• Fifth Annual Connecting the Dots Summit Focuses on Community-based Assets for Addressing Social Issues through the Arts

    Posted on May 13 2010 Back
    The City of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture (EAC) in partnership with Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga and the United Way of Greater Chattanooga announces the Fifth Annual Connecting the Dots Summit to be held in the United Way Community Room on Thursday, May 20 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

    Chattanooga is one of five cities selected for the national Project Ready by 21 initiative—which is built on the 40 Developmental Assets. As this community-based effort unfolds, the Connecting the Dots Summit is focusing this year on Community-based Assets for Addressing Social Issues through the Arts.

    To introduce artists, social service agencies, and community members to the “common language” of community-based assets, a training workshop will be presented by Leslie Scearce, Executive Director, On Point—who is one of a few local facilitators certified by the Search Institute (www.search-institute.org) in offering training on the 40 Developmental Assets.

    Education, Arts & Culture, Allied Arts, and United Way will each be presenting brief “Connecting the Dots” updates including a spotlight on the new H♥Art Gallery on Main Street directed by Ellen Heavilon and reaching underserved populations through art instruction and gallery space.

    EAC Administrator Missy Crutchfield says, “Education, Arts & Culture is pleased to be partnering with Allied Arts and United Way in offering this year’s Connecting the Dots Summit and taking arts and social issues to the next level through asset-based community organizing. This begins an important community-wide conversation about applying the 40 Developmental Assets and opportunities for further connecting the dots between arts and social issues through this national-level youth initiative here in Chattanooga.”

    United Way President and CEO Eva Dillard says, “United Way is pleased to be a partner with Allied Arts and Education, Arts & Culture Arts to better “connect the dots” between social services and the arts. Each of these areas have such a direct impact upon the community. The more we build and strengthen relationships between all groups the better the services and support are for the community. We are pleased that in this year’s summit we will be talking about “assets” and how those assets might be connected through the arts and social services.”

    Allied Arts President Dan Bowers adds, “The Search Institute has named Chattanooga as one of five cities in the nation to participate in community-wide training. Schools, Social Service Agencies, Faith Based Agencies, Corporations and Civic Organizations will participate in this training. The arts community needs to be part of this effort. A great benefit of the training is to provide common language and framework. The training will aid in communication and development of programs to meet our community’s needs.”

    Beginning in 2006, EAC, in partnership with Allied Arts and United Way, hosts the annual Connecting the Dots Summit to engage artists and nonprofit agencies in a community dialogue on addressing social issues through the arts.

    Keynote speakers have included Rick Lowe (Project Row Houses), Claudia Cornett, Ph.D. (author of “Creating Meaning Through Literature and the Arts”), and Earl S. Braggs, M.F.A. (poet and UC Foundation Professor, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga). Each year’s summit also includes break-out sessions focusing on “Arts & Economic Development,” “Arts & Healing,” “Arts & Education,” and “Community & Race Relations.”

    The public is invited to attend the Fifth Annual Connecting the Dots Summit on May 20, 2010 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the United Way Community Room (630 Market Street, 37405). There is no cost for the summit, but space is limited. Call (423) 425-7826 to RSVP.

    Following the Connecting the Dots Summit, there will be an evening EAC/Chattanooga Film Commission “Meet and Greet” event:
    Where: Northshore Grille (Frazier Avenue)
    When: Thursday, May 20, 2010 from 7 to 9 p.m.
    Who: Friends of EAC, Chattanooga Film Commission, Allied Arts, and United Way)
    What: featuring Ron Moore and the “Church of Elvis” film crew on the road for shooting a documentary on the life of Elvis and a special tribute show

    ***Elvis “Sound-alike” Ron Moore be performing with the world-renowned ‘Jordanaires’ at a concert event at the Choo Choo on Friday, May 21 at 7:15 p.m. benefitting EAC’s city-wide Unbroken youth initiative, and a film crew from Summerhill Television will be in town for a two-day film shoot for a documentary on the life of Elvis. Tickets for the concert will be on sale at the “Meet and Greet” event.

    For more information about the Connecting the Dots Summit or the City of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture contact Melissa Turner (423) 425-7826 or turner_m@mail.chattanooga.gov.  

    Last changed: May 14 2010 at 8:23 AM

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