This Give STL Day, we are on a mission to bring the arts back to our classrooms. With ongoing budget cuts threatening arts education, many children are losing access to the vital experiences that shape future success. The arts are not merely "side activities"—they are essential for developing our next generation of leaders. As the Harvard Graduate School of Education notes: "Participation in the arts is linked to higher levels of critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving."
To combat this decline, CommUNITY Arts STL has formed a meaningful partnership with the Normandy Schools Collaborative. Through our Arts & Literacy workshops, we use co-founder Mary Ellen Bryan’s children’s books to bridge the gap between storytelling and the visual arts. This integrated curriculum empowers students to discover their unique voices through creative writing and performing arts, providing them with their own books for their at-home libraries and the social emotional tools they need to thrive.
Help us reach our $3,000 goal! Your support will provide over 450 books and weekly craft supplies for five classrooms throughout the upcoming school year.