2023 Oklahoma Arts Conference

"Promise in the Road Ahead"

Joshua and Anna Smith
Entrepreneurs and non-profit professionals, Joshua and Anna Smith, administrate and teach a visual arts class at Pawhuska High School Alternative Education through local non-profit Art Maker’s Arts in Alternative Education Program. They have also worked with Running Strong for American Indian Youth to launch the Microenterprise Development Program, which provides financing and business skills courses to Native entrepreneurs.

Joshua and Anna Smith's Schedule

Community Partnerships in Alternative Education Schools
Date: Thursday – October, 19 2023 Time: 1:45pm - 2:45pm Room: Great Plains Ballroom C
What makes a school-community partnership not only successful, but transformational for both students and partner organizations? Participants in the Oklahoma Arts Council's Arts in Alternative Education Community Partnerships worked side by side with program sites to develop new arts education experiences for some of our state’s most vulnerable students. Alternative education school sites serve students who are at a greater risk of not completing high school for a variety of reasons, which may include inconsistent housing, traumatic experiences, excessive absences, pregnancy or parenting, or juvenile justice involvement. These students often require specific educational interventions. Arts programs can help these students build new skills and develop healthy methods of creative self-expression while allowing them to complete a Fine Arts credit—a requirement for high school completion. During this session, participants in the program’s first year will discuss how their organizations developed meaningful educational programs with local alternative schools. They will offer guidance to help other organizations launch their own school partnerships.

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Questions?
For more information contact our Director of Rural and Creative Community Outreach.