Arts for Learning Connecticut Receives $20,000 Grant from Honda USA Foundation to Expand Inclusive Arts Programming

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HAMDEN, CT, May 19, 2025 — Arts for Learning CT (AFLCT) is proud to announce that it received a $20,000 grant from the Honda USA Foundation to expand its Breaking Free program, an innovative arts-integrated residency designed for students with disabilities.

Launched in 2021, Breaking Free brings inclusive, mobility-focused arts experiences to students aged 11–22 at three specialized schools across Connecticut: Whitney Academy, Oak Hill School, and the ACES Center for Autism Spectrum and Developmental Disorders. With this funding from the Honda USA Foundation, AFLCT will deliver 120 hands-on, adaptive workshops in music, theater, puppetry, and visual arts, reaching approximately 150 students and providing more than 9,000 total student contact hours of transformative programming.

“This investment by the Honda USA Foundation is a powerful affirmation of our belief that the arts can be a catalyst for confidence, connection, and learning,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director of AFLCT. “With Honda’s support, we can deepen our work and aid in growing joyful, inclusive learning environments where creativity thrives.”

Led by professional Teaching Artists trained in Universal Design for Learning and Social-Emotional Learning, Breaking Free uses the arts to build students’ self-expression, academic vocabulary, and peer relationships while honoring their diverse abilities and needs. The program integrates national arts and educational standards and reflects AFLCT’s long-standing mission to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts.

For more information about Honda USA Foundation, please visit https://csr.honda.com/