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YOU DID IT… and we can’t thank you enough!

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Last week on #GivingTuesdayNow, the world came together to present a united front of hope, generosity, and kindness in a time when many are still realizing the impact created by the COVID-19 pandemic. At Arts for Learning, you stepped up to our double-the-dollars $2,500 gift match from one of our amazing board members.

WE MET OUR GOAL AND MORE!

Our Artistic and Education Manager Aaron Kirkpatrick has a special message for all who donated and how you’re helping students receive critical arts-in-education programming, even with schools shut down in Virginia. Watch here on our YouTube channel.

Even in this crisis, we need to fulfill our mission and keep making art. If you didn’t have a chance to donate, please consider doing so now: Donate here!

 

Take 10 to the Rescue

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For parents of the million-plus Virginia students who are now learning from home, it’s been a challenge—juggling working with childcare duties with trying to help kids with schoolwork. We all have newfound appreciation for our teachers!

 

Most of Arts for Learning’s staff members understand because they’re in the same boat. Chief Operations Officer Anna Heywood Green has an extra busy job managing our A4L program team, while supervising remote-learning for her fourth-grade daughter Mara who attends a Norfolk public elementary school.

Recently, Mara was having a hard day—overwhelmed by class work and a deadline to get it done. Anna heard her crying in her room so called for her to come out and chat. Anna had a suggestion for a quick mood booster—watching a Take 10 video together on Facebook.

“She stops crying instantly and says, ‘Can I’? So I get everything set up and we watched Cindy and Shelly’s Earth Day video together. We sang, she told me about the rain forest, she ‘corrected’ their program, and she did all the hand motions.”

Anna then let Mara design her Facebook “comment,” with emojis that showed an appropriate flair for the artistic.

After posting the comment, Anna asked if Mara felt better. She did—and got back to work in her room.

Do you and your kids need a break from a long monotonous day at home? You can watch our Take 10 videos anytime on our YouTube channel, with music, dance, storytelling, crafts, and more to choose from.

Like what you see? We’re paying our artists to create Take 10 videos, but we don’t receive any money to produce them. Can you give $10 to Take 10? Donate here!