Kennedy Center Chooses Warren Schools, Smarts

WASHINGTON – The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has chosen Warren, Ohio, as the 20th site for Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child, a program that creates a long-range arts education plan for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.  The program will incorporate the resources of the Warren City Schools, local arts organizations and the Kennedy Center to develop a plan for arts education specific to the city.

Students Motivated by the Arts, or Smarts, will serve as the lead arts organization for Any Given Child Warren, with Becky Keck, executive director, as the coordinator.

“The Warren City School District is honored to have been selected to partner with The Kennedy Center,” said Steve Chiaro, Warren schools superintendent, in a statement. “This partnership now enables our district to further our efforts and commitment to providing all K-8 students access and equity in arts education. It is a tremendous honor for our district to be chosen and we are proud to be the first Ohio school district to participate in this opportunity. I know this initiative will be successful with the commitment of the city of Warren, the community and the leadership of Smarts.”

Any Given Child seeks to provide access and equity to each student’s arts education, by  combining the resources of the school district, local arts and community organizations, and the Kennedy Center.

“We look forward to seeing the students of Warren be inspired and excited by increased arts learning experiences,” said Mario Rossero, Kennedy Center vice president of education. “We are grateful to Mayor [Doug] Franklin, Superintendent Chiaro and the local arts community for their dedication to this program. Warren has a tight-knit arts community, and we will enjoy seeing the students here reap the benefits of a strong arts education.”

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said the Warren school system has “shown a proven commitment to giving students a well-rounded education that includes a strong arts component.” He also thanked the Kennedy Center and Anita Lin of Youngstown, who serves on the center’s board, for bringing the program to Ohio. “As the 20th site of the Any Given Child program, Warren will build on the Kennedy Center’s success in helping to increase youth access to the arts,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-13 Ohio, also thanked Lin and Keck for bringing the program to Ohio and Chiaro for his support.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have the world-class Kennedy Center involved with Warren City Schools. Quality arts education programs enhance the education experience for students, help build students’ confidence, and make us more aware of our own humanity,” he said. “I know the Warren community will step up to make this possible for our children.”

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.