Massachusetts’s 14th and 15th Coming Up Taller Awards, just moments after the White House ceremony Nov 4, 2009. Courtesy photo
By Greg Liakos
This week Express Yourself Inc. of Beverly was recognized at a White House ceremony with prestigious Coming Up Taller Awards as one of our nation’s best arts and humanities programs for young people.
The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) is proud to be a longstanding supporter of Express Yourself, which uses music, dance, and the visual arts to change the lives of youth living in Department of Mental Health facilities.
In 2007 the MCC honored Express Yourself with a Commonwealth Award in Education. I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing their inspiring annual performances at the Citi Wang Theatre and talking at length with Paula Conrad and Stan Strickland, who have led this extraordinary organization.
Also honored was Art a la Carte, Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses’ program that helps teens learn the creative process, develop portfolios for Advanced Placement credit and colleges, and gain practical skills in gallery exhibition and museum work. The Community Music School of Springfield was a Coming Up Taller semi-finalist.
As First Lady Michelle Obama said at yesterday’s ceremony, young people who go through programs like Express Yourself, “don’t just become accomplished singers and painters and authors. They also become better students, they become better leaders, and they become better citizens, enriching not just themselves but their communities, teaching younger children the skills that they’ve learned, beautifying neighborhoods with murals and lifting their communities with their performances.”
Today I talked to my colleague Mark Smith, who runs MCC’s YouthReach Initiative and was at the White House along with Paula, Stan, and the Express Yourself team, about the Coming Up Taller ceremony:
Q. What was it like for you to see Express Yourself being honored at the White House?
A. It was incredibly moving — to see Paula and Stan and their team getting the recognition they deserve, in the company of colleagues from around the nation. And The First Lady’s remarks were very moving. She clearly gets it about how important this work is. It was also great to see the Express Yourself drummers perform at the Kennedy Center Tuesday night at a special reception honoring the Coming Up Taller winners. The young people were so proud of themselves-and they did such a great job. He really did “own the room” that night. I even saw people put their Blackberries down as they were drawn into the performance. And the best part-the kids KNEW they were a hit, even as they were playing. The whole two days were a great thrill for the program and for the kids.
Q. What is it that makes the work of Express Yourself so effective?
A. The team of teaching artists are each masters of their own craft. At the same time, they are devoted to giving the young people the best possible experience — using their talents to draw out and build upon the talents and gifts the young people bring to the work. And, the Express Yourself team works hand-in-hand with the Department of Mental Health staff. The mutual respect between clinicians and artists allows them to rely on and support each other-again, always with the focus being on providing supports and opportunities for the young people to thrive.
Q. Why should the public support organizations like Express Yourself?
A. Express Yourself and other arts programs have demonstrated their effectiveness in creating engaged, productive citizens equipped to compete in the 21st century workforce. Without these programs, many of our state’s most vulnerable young people would “fall through the cracks.” Through these programs, they realize their potential and fulfill their promise. Wouldn’t we rather have them as productive and engaged citizens than as lost opportunities?
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, sciences, and humanities, to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.
