Educators | CreativeSonoma.org

Artstart Organization Artstart provides job training in the arts for Sonoma County youth while creating public art. We offer art apprenticeship programs in which young artists ages 14 to 21 are guided by professional artists to work on commissioned projects including (but not limited to) murals (temporary and permanent), signage, mosaics, park benches and garden and interior furniture, garden stepping stones, neighborhood little trading posts (lending libraries), creatively painted dog houses, sculpture, tiled/mosaic backsplashes and tabletops. We also specialize in mosaic memorials.

Big Idea Arts And Education Consulting Organization Big Idea Consulting provides technical expertise to design and implement all phases of an arts education strategic plan. Following highly successful models used throughout the nation, we provide real-world experience in meeting the challenges of ensuring high quality arts education for all students in today's fiscal environment. From curriculum design, assessment and professional development to strategic planning and fund development, we work collaboratively to find solutions that accelerate learning in and through the arts. Whether your district is bringing back the arts or striving to improve current arts programs, Big Idea has a solid record of success in a wide variety of education landscapes. The arts are a difference-maker for today's students as they approach college and career in the 21st Century. Big Idea helps you to help them.

Bridget Palmer Individual Bridget Palmer has directed theater projects with youths ages 4 -14 for over 20 years through her programs Santa Rosa Children’s Theater, Show Biz Kidz, A Theater For Children, and her role as a Drama Specialist in Sonoma County schools. She also works for the Luther Burbank Center as a Teaching Artist. Ms. Palmer enjoys “play”ing with hundreds of children each year and loves the excitement of performance projects which culminate within 6-10 sessions. Ms. Palmer pursued advanced studies in Theater Directing at UC Berkeley and completed the LBC’s Kennedy Center Teaching Artist professional training, as well as several other Arts Integration professional development trainings related to Drama, Movement, and Storytelling. Ms. Palmer helps children become high performers through acting-based activities. Ms. Palmer also loves playwrighting and comedy improv. She founded and ran the 6th Street Improv adult troupe from 2008-2013 in Santa Rosa at the 6th Street Playhouse. In 2018, she wrote her first play for children: "Alex & The Magic Staff", with an anti-bullying theme. She is currently working on her second play for stage and a screenplay.

California Indian Museum And Cultural Center Organization

The California Indian Museum and Cultural Center was founded in 1996 with the purpose of educating the public about the history, culture, and contemporary life of California Indians and to honor their contributions to civilization. The Museum provides California Indians and the public with a first class museum facility in which to portray California Indian history and culture from an Indian perspective. In addition, the museum showcases and encourages the present-day renaissance of California Indian culture, affirming its survival and continued vitality in the face of extreme adversity. Finally, the museum provides opportunities for Native Americans to receive training and experience in a variety of fields such as museum direction, curation, design, and interpretation.

California Poets In The Schools Organization

California Poets in the Schools’ vision is to enable youth in every California county to discover, cultivate and amplify their own creative voices through reading, analyzing, writing, performing and publishing...POETRY!! When students learn to express their creativity, imagination, and intellectual curiosity through poetry, it becomes a catalyst for learning core academic subjects, accelerating emotional development and supporting personal growth. Our Poet-Teachers help students become adults who will bring compassion, understanding, and appreciation for diverse perspectives to the issues which their communities face.

California Poets in the Schools develops and empowers a multicultural network of independent Poet-Teachers, who bring the many benefits of poetry to youth throughout the State. As a membership network, we offer opportunities for professional development, peer learning and fundraising assistance for Poet-Teachers in California. We also cultivate relationships with school districts, foundations, and arts organizations which can fund and support our members’ professional practices.

Charles M. Schulz Museum Organization Each year, the Schulz Museum provides hands-on art, cartooning, animation, and science programs to children in Sonoma County and beyond. The Museum reaches children with interactive day-long and week-long camps and classes, as well as field trips, classroom programs, and our school-wide “Peanuts Naturally” festival for local schools. The Charles M. Schulz Museum’s youth programs are tailored to student needs and include free days for families with children with sensory needs, Museum tours with sign language interpretation, and a special tactile tour for low-vision and blind visitors. It is the intention of the Schulz Museum to provide experiences that make every child feel just as special as the rest of the Peanuts Gang, and that means being accessible and inclusive to people of all abilities, backgrounds, and income levels. Thirty- three percent of the children reached by the Schulz Museum live in underserved, low-income communities and seventy-five percent live in Sonoma County. The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center’s youth education program is committed to offering free and affordable programs and scholarships to low income schools and students.

Ernesto M. Garay Individual Ernesto M. Garay is an award-winning poet. He holds two master’s degrees: one in Comparative Literature and a second one in Ethnic Studies. As an Ethnic Studies Instructor, Ernesto teaches ethnic studies at the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College. Mr. Garay has also taught culture responsive poetry to children, teens and adults living with intersectional vulnerability in schools and service organizations all over Sonoma County. Most recently, his book of poetry: Reverberating Voices got accepted for publication by Flower Song Press. Traversing the borders of El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, and California, it speaks about the experience of immigration, racism, healing the spirit, displacement, and love during the Central American Civil Wars of the 1970s and 1980s. He is passionate about social justice and advocating for the Latino immigrant community. Immensely creative and accomplished, he inspires us and moves among us with unfailing humility, generosity, and grace.

Gena Richman And Lisa Damico Individual Lisa Damico and Gena Richman share a passion for integrated arts and professional development. Having taught public school elementary students for a collective 50 plus years, (yes, we began when we were 10!) we continue our journey of dedication and passion for teaching and learning. For years, Lisa worked with the CA Literature Project, leading workshops for elementary teachers throughout the state to understand and implement the ELA framework. Lisa was also a District Mentor teacher. Gena presented at Asilomar Math Conference giving sessions on Integrating the Visual Arts with Mathematics (grades 3-6) as well as coordinating the annual Mary Collins Symposium, a 3 day PD highlighting two featured presenters (one in mathematics, one in ELA) sharing their important educational research for parents, teachers and other educators in the community to discuss “big ideas” in teaching and learning and leveraging theory into practice. Lisa and Gena continue their focus of integrating the arts into public schools. Reaching all students means opening windows to different ways of knowing and that transmediation, in the context of teaching and learning, is essential for understanding. We are still (even though retired) committed to integrating the arts into the classroom curriculum.

Green Music Center At Sonoma State University Organization

The Green Music Center is the performing arts presenter at Sonoma State University, a regionally public serving university committed to educational access and excellence. Our mission is to present the most compelling artists of our time, to investigate ideas, and to provide access to diverse artistic experiences that educate, connect, and inspire Sonoma State University and neighboring North Bay communities.

International touring artists participate in activities such as pre- and post-performance discussions, visits to K-12 schools and community organizations, and workshops with community members at the Green Music Center. Activities are designed to develop creative capacities, critical thinking skills, and encourage participants to investigate communal and personal values while building empathy for the experiences of others. Additionally, we partner with schools and youth organizations to offer complimentary tickets to students in surrounding communities for select concerts.

Healdsburg Center For The Arts Organization Each of the Healdsburg Center for the Arts' instructors are working artists who have multiple years of teaching youth art. Most work in local private and public schools.

Healdsburg Jazz Organization

Mission Statement: Healdsburg Jazz stimulates interest in and promotes awareness and appreciation of jazz by facilitating cross-cultural interaction, providing performance opportunities, and educating young people and adults about the important role of jazz as an indigenous American art form.

About Healdsburg Jazz

The Healdsburg Jazz Festival, a celebration of the indigenous American art form known as Jazz, has become a favorite local tradition with a growing national reputation. This festival of performances by world-renowned musicians in diverse beautiful Sonoma County settings has grown over the past two decades into one of the North Bay’s most celebrated annual musical events.

In addition to the annual Festival, Healdsburg Jazz sponsors numerous in-person free music education programs in Healdsburg and Geyserville area schools for primary and secondary school students, as well as for adults.

About Healdsburg Jazz Educational Programs

Since the organization’s founding 23 years ago, education has been at its core. With music education eliminated from public schools, Healdsburg Jazz continues to meet this need. We know music and academic performance go hand in hand. Each year we typically reach thousands of students. Over half the population in our area schools qualify for free school lunch and/or are considered low moderate income.

In 2019 Healdsburg Jazz hosted or co-hosted 120 jazz performances and music-related events, 75% of them completely free of charge; and it served about 2,000 children in our community. A real tour de force of #Jazz #Education and #Community. In 2020 the organization adapted to the limitations of the pandemic, with 85% of the events completely free, and around 4,000 attendees in our virtual events throughout the year.

As we head into 2021, we will continue to offer virtual programming and we are planning for live educational opportunities too. We plan to reach thousands of students through our programs.