611900-1774615500@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session F2. In Response to Place: Personal Postcard Collage as Storytelling Practice
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nLaura Pasquini\, Visual Arts Program Navigator\, Arts Integration Co-Lead\, Anne Arundel Community College\nAmy Carattini\, Ph.D.\, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Arts Integration Co-Lead\, Anne Arundel Community College\nBradley Austin\, Ph.D.\, Associate Professor of Geography\, Anne Arundel Community College\nAlex Colucci\, Ph.D.\, Assistant Professor of Geography\, Anne Arundel Community College  \nThis hands-on session blends human geography and cultural anthropology to explore how people make meaning through the places they hold dear. Participants will engage in the “Personal Postcard Collage” activity developed by the AACC Arts Integration Hub\, reflecting a meaningful place and translating its landscape\, memories\, and emotional qualities into visual and written narrative. Grounded in an ethnographic lens\, the activity invites individuals to consider both a sense of place (what we notice and observe) and the meaning of place (the stories\, routines\, and connections that shape our experiences). Through collage\, symbols\, and a guided writing prompt\, attendees will create a two-sided postcard that communicates the essence of a place that matters to them. A final reflection activity weaves multiple postcards into a larger story of shared connection. This session provides an accessible\, arts-integrated structure that helps students and communities tell their stories through imagery\, descriptive language\, and shared reflection. Participants leave with a replicable model that supports narrative expression\, belonging\, and authentic connection across classroom and community settings. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-f2/
LOCATION:Ashlawn North
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions F,Conference Sessions,Track: Educators & School Staff
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T114500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T124500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T174419Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T210954Z
UID:3477-1774611900-1774615500@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session F1. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Using Art and Imagination to build a Narrative
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nTodd Shaffer\, Staff Teaching Artist\, Young Audiences of Louisiana\nRenee Benson\, Director of Strategic Partnerships\, Young Audiences of Louisiana  \nIn this workshop\, we plan on showing alternative ways for younger students to engage with works of art using their imagination and games. The idea of using play to discovering and engage with works of art. Students using only imagination may actually jump into a painting and describe the weather or touch objects\, describing how they feel or pretend to be the artist and paint the actual works of art\, learning how to mix colors\, painting with multiple tools\, and learn key terms about the medium. With these techniques\, students will be able to imagine and create multiple narratives\, expand vocabulary and learn story elements all while quietly moving their body. These games are great for field trips to a museum or deep diving into multiple curriculums in the classroom. Landscapes\, portraits\, sculptures and abstracts all become adventures for the younger (and older) students. The best part is\, the only supply needed is a work of art and your brain!
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-f1/
LOCATION:Ballroom A
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions F,Conference Sessions,Track: Teaching Artists
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T113000
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T173922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T210821Z
UID:3476-1774607400-1774611000@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session E4. From Partnership to Impact: Building Sustainable Arts Integration Models with School Districts
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nDr. Mark King\, Vice President of Education\, Arts for Learning Maryland\nCharles Butler\, EIR Director\, Arts for Learning Maryland \nAcross the country\, school districts are seeking innovative\, evidence-based approaches to improve academic achievement\, pro-social behavior\, teacher retention\, and student engagement. Yet none of these outcomes are possible without strong\, trust-based alliances that begin at the school level. Teacher buy-in and principal support form the foundation of any successful district partnership. When a school community embraces a shared narrative of purpose and possibility\, they become the champions who carry that narrative upward into district leadership. This workshop explores how arts-integrated instruction\, when grounded in shared narrative\, becomes a powerful lever for systemic change. Drawing on a four-year Education\, Innovation\, and Research study in Math and ELA alongside practical experience coordinating teaching artists\, coaching structures\, and school-based implementation. Participants will examine how narrative functions as strategic connective tissue\, aligning teachers\, principals\, and arts partners toward a collective vision. Through testimonies\, planning tools\, and collaborative activities\, attendees will identify the story their community currently tells about arts integration and the story required to move the work forward. Participants will leave with a clear roadmap for designing or scaling arts-integrated programming—rooted in school-level partnerships\, supported by sustainable budgets\, and strengthened by a compelling alliance narrative.  
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-e4/
LOCATION:Ballroom A
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions E,Conference Sessions,Track: Executive Leaders & Board Members
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T113000
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T173714Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T210758Z
UID:3475-1774607400-1774611000@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session E3. Supporting Reflective Practice: Tools to Guide Teaching Artist Growth (Pt. 1 of 2)
DESCRIPTION:Artistic Social Emotional Learning (SEL) intentionally embeds life skill development into artistic processes and practices in service of student empowerment\, to enrich both artistic fluency and human development. There is not one prescriptive way or technique to embed SEL into arts education. Led by the Center for Arts Education and SEL (ArtsEdSEL) team members\, this session will support participants with structured reflection on their practice and a better understanding of how their classroom can be a space for rich social and emotional growth through the arts. Teaching artists\, teachers\, and arts administrators will engage in learning experiences that facilitate a better understanding of their learning culture\, develop intention with routines and mindsets to organically build SEL competencies for students\, and build strategies that support student empowerment through the SEL Pillars of Identity\, Belonging\, and Agency.   \nIt is recommended that you attend this session if you are interested in attending Session F3. Artistic SEL Core Practices. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-e3/
LOCATION:Ashlawn South
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions E,Conference Sessions,Track: Program Administrators
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T113000
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T173201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T210734Z
UID:3474-1774607400-1774611000@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session E2. Beyond the Algorithm: Preparing Students to Think\, Feel\, and Create in an AI World 
DESCRIPTION:Presenter:\nIzzi Buikus\, Artist/Teacher/Coach\, Artfully Educate/University School of Milwaukee  \nWhen I first stepped into the art room\, I believed I was teaching students how to make art. Over time\, I realized something much more important was happening. In the quiet moments of threading a needle\, in the frustration of bending a wire that refuses to cooperate\, and in the calm of pouring wax into a candle jar\, students were learning who they are. They were learning how to handle struggle\, how to stay with a challenge\, and how to trust their own ideas. As AI becomes more present in our lives\, these human skills are becoming even more essential. Instead of technical skills\, students need resilience\, curiosity\, reflection\, and a sense of identity they can stand on. The art room has always been a place where these qualities grow. Now\, we need to nurture them with intention. This session shares stories from my journey as an artist turned educator turned instructional coach\, and from the real moments that often get overlooked in art class. Participants will leave with three practical tools: Name-Frame-Claim\, Creative Identity Mapping\, and the Resilience Studio Framework. Together\, these simple practices show how creativity prepares young people for a future that needs thoughtful\, confident\, deep thinkers. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-e2/
LOCATION:Ballroom C
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions E,Conference Sessions,Track: Educators & School Staff
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T113000
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T172834Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T141812Z
UID:3473-1774607400-1774611000@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session E1. Drumming Up Connections
DESCRIPTION:Presenter:\nCraig Norton\, Teaching Artist\, Arts for Learning Connecticut \nThis participatory musical experience will show how music\, specifically drumming\, is a universal language that connects all ages\, cultures and abilities. Within the drum circle\, countless narratives can be explored\, including curriculum connections\, social emotional learning\, and personal wellness. Multiple content-area and cultural connections will be shared\, and concrete examples will be explored hands-on; participants will discuss how to apply these principles to other art forms and curricular settings.
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-e1/
LOCATION:Ashlawn North
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions E,Conference Sessions,Track: Teaching Artists
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T091000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T101500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260316T162551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T185559Z
UID:3590-1774602600-1774606500@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion. Through Their Eyes: Student\, Artist\, and Leadership Perspectives on Arts Education
DESCRIPTION:Moderator:\nStacie Sanders Evans\, President & CEO of Arts for Learning Maryland \nFeatured Panelists:\nDrew Anderson\, YA Nationally Credentialed Teaching Artist\, Arts for Learning Maryland\nDanielle Davis\, Principal\, Dream Academy Charter School (Baltimore\, MD)\nSteven Forrester\, Teaching Artist\, Arts for Learning Maryland
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/panel-discussion/
LOCATION:National Ballroom – Westin Wash.\, DC City Center\, 1400 M St NW\, Washington\, DC\, 20005\, United States
CATEGORIES:Plenary
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260327T091000
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260316T162303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T141657Z
UID:3589-1774602000-1774602600@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Friday Opening Remarks
DESCRIPTION:Special Guest Speaker:\nAyanna Hudson\, Chief Programs Officer at Americans for the Arts
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/friday-opening-remarks/
LOCATION:National Ballroom – Westin Wash.\, DC City Center\, 1400 M St NW\, Washington\, DC\, 20005\, United States
CATEGORIES:Plenary
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T144500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T154500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T172129Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193930Z
UID:3471-1774536300-1774539900@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session D4. The Board’s Role in Fundraising Success (and How to Get Them There)
DESCRIPTION:Presenter:\nDavid A. Dik\, National Executive Director\, Young Audiences Arts for Learning \n  \nGrant-funded organizations need to reassess diversifying their funding sources.  More than ever\, nonprofits are balancing earned and unearned revenue and strategically cultivating foundation\, corporate\, and individual opportunities while managing contracted and earned revenue.   \nWhat role should the nonprofit board play in this success? Explore strategies and discover low- to no-cost fundraising ideas to achieve success. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-d4/
LOCATION:Ballroom C
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions D,Conference Sessions,Track: Executive Leaders & Board Members
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T144500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T154500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T171928Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193910Z
UID:3470-1774536300-1774539900@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session D3. Joyful Learning: The Story of STEAM Told Through the Joy of Art Making
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nChristell Lewis\, Executive Director\, Young Audiences of Northern California\nKirah Caminos\, Director of Programs\, Young Audiences of Northern California  \nSince 2019\, Young Audiences of Northern California (YANC)\, in partnership with the South San Francisco Unified School District\, has supported the district’s STEAM Summer School through curriculum development and program delivery. Serving 3rd–8th grade students\, the program integrates Science\, Technology\, Engineering\, Arts\, and Mathematics through hands-on\, project-based learning. Students build essential 21st-century competencies—Communication\, Critical Thinking\, Creativity\, and Collaboration—while also supporting their social–emotional wellbeing.  \nIn summer 2025\, YANC conducted an in-depth observation and evaluation process to better understand the program’s impact. Our goal was to collect qualitative data that captured the lived\, human experience of STEAM learning. Through classroom observations\, interviews with teachers\, students\, and teaching artists\, and reflective conversations\, we gathered stories that illuminated not just what students learned\, but how they felt\, grew\, and connected. These narratives revealed the joy of learning\, the power of creative problem-solving\, and the ways students saw themselves as capable thinkers and makers. They also informed the creation of a short film and a collection of poems and monologues inspired by participant voices. In this session\, we will share YANC’s observation framework and explore how narrative—through story\, film\, and art—helps us more deeply understand\, communicate\, and honor the true impact of our work. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-d3/
LOCATION:Ballroom A
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions D,Conference Sessions,Track: Program Administrators
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T144500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T154500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T171509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193847Z
UID:3469-1774536300-1774539900@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session D2. Dramatic Adventures: Creating Original Stories with Children
DESCRIPTION:Presenter:\nAli Oliver-Krueger\, Master Teaching Artist\, Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts  \nParticipants will explore drama strategies for creating lively stories and miniature plays with young children. The story-building process provides children with opportunities to practice key literacy\, cognitive\, and social emotional skills\, use their imaginations\, collaborate\, and have fun! No prior theatre experience is needed… just a willingness to explore\, imagine\, and try something different! In this session\, participants will explore and apply strategies/techniques for creating\, or “devising” stories collaboratively with a group of young children. This session centers around supporting young children through the full storytelling process using different types of text. The session demonstrates how to center the voices of young children in creating and telling stories\, emphasizing developmentally appropriate practice for collaborating with young children and encouraging their leadership in the crafting\, telling\, and sharing of stories. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-d2/
LOCATION:Ashlawn North
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions D,Conference Sessions,Track: Educators & School Staff
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T144500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T154500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T171134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193824Z
UID:3468-1774536300-1774539900@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session D1. Embodied Narratives: Telling Our Personal and Collective Stories Through Dance and Movement
DESCRIPTION:Presenter:\nJennifer Puig\, Dance & Movement Teaching Artist\, Arts for Learning Miami  \nHow do we tell our stories when words are not enough? This interactive\, movement-based workshop explores how dance and embodied narrative practices can center voice\, identity\, power\, and collective storytelling in educational and community spaces. Grounded in dance/movement therapy principles\, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)\, and inclusive arts education\, participants will engage in experiential tools including Laban Movement Analysis\, the Four Elements framework (Air\, Fire\, Earth\, Water)\, mirroring techniques\, and the BrainDance developmental sequence to explore both personal and collective narratives.  \nParticipants will embody: Air as personal narrative\, breath\, and idea sharing; Fire as power\, voice\, boundaries\, and advocacy; Earth as grounding\, embodiment\, and ancestral presence; Water as relationships\, empathy\, and emotional flow. Through guided improvisation\, group mirroring\, and collective choreography\, participants will experience how movement becomes a tool to center whose stories are told\, how they are received\, and how collective meaning is created. The session aligns directly with the conference theme\, Telling Our Story\, while offering replicable\, trauma-informed\, and inclusive movement strategies for classrooms\, residencies\, and community-based arts programs. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-d1/
LOCATION:Ashlawn South
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions D,Conference Sessions,Track: Teaching Artists
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T143000
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T170100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193659Z
UID:3466-1774531800-1774535400@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session C4. Telling ArtsNOW’s Professional Learning Story Through Data
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nPamela Walker\, President and CEO\, ArtsNOW\nAshlee A. Lewis\, Ph.D.\, Research Associate Professor\, University of South Carolina\nMelinda Mollette\, Ph.D.\, External Evaluator\, R.E.A.L. K-12 Consulting\nDalisha Shingler\, Ph.D.\, Research Assistant Scientist\, University of South Carolina\nCrystal Collins\, Vice President and COO\, ArtsNOW  \nEvaluators from the University of South Carolina\, R.E.A.L. K-12 Consulting\, and leaders from ArtsNOW will share how they collaborated to design an impact survey\, collect data\, and ultimately tell the story of ArtsNOW’s impact on teachers’ classroom practice through high-quality professional learning. The evaluation team will share the impetus for the partnership\, including a brief description of the study design\, piloting\, and data collection. After a results overview\, ArtsNOW will share successful dissemination strategies\, including their approach to tailoring their data-based narratives to various audiences and for various purposes. Then\, ArtsNOW will engage attendees in an in-depth discussion around their own considerations for adapting the messaging of evaluation findings for different audiences. Telling ArtsNOW’s story to different audiences will be the central focus of this session. The evaluation team will first share how the perspectives and interests of different audiences such as teachers\, school and district leaders\, and funders were considered in the design of the impact survey\, and the ArtsNOW team will share how they then used the data emerging from the survey to tell the story of their strong professional learning and school transformation model to each of those different audiences. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-c4/
LOCATION:Ballroom C
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions C,Conference Sessions,Track: Executive Leaders & Board Members
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T143000
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T165841Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193628Z
UID:3465-1774531800-1774535400@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session C3. Soul of Langston: Crafting Community Narratives Through Arts and Humanities
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nAnna Heywood Green\, CEO\, Arts for Learning Virginia\nKatie E. Driskill\, Arts Integration Director\, Arts for Learning Virginia / Affiliate Director\, Coastal Virginia Wolf Trap\nAisha K. Noel\, Programs & Community Engagement Manager\, Arts for Learning Virginia\nJackie R. Adonis\, School and Community Program Coordinator\, Arts for Learning Virginia / Curriculum Support Specialist\, Coastal Virginia Wolf Trap  \nThis 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. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-c3/
LOCATION:Ashlawn South
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions C,Conference Sessions,Track: Program Administrators
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T143000
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T165410Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193606Z
UID:3464-1774531800-1774535400@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session C2. I Will... Centering Youth Voice in Storytelling
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nAshley Edinger\, Creative Career Programs Coordinator\, Sitar Arts Center\nChloe’ Smith-Morgan\, Bloomberg Arts Intern\, Sitar Arts Center\nA’mirah Wallace\, Bloomberg Arts Intern\, Arts for Learning Maryland \nIn a world where narratives shape power\, opportunity\, and belonging\, whose voices are we centering when we tell the story of our work? In this interactive\, youth-led session\, Bloomberg Arts Interns from Baltimore\, MD and Washington\, DC invite participants to examine the guiding question: Which voices are centered in our stories\, and how does this impact what is told\, how it’s received\, and how it’s retold and shared? Drawing from key practices in the Bloomberg Arts Internship—developing an artist statement or college essay\, crafting an elevator pitch\, and leading a culminating presentation—the interns will guide attendees through the very prompts that helped them clarify and claim their own voices. Participants will experience firsthand how these activities foreground student agency\, strengthen authentic storytelling\, and reshape how arts educators represent young people in narrative\, fundraising\, and program reporting. The session concludes with a spoken-word style call to action: “How will you center student voices in the stories you tell?” Attendees will leave with concrete\, youth-tested strategies\, and a personal commitment to amplifying student-led narratives in their work. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-c2/
LOCATION:Ballroom A
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions C,Conference Sessions,Track: Educators & School Staff
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T143000
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T164540Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193546Z
UID:3463-1774531800-1774535400@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session C1. Migration Stories
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nMark Diaz\, Associate Director of Education\, Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education\nPatty Okulinski\, Teaching Artist\, Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education  \nThis session explores how centering personal narratives—particularly those of migrants—shapes what stories are told\, how they are understood\, and how they are shared. Based on a RAISE classroom experience with a newly arrived student from Venezuela\, the workshop demonstrates how artmaking can become a bridge for communication when language poses a barrier. In the classroom\, students created collage-based paper luggage filled with representations of objects they would bring if forced to leave home. The session mirrors the original student project wherein classmates deepened their empathy for the newcomer’s journey to Chicago.  \nThrough hands-on art making\, workshop participants explore how images of personal objects function as narrative elements\, revealing the weight of displacement and acclimation to place. The sharing component further reinforces the guiding question by foregrounding whose voices are amplified by encouraging participants to articulate their own stories. By modeling the teaching artist’s role as mediator and facilitator of student voice\, the workshop highlights how centering marginalized or newcomer perspectives shifts collective understanding. Ultimately\, the session demonstrates that artmaking not only shares stories but reshapes how they are received\, retold\, and valued. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-c1/
LOCATION:Ashlawn North
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions C,Conference Sessions,Track: Teaching Artists
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T131500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T164300Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193436Z
UID:3462-1774528200-1774530900@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session B4. What Story Are We Telling? Reimagining Narratives Through Youth-Centered Practice 
DESCRIPTION:Presenter:\nDana Carr\, CEO\, The Creative Impact Group  \nThis session invites participants to examine how power\, identity\, and narrative shape the ways youth stories are created\, shared\, and remembered. By exploring which voices are centered—and which are missing—professionals will uncover how narrative choices impact program culture\, decision-making\, youth engagement\, and organizational equity. Participants will engage in immersive activities\, analyze real-world examples\, and practice tools to meaningfully elevate youth voice in ways that honor authenticity\, agency\, and belonging. This session guides participants toward practices that ensure young people are not only heard\, but positioned as co-authors of the stories that define their communities. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-b4/
LOCATION:Ballroom A
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions B,Conference Sessions,Track: Executive Leaders & Board Members
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T131500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T163810Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193418Z
UID:3461-1774528200-1774530900@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session B3. The Odd Couple: Data Collection and Arts Education
DESCRIPTION:Presenter:\nElizabeth Winkelhoff\, Data and Evaluation Manager\, DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative \nData collection is vital when telling an accurate story\, particularly in identifying whose story you’re telling and how to share it with a receptive audience. Identifying what you have and how to use it is a vital step in narrative impact work. During this session\, attendees will be led through a 101 on surveying and program evaluation techniques\, including ethics\, capacity\, and understanding their why. In the second half of the session\, attendees will participate in a “survey sprint”\, an activity in which they’ll design an in-person\, interactive survey with a clear goal using only the information and items provided. There is a difficult history of data collection in our sector. DC Collaborative strongly believes\, and has experienced firsthand\, that understanding the information your community is giving you is the best way to adapt to them\, and support sustainable growth in the arts. “Data” doesn’t only mean test scores\, it’s about impact\, it’s about holistic student experience. This session is in response to the oft-clerical evaluations\, and how it doesn’t need to be like that all of the time.
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-b3/
LOCATION:Ashlawn North
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions B,Conference Sessions,Track: Program Administrators
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T131500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T163518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193359Z
UID:3460-1774528200-1774530900@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session B2. Lessons Learned Through Dance: The Impact of Our RAISE Program Grant
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nTara Bach\, Art Educator\, Washington Avenue School\, Pleasantville Public Schools\nLiz Winter\, Education Operations Director\, Young Audiences Arts for Learning of New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania  \nThis session offers an inside look at Washington Avenue Elementary School’s multi-year RAISE Program Grant\, implemented as a dance residency for third\, fourth\, and fifth grade students in a school without an existing dance program. While students learned technique\, style\, and discipline\, the heart of the project was the intentional space created for them to share their perspectives and craft their own narratives through choreography. We will explore the project’s approach\, the stories that emerged from both students and the teaching artist\, and the impact these narratives had on our school community. Central to the discussion is how storytelling through movement and reflection helped build trust\, strengthen relationships\, and establish alliances essential for sustaining arts-based learning. As the grant period concludes\, we will focus on how to carry this work forward: How can the narratives generated through this residency guide our next steps? How can they help us forge and sustain the partnerships needed to expand arts opportunities for our school\, district\, and community? Participants will leave with insights on leveraging narrative as a tool for collaboration\, continuity\, and meaningful program growth. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-b2/
LOCATION:Ashlawn South
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions B,Conference Sessions,Track: Educators & School Staff
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T131500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T163155Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T193311Z
UID:3458-1774528200-1774530900@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session B1. Expanding the Narrative: The PD/Residency Model
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nSherry Norfolk\, Teaching Artist\, Springboard to Learning\nMargaret Hassenstab\, Teaching Artist\, Springboard to Learning\nBrenda Butler\, Director of Program Facilitation & Operations\, Springboard to Learning  \nSpringboard to Learning (the YA affiliate in St. Louis\, MO) has implemented a practice\, inspired by the Wolf Trap Institute\, in which professional development (PD) is embedded in arts integrated residencies. This practice expands the narrative by forging and sustaining essential alliances in schools. In this model\, staff in schools or school districts participate in professional development training combined with a residency. After an initial PD workshop\, Teaching Artists are paired with host teachers for a residency to practice the skills and strategies learned in the workshop under the guidance of the Teaching Artist. The professional development continues inside of the classroom while the Teaching Artist works side-by-side with the teacher during a residency. In this session\, the presenters will give an overview of the model\, share an arts integrated activity\, and attendees will reflect on how they can implement the same strategy.  
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-b1/
LOCATION:Ballroom C
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions B,Conference Sessions,Track: Teaching Artists
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T101500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T111500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T162409Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T205003Z
UID:3457-1774520100-1774523700@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session A4. Honoring the Past\, Activating the Future: Engaging Alumni as Leaders\, Mentors\, and Lifelong Advocates
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nEmma Parker\, CEO\, Center for Arts-Inspired Learning\nChristine Madden\, COO\, Center for Arts-Inspired Learning  \nNarrative preserves history and drives action. Alumni stories illustrate the long-term impact of programs like ArtWorks and inspire stakeholders to invest in sustainable leadership pathways. By highlighting alumni as mentors\, leaders\, volunteers\, and donors—not just storytellers—organizations create multigenerational alliances across the youth arts ecosystem. The fully implemented ArtWorks Youth Leadership Council provides a model for lifelong engagement: current apprentices develop leadership and mentorship skills that transition into ongoing alumni involvement\, extending influence beyond ArtWorks into the larger organizational ecosystem. Through intentional collaboration\, these connections intersect with other ArtWorks sites and the YA network\, amplifying resources\, partnerships\, and community impact. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-a4/
LOCATION:Ashlawn South
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions A,Conference Sessions,Track: Executive Leaders & Board Members
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T101500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T111500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T162219Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T204942Z
UID:3456-1774520100-1774523700@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session A3. Telling Our Story Together: Community-Centered Models for Arts Learning
DESCRIPTION:Presenters:\nKelly White\, Director of Education\, Young Audiences of Louisiana\nJa’nese Brooks-Galathe\, Director of Professional Learning\, Young Audiences of Louisiana\nDr. Karen Brooks Favorite\, YALA Board of Directors Member\, Young Audiences of Louisiana  \nThis 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. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-a3/
LOCATION:Ballroom A
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions A,Conference Sessions,Track: Program Administrators
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T101500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T111500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T161728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T162118Z
UID:3454-1774520100-1774523700@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session A2. Advocacy in Action: From Capitol Hill to Community Impact
DESCRIPTION:Presenter: Jonathan Rotman\, Government Relations Manager at Lobbyit \nIn this interactive session\, we’ll build on the momentum from Wednesday’s YA on the Hill. Whether you joined colleagues on Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress or are looking to strengthen your advocacy voice from your community\, this session will help you turn inspiration into action. We will unpack the roles of federal\, state\, and local governments so you can better understand where and how your voice makes an impact. YA on the Hill attendees will be invited to share their experiences – what surprised them\, what resonated with representatives\, and what strategies proved effective. We will close by crowdsourcing practical strategies for ongoing advocacy in your home communities\, from writing letters and making calls to building local partnerships. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the US Congress\, renewed confidence\, and a clear plan to keep telling your story long after the conference ends.
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-a2/
LOCATION:Ashlawn North
CATEGORIES:Advocacy,Breakout Sessions A,Conference Sessions
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T101500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260326T111500
DTSTAMP:20260409T091837
CREATED:20260128T160925Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260316T204724Z
UID:3452-1774520100-1774523700@conference.youngaudiences.org
SUMMARY:Session A1. RAISE Action Research Poster Session
DESCRIPTION:Presenters: Young Audiences Network Teaching Artists  \nResponsive Arts in School Education (RAISE) is a program of Young Audiences National\, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Now in its fifth year\, RAISE has reached over 50\,000 students across 19 cities. Teaching artists from across the network participate in multi-year online professional learning in student-empowering practices. As part of this work\, teaching artists lead local arts residencies where they apply what they’ve learned and refine best practices. Core to this process is conducting action research\, where they pose a problem of practice\, try a strategy\, and collect data to assess its results\, resulting in a reflective narrative of their own learning journey. Join RAISE teaching artists from across the country as they share what they’ve learned through this process. 
URL:https://conference.youngaudiences.org/event/session-a1/
LOCATION:Ballroom C
CATEGORIES:Breakout Sessions A,Conference Sessions,Track: Teaching Artists
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR