We live in a world that emphasizes and divides us by our differences. You see these divisions play out in strong and frightening ways for the youth of our cities—particularly public school students, youth of color and those from low-income families. I know our schools are trying their hardest, but how much impact can you make when forces beyond your control are prescribing your priorities, what you can teach, and how to teach it?

That’s why we ALL need a place like New Urban Arts. Please support our work with a gift to our annual fund right now. Our youth need it because they need art in their lives, but they, you, and I also need it because it’s a version of a different kind of city, a different world—one with a different way of teaching and learning, and a different way of dealing with our differences.

If you came to Cardboard Pancakes (our annual holiday sale), you got to see one of the ways that New Urban Arts is a hub for people who genuinely want to cross all kinds of divides. When you walked in, you saw tables overflowing with art created by our students and artist-mentors, as well as artists from the wider community; you saw these diverse artists, at various stages of their lives, conversing as equals. And you saw people eager to show their appreciation for the efforts of these artists. In short, you caught a rare moment where youth who are typically excluded from public life were participating fully in it.

Give today at: http://bit.ly/NUA-Give

Sincerely,
Daniel Schleifer, Interim Executive Director