YA President & CEO Michele Russo Appears on New Perspectives TV Segment with Barry Lefkowitz
Russo focuses on the transformative impact of arts education
President & CEO of Young Audiences Arts for Learning NJ & Eastern PA (YA) Michele Russo recently appeared on the New Perspectives TV segment with Barry Lefkowitz to discuss the vital role of arts education in schools.
The interview highlighted how YA collaborates directly with educators through artist-led performances, workshops, and residencies that enrich learning for thousands of students across New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. Key topics focused on supporting school goals with arts-based learning aligned to educational standards, and implementing the “Arts United” framework, which advances diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in regional arts programming.
The conversation included an exploration of YA’s teaching artists. “The role the teaching artist can play in a school is critical, because they are bringing their culture into the school; they are bringing their creative practice into the school. They are bringing their belief in the creative practice of every student who is in the classroom and who is in the audience. They are bringing that authenticity of the art form directly to students. That’s a core piece of how Young Audiences operates, and a piece of why we think the arts are so powerful, because we can have these experiences for all the students in the classroom; regardless of whether they can participate in the arts outside of school,” said Russo.
In addition, the interview explored key ways YA supports schools and educators, including:
- Programs that promote social-emotional learning, language arts, and community building
- Cultural arts programs that expand the experiences of the students in the school
- Professional learning programs for teachers to expand creative teaching practices
Lastly, the discussion addressed the growing incidence of mental health concerns, caused in part by the pandemic. YA programs are addressing these concerns in a powerful way. Surveys conducted after YA programs show students report increased self-esteem and empathy toward peers and their communities.
“When there are 250 students in an auditorium experiencing a live performance, or students are collaborating on a dance routine, they are building community by being in the room and experiencing this together,” Russo concluded.
New Perspectives is a local TV news segment on RVN Television, broadcast by KnetStream Networks. The program focuses on social and community issues and features local NJ business owners, nonprofits, and inspirational community figures.
View the segment: https://youtu.be/9tyyLL1Racs.
