Art and Pie

I remember reading research on New York City’s most successful small schools many years ago. What the study found was that those schools had one thing in common – they all had a compelling theme that served as a magnet making young learners want to attend.

Ideas for new learning organizations come to me almost every day. Recently, I came across two that, in my humble opinion, would make for a great microschool, learning pod, or other learning enterprise.

There’s a non-profit in Des Moines, Iowa called ArtForce. ArtForce Iowa focuses on three priorities when serving youth:

First, over 1,100 youth find their creative voice and work on personal skills for improved well-being. In turn, these 1,100 are better prepared for success in college or a career once they leave ArtForce.

Second, ArtForce trains the adult caretakers of their enrolled youth to improve their own well-being so they can help their child, grandchild, or other loved one thrive.

Third, ArtForce hosts over 12 community events allowing youth to become working artists while growing their community commitment towards the arts and kindness for all.

Currently, ArtForce is an out of school learning opportunity for kids. But what if it offered young learners and their families more?

There’s a non-profit in Waterloo, Iowa called Try Pie. Try Pie is a teen employment program that uses work as a tool to engage and equip young women for their futures.

Teens at Try Pie learn to manage their paychecks, prepare for future employment, understand their unique gifts, and recognize value in each other. Experiential learning in the kitchen is supported by time spent in a classroom setting with curriculum focusing on our four core values: financial stewardship, job skill development, faith development and reconciling community.

Like ArtForce, what if Try Pie offered young learners and their families something beyond an out of school experience?

What if the leadership at ArtForce and Try Pie decided to offer their young learners and their families the opportunity to work on improving their reading, writing, and problem-solving skills in addition to what they are currently working on in their respective organizations?

What if the parents of those enrolled in both programs accessed an education savings account through the State of Iowa so that ArtForce and Try Pie would be compensated for those extra services?

What if ArtForce and Try Pie leaders identified and hired a literacy coach and a numeracy coach to support their young learners pursuit to become better readers, writers, and problem-solvers?

What if ArtForce and Try Pie became the de facto place to learn all types of skills instead of the traditional public school?

There are thousands of other examples of non-profits that could become replacements for the traditional school setting for kids who desperately need a different place to learn.

All those non-profits need is money, talent, and leadership to make their kids even smarter and stronger.

What are we waiting for? Our young learners are waiting.

Til tomorrow. SVB