Committing to Anti-Racism and Celebrating ArtsConnection’s Black Community
ArtsConnection believes its community of artists, staff and board play a unique role in modelling the humanity in all of us. Because we value the arts as a universal language, we strive to create socially just learning environments that are reflective of the city’s demographics and that affirm and practice the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion through the various roles and responsibilities we have in all our work.
This opening paragraph from ArtsConnection’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Values Statement created a few years ago reflects what we strive to realize every day in classrooms across the city; in our work with educators and families; as we provide programming opportunities for teens and champion their pathways to college and career; and in our office environment. ArtsConnection has made a commitment to be anti-racist and to deliver culturally sustaining arts curricula. We also strive organizationally to implement socially just practices in our hiring, evaluation, and professional development.
During Black History Month, we pause to acknowledge and reflect on the centuries of race-based injustice in this country and how as a community we can deepen our work to dismantle the systems that prevent racial equity. We also celebrate a few in our community who have made important contributions to this work—young people, a board member, teaching artists, and administrators. Their innovative and creative approaches help ArtsConnection ensure that it continues the work of being a dynamic, anti-racist organization opening the world of the arts to New York City young people.
To read ArtsConnection’s full Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Values Statement, click here. For a list of anti-racism resources and mental health support for POC, please visit our Teen Programs website here.