STEM plus Arts = Learning Full STEAM ahead!

Over this past year we’ve worked with over 100,000 children and coached multiple teachers around the country. Administrators regularly show us that test scores have increased after we have trained their staff to apply the arts to their literacy programs.  Beyond embracing the quantitative results touting the positive results of education using the arts as one of the tools to teach, we do this work because of those light-bulb moments we often witness during our programming. Those electric moments when students and educators suddenly “get it”- when the math concept they’ve been struggling to grasp or present becomes clear through the visual art project they’re engrossed in, or when the writing exercise they’ve struggled for weeks to make sense of suddenly becomes second-nature. We believe in the value of the work we do because we so often witness these pivotal moments propelling individuals ahead further than they even thought possible, and continuing to have a positive effect long after our programs have ended.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  - Margaret Mead

For Story Tapestries, arts integration goes much deeper than just being a tool for learning; it creates a way to weave our stories together to create community. It helps us belong. However, the bleak reality is that too many people have never had the opportunity to be enriched by the arts. While there are many reasons why this happens, most often the reason people don’t get to experience arts integration is painfully simple yet seemingly unavoidable: funding was unavailable. And almost always, the people who suffer the most from the absence of art tend to lack access and privilege. They’re essentially left behind, and possibly miss out on learning something that could dramatically shape their lives.

Thank you for your generosity and thank you for being a part of helping to improve the lives of individuals throughout the country.

Happy Holidays!