The Power of the Arts: Identity, Belonging, and Agency/Let's Talk Power Live! 📱

As schools across the country review budgets and make difficult decisions about priorities, the arts often find themselves on uncertain ground. But what if the arts are not enrichment? What if they are essential? This week on Let's Talk Power Live!, I'm excited to welcome Ashley Cuthbertson back to Let's Talk Power Live! for a timely conversation about the role of the arts in shaping identity, belonging, creativity, and agency—and what schools risk losing when artistic experiences are treated as optional. Together, we'll explore: 🎨 why the arts matter far beyond performance and production 🎨 how music, visual arts, movement, and creative expression help students develop confidence, identity, and voice 🎨 what research tells us about the relationship between arts participation and student engagement, achievement, and long-term success 🎨 why STEM evolved into STEAM—and what that shift reveals about creativity and innovation 🎨 how the arts help students develop the very skills employers increasingly seek: communication, collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, and creative thinking 🎨 and what happens when schools narrow learning experiences in pursuit of short-term outcomes We'll also wrestle with a question many leaders are facing right now: If the arts contribute to engagement, creativity, belonging, innovation, and academic success, what message do we send when they become the first programs considered for reduction? Because the arts are not simply about talent. They are about identity. They are about expression. They are about imagination. And they help students understand both who they are and who they might become. Join us for a conversation about learning, leadership, creativity, and the power of the arts. 📅 Thurs. June 4th/5:30pm EST 🎥 https://bit.ly/4fRyHp5