New York Daily News letter to the editor: "Art is our lifeblood"

“We know artistic expression improves academic performance and social-emotional skills.  But the arts are also a catalyst for healing and change in individuals, families, communities, and the world.”

Meredith Sherman, LCSW
Senior Program Director, The Center for Arts Education

Last weekend, the New York Daily News published a letter to the editor, “Art is our lifeblood," by Meredith Sherman, the Senior Program Director of The Center for Arts Education, now a program of Partnership with Children. 

In her letter, Meredith speaks of the power of the arts to keep students engaged, focused, and connected with their peers. Notably, Meredith wrote in response to “The moment to invest in arts education,” a timely op-ed on the importance of universal arts education, co-authored by  legendary artists Russell Granet, Jody Arnhold, Misty Copeland, and Wynton Marsalis.

The letter is below or you can read it here. 

Art is our lifeblood

Brooklyn: Misty Copeland and other artists made a timely call to action for arts in schools (“The moment to invest in arts education,” op-ed, July 8) that resonated with my organization, the Center for Arts Education, a subsidiary of Partnership with Children. Photos of Copeland hang on the walls of one of our community schools, P.S. 284, reminding students of the power of art. Throughout the chaos and loss of the last year, the chance to dance, sing and draw with our teaching artists kept our students throughout the city engaged, focused and connected. This summer and fall, we are coordinating with teachers and families to help children find their voices and build coping skills and confidence through the performing and visual arts. We know artistic expression improves academic performance and social-emotional skills, but the arts are also a catalyst for healing and change in individuals, families, communities and the world. Meredith Sherman