We are Arts Active Parents of Alameda County. We believe in a world where people can see and understand that creativity is the solution for problems. We believe that through creative collective problem-solving, we are influential in building a whole and vibrant society. We believe that life and participation in various endeavors is about taking risks and not always staying within the lines. We want our students to become whole, happy, empowered individuals, taking their place in an equitable society. And we believe that equitable access to arts learning for ALL students in our County is an essential path to achieving this vision.We believe that Art IS Education. Arts learning honors the gifts that all children have and creates a stronger community. Arts learning brings us greater sensitivity to the needs of others and teaches us to offer our gifts in service to others while celebrating our own individuality and self-responsibility. Arts learning promotes interdependence, investigation, and curiosity. The whole community benefits when our children grow to become conscious, informed, respectful, engaged, compassionate and happy adults.This statement was originally written and signed by the following members of our community (in alphabetical order):
Randolph Belle City of Oakland Arts Advisory Task Force & Support Oakland Artists
Brynnda Collins Emery Secondary Parent & Community Outreach Coordinator for Emery Schools
Kathy DeRosas Edna Brewer Middle School Parent
Patricia Denn Former Skyline High School Parent & Performing Arts Committee
Vena Geasa Claremont Middle School Visual Art Teacher
Adelpha Gill Anna Yates Elementary School Parent
Lourdes Haro Tilden School Parent
Amana Harris Chabot Elementary School Parent & Director of ArtEsteem at the Attitudinal Healing Connection
Julie Harris PTA President at Claremont Middle School & Oakland Technical High School Parent
Ophelia Jayme Montera Middle School Parent & Skyline Performing Arts Committee
Kathy Kahn Former Skyline Performing Arts Committee Co-chair & Arts Active Parent Coordinator for Alameda County Office of Education
Sabrina Klein Beacon School Parent & Creative Education Consulting
Lisa B. Lee Edna Brewer Middle School Parent
Dr. Sonia BasSheva Manjon Chabot Elementary School Parent & Director of the CCA Center for Art and Public Life
Regina Mouton KIPP Bridge College Preparatory School Parent
Louise Music BHS Arts & Humanities Academy Parent & Arts Learning Coordinator, Alameda County Office of Education
Karen Nelson Art Interpretive Specialist, Oakland Museum of California
Jean Parker Peralta Elementary School Parent
Cassia Reim Educator, Lawrence Hall of Science
Rosemary Richie BAESC – Berkeley Arts in Education Steering Committee & Former Berkeley High Parent
Laura Sherman Kaiser Elementary School Parent & K-3 Music Teacher
Wanda Stewart BHS Arts & Humanities Academy Parent
Christopher Waters Peralta Elementary School Parent
Pat Williams PTSA President at Edna Brewer Middle School & Oakland Technical High School ParentSubsequent signers have been:
Miriam Abrams Jefferson/Sequoia School, Berkeley
Lilia Aguero, Jacqui Albano, Deirdre Araujo St. Joseph’s Elementary
Bettina Bell Glenview Elementary School
Beth Brady Peralta District PTA – Regional
Wendi Bushehry, Jennyann Carthern, Geanie Choy, Robin Downey, Jo Ford Walden School
Allison Hall, Sondra Hall Claremont Middle School & Chabot Elementary
Sandra Kay Vintage Hills Elementary
Carol-Ann Koch-Weser Peralta District PTA – Regional body serving Alameda County
Mary Ann LaFosse Cesar Chavez School
Susan Larson, G. Lechon, Victoria Mulcahy, Chris Quan Former Skyline High School Parent & Performing Arts Committee
Beatriz Restrepo, Jan Rosenberg, Isabel Samaras Cornell Elementary
Connie Sophocles, Helen Stoltztus, Kari Weil Berkeley High School
Malana Willis, Nikole Wilson-Ripsom future Piedmont Avenue Elementary
Susan Wolf, Pamela Woodbridge, Irene Yen Peralta Elementary
Lynn ZamarraIf you would like to sign it too, just send a request to .