Arts Justice has been deeply invested in New York City public schools since 2004. We seek to serve public schools with the highest need and those without arts programs. In 2014, a 21st Century Community Learning Grant allowed us to expand service. Led by field programs director Suzy PetchEam and a team of teaching artists, school partnerships have served over 3,000 middle school students primarily in the South Bronx.
These programs are designed in partnership with New York City public school staff and teachers. Arts Justice provides a teaching artist who works on a project-based subject with performing arts as the exploratory strategy. We provide support in-school, after-school and during advisory period and career and college readiness programs. Partner schools historically report an increase in community-building, positive self-expression and an increase in the English Language Arts scores for English Language Learners, who constitute a large portion of the students served.