Alejandra Ceja, executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics (WHIEEH), will host a town hall, titled “The Value of Arts Education: A Conversation with Students and Parents,” at 10:45 a.m. PT on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Meadow Homes Elementary School in Concord, California.
Joining Ceja for the town hall will be two successful Hispanic artists – opera singer Carla Dirlikov and fashion designer Alvin Valley – who will speak to the students about their experiences, educational journeys, and accomplishments in order to inform them of the diversity of artistic fields available and to inspire them to excel academically and continue with their education. John Abodeely, deputy director, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities will also participate.
Meadow Homes is a turnaround school using arts to help narrow the achievement gap, increase student engagement, and create a positive school culture. Its student body represents 19 cultures and is 91 percent Hispanic and English language learners. Nellie Meyer, superintendent, Mount Diablo Unified School District, and Mary Louise Newling, principal of Meadow Homes Elementary, will give opening remarks at the town hall.