Collective Impact Partners

Arts Empowered Minds is led by Young Audiences of Maryland, the Chesapeake Arts Center, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Anne Arundel Arts Council, the Arts Education in Maryland Schools (AEMS) Alliance, and the University of Maryland – Baltimore County.

These key organizational partners are united in their commitment to improving opportunities for students in Northern Anne Arundel County. They have been chosen based on their expertise in the arts, education, or both; their willingness to coordinate and allocate existing resources to have a larger collective impact; their willingness to introduce others to the initiative and meet monthly; and the alignment of their agendas/desired outcomes with the vision and mission of AEMI.

Thus far, key organizational partners have developed a common vision for the work; held six community focus groups; formed an advisory committee; created a program plan and logic model, which outline the inputs that AEMI will deliver to students, educators, and families and the expected outcomes; and created an evaluation plan.

Young Audiences/Arts for Learning of Maryland (YAMD)

(MANAGING PARTNER) YAMD envisions a day when every student in Maryland has the opportunity to imagine, create, and realize their full potential through the arts. YA’s mission is to transform the lives and education of our youth through the arts by connecting educators, professional artists, and communities. Across the state of Maryland, YA serves over 190,000 students and educators at nearly 500 schools, libraries, and community centers.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS)

With over 80,000 students, the AACPS school system is the 5th largest in Maryland. Over 14,000 of these students attend schools in Northern Anne Arundel County (NOAA). NOAA is in rapid transition, and new approaches are needed to better serve this changing population.

Arts Education in Maryland Schools Alliance (AEMS)

The AEMS Alliance builds support for high-quality arts education in dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts for all Maryland schoolchildren. They are committed to sharing research and effective instructional practices in the arts with stakeholders in education, government, business, and the arts. They also provide technical assistance in the areas of curriculum development, instruction, school structures, and organizational outreach to stakeholders.

Chesapeake Arts Center (CAC)

CAC is a 58,000 sq. ft. multidiscipline arts facility located in Northern Anne Arundel County, just inside the Baltimore beltway. The mission of CAC is to use the arts to excite, educate, engage, inspire, and grow this community’s people, its artists, and the region through performances, exhibitions, classes, and collaborations with artists, educators, business and community leaders, and organizations.

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County

The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County encourages and invests in the visual arts, performing arts, and historic preservation for the people of Anne Arundel County. The vision of the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County is to be the premier resource of the cultural arts community. Through leadership in advocacy, funding, programming, and promotions, the Council helps to create a vibrant cultural arts community that enriches the quality of life for every county resident, including those in NOAA.

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

UMBC is a dynamic public research university integrating teaching, research and service to benefit the citizens of Maryland. As an Honors University, the campus offers academically talented students a strong undergraduate liberal arts foundation that prepares them for graduate and professional study, entry into the workforce, and community service and leadership. In 2016-17, UMBC collaborated with Young Audiences to present the undergraduate course “Teaching Artist = Change Agent.” During the course, students develop knowledge of the climate of public schools today as well as the state of arts education in schools in both Maryland and nationally and gain expertise on the importance of both fine arts training and arts integration in the Pre-k through 12th-grade setting.

Creating Communities

Creating Communities was established in 2007 when award-winning jazz musician and creative artist Rob Levit recognized the need for innovative arts programs for underserved children and adults in Anne Arundel County. Their mission is to use the power of music, art, movement and photography to reach learners who need more than traditional modalities of learning and expression. Their work allows these groups to make their own choices and life decisions through experiential learning, the creative process and personal reflection. Their vision is to create communities where the arts are an integral component of our social fabric, where the power of creativity connects, enriches and transforms lives.