Long Joins Smarts as Program Manager
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Smarts, Students Motivated by the Arts, announces that artist and educator Liberty Long has joined the organization as program manager.
Long will work with community partners including Akiva Academy, Autism Society, Leonard Kirtz, Liberty School District, South Side Academy, and more. She is spearheading Smarts Beats & Empowers programming that offers classes in hand drumming, visual art, dance and theater for students with special needs.
“We are excited to have Liberty join our family of artists and educators. She is an incredible artist and brings new arts education expertise and excitement to Smarts,” says Becky Keck, president and founder.
Long holds a bachelor’s degree in visual art and a master’s degree in education from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Before joining Smarts, she taught a range of subjects to students of all ages. She is passionate about fostering creativity and artistic expression in all people, believing that the arts play an essential role in life.
“I am thrilled to become part of the Smarts family, and look forward to both utilizing and expanding my professional skills in this exciting new role,” Long says.
Smarts fall semester is in session with 31 classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, which amounts to 353 spots for PK-12 students. Classes are offered in five arts disciplines: visual art, music, dance, theater and creative writing. They are conducted in-person and live online via Zoom through Virtual Smarts. All of the classes offered in the Ohio One Building downtown are free, open to the public, and offered three times a year on a first-come, first-served basis.
PK-12 students are welcome no matter their arts ability and all classes are inclusionary.
Smarts is a nationally award-winning leader in quality arts education and has been proudly serving the youth of the Mahoning Valley since 1997. Support the organization at the Smarts Family Dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 5:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Basilica.
For more information on SMARTS visit www.SMARTSArtSchool.org.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
