Rep. Rosa DeLauro
A resolution introduced last week in the U.S. House of Representatives “(expresses) support for designation of the week of March 12, 2012, through March 16, 2012, as National Young Audiences Week.”
The resolution is cosponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D‑CT), who said in an e‑mail, “I am proud to co-sponsor the resolution recognizing this week as National Young Audiences Week. I believe that it is vital that we provide students with a well-rounded education, and that should include music, dance, theater, and visual arts. The work of Young Audiences in communities around the country enriches the lives of so many young Americans, including 400,000 students in Connecticut.”
According to its website, Young Audiences “is the nation’s leading source of arts-in-education services … (whose) mission and goal is to help make the arts an essential part of young people’s education. … This year, our network of 30 affiliates with 5,000 teaching artists reached 5 million children in over 6,000 schools and community centers with 85,000 performance demonstrations, workshops and teacher services.”
A press release issued by Young Audiences of Connecticut, the Hamden-based state affiliate, indicates that “for 33 years the Young Audiences of Connecticut affiliate has engaged youth, teachers and families in high quality creative arts learning experiences that stimulate life long learning and creativity. Young Audiences of Connecticut Executive Director Eileen M. Carpinella states, ‘The arts are essential in learning creatively about curriculum topics and building a culture of learning throughout our global society.’”
In her e‑mail, Rep. DeLauro said, “For the last 32 years, Young Audiences in Hamden, Connecticut, has worked with each school in the town, as well as community centers, pre-school programs and juvenile detention centers. … This worthy program helps people of all ages and abilities to be creative while developing important skills such as literacy and communication. I applaud Young Audiences for their inspiring work, and proudly recognize this as National Young Audiences Week.”
The resolution is sponsored by Rep. Dale Kildee (D‑MI). Reps. DeLauro, Marcia Fudge (D‑OH), and Lynn Woolsey (D‑CA) are cosponsors.