HAMDEN, CT – August 8, 2024 – Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $4,000 grant from the KAWFY Memorial Fund and the Lynda M. Mazur and Michael F. Colomonico Jr. Hands-On Fund at the Main Street Community Foundation.
The funding will benefit Joseph A. DePaolo Middle School in Southington, CT, and will allow AFLCT to bring the “Express Yourself” program to students during the 2024-25 school year. This initiative, featuring AFLCT’s diverse roster of Teaching Artists, will provide all 6th and 7th graders with at least two creative, culturally enriching workshops over two weeks. These workshops are aligned with the school’s curriculum and will introduce students to various art forms, empowering them to create and share their original works with the greater school community. This collaboration aligns with DePaolo Middle School’s mission to foster informed, adaptive problem solvers committed to personal and community improvement.
“We are proud of our continued partnership with the Main Street Community Foundation and their steadfast belief in our mission,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director at Arts for Learning CT. “Their support for the ‘Express Yourself’ program at Joseph A. DePaolo Middle School enables us to offer students invaluable opportunities to explore their creativity, express their individuality, and engage with diverse cultural perspectives. The arts have a unique power to transform education, fostering empathy, critical thinking, and a strong sense of community. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to enriching students’ lives through artistic expression and comprehensive learning.”
Main Street Community Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for both present and future generations in the communities served by encouraging and promoting gift planning, prudent stewardship of assets, effective grant-making, and community leadership. A nonprofit public charity created by private citizens, the Foundation works with donors who wish to build charitable endowments to support the communities of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott.
Arts for Learning Connecticut has been at the forefront of arts learning for over forty years, providing diverse and innovative programs that enrich students’ educational experiences. Our programs are designed to integrate the arts into the curriculum, promoting critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness.
For more information about Arts for Learning Connecticut and our programs, please visit www.aflct.org.
About Arts for Learning Connecticut
Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) is a nonprofit organization that brings high-quality arts learning programs to students across Connecticut. Through partnerships with schools and communities, AFLCT provides diverse and innovative programs that integrate the arts into the curriculum, promoting critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness.