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April is National Volunteer Month! To celebrate, we asked a handful of our stellar volunteers to share what volunteerism means to them and a “Magic Moment” they’ve experienced while working with P.S. ARTS.


 

Josh Tanzer, P.S. ARTS Board of Trustees Chairperson

Volunteering is about doing what should be or needs to be done in our community.  My attitude is if not me, then who?  We should all volunteer.  In addition to P.S. ARTS, I have volunteered for the US Peace Corps and Big Brothers; all three have been multi-year volunteerships.

P.S. ARTS provides a service to parents and their children that they would not otherwise have the opportunity to benefit from: arts education. Arts education has many benefits, but what motivates me personally, is that it enhances a child’s learning experience by developing their problem solving capabilities and collaboration skills. These are two areas that are very important not just to do well in school, but to be happy and productive citizens in our community post formal education. P.S. ARTS currently serves over 20,000 kids each week — that is really something! I dedicate my time to P.S. ARTS because their programs help provide the foundation for future success for the students they serve.


 

Nancy Downer, Wiseburn School District “Art Angel”

As an “Art Angel” in P.S. ARTS Teaching Artist Tiffany Graham’s class, I walk around the room, watching for what might be needed: a new pencil, encouragement to begin, a different color chalk pastel. I listen to the guidance Ms. Graham offers and actively reinforce her instruction. I look for opportunities to offer positive remarks on the work and the efforts made. Ms. Graham might ask me to prepare materials to be used later that day or for future lessons. I’m ready to do those things that take organizing time, leaving Ms. Graham free and available to share her expertise with the class.

I look forward to the day each week that I get to help in the art experience. It delights me to see children learn about important artists and, in particular, to experience themselves as artists. The moment that feels exceptional is when I hold up a child’s art, at a distance, for the rest of the students to see and the eyes smile back in surprised delight.


 

Laura Fox, P.S. ARTS Board of Trustees Co-Vice Chairperson

Being on the Board of Trustees is a great way to support P.S. ARTS on a strategic level. However, the downside of being on any board is that often your experience with the actual work of the organization is second-hand. At each of our board meetings, a P.S. ARTS staff member will share a “Magic Moment” — a story about a success or accomplishment of a student — which is always followed by a brief period of surreptitious eye-wiping.  It’s great because it helps us all remember why we are sitting in the room. Still, it’s not the same as being there. So, on a recent Saturday, I took one of my kids and volunteered at the Inclusive Arts Day at Grand View Blvd. Elementary School. We got assigned the task of assembling and helping kids paint about forty craft birdhouses!

Although the original idea was that the kids would paint Mondrian-style birdhouses, it soon became clear that they each had their own creative ideas. Watching each child become completely engaged in creating a fantastic original design was a great reminder of why the work that P.S. ARTS does, bringing that level of engagement to the classroom, is really important. At some point, hopefully before the next board meeting, I’ll get the green paint out from under my fingernails!


 

Teaching Artist David Partida’s children Quilatlzi (8) and Malinali (12), Family Art Night volunteers

Quilatlzi: “I volunteer for P.S. ARTS because it’s fun and entertaining. I remember passing out materials to different families. It makes me feel special”.

Malinali: “I volunteer for P.S. ARTS because I like helping people. I like it when they say thank you. My favorite part of Family Art Nights is the raffle because everyone gets so excited!”

We are so grateful for the hard work and commitment of our volunteers! If you are interested in becoming a P.S. ARTS volunteer, we could always use a helping hand in our classrooms or at one of our events.  Click here for upcoming volunteer opportunities!

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