HAMDEN, CT — July 25, 2025 — Arts for Learning CT (AFLCT) is proud to announce that it has received a $5,000 grant from the West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving in support of its “Express Yourself @ Charter Oak” initiative. This program will bring immersive arts learning experiences to all 518 students at Charter Oak International Academy during the 2025-26 academic year.
“Express Yourself @ Charter Oak” includes four days of in-class workshops led by culturally diverse Teaching Artists and two dynamic school-wide performances. These experiences will provide every student with at least two hours of direct arts instruction, incorporating music, dance, storytelling, and visual art to foster self-expression, cultural appreciation, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).
The grant will help AFLCT implement a program designed to reflect the school’s diversity, where over 76% of students identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color, and more than half qualify for Free or Reduced-Price Meals. The initiative aligns with the school’s International Baccalaureate mission by broadening students’ perspectives through the arts while also promoting inclusion and personal growth.
About the West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
The West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund empowers local residents to identify and address the town’s needs through a participatory grantmaking process led by a representative advisory committee. It encourages broad civic engagement and anchors the Hartford Foundation in West Hartford to support inclusive, community-owned solutions. For more about the program, please visit https://www.hfpg.org/donors/ways-to-give/community-funds/west-hartford.