Engage in your community, prosper a future

I am living in a special place, in a special time; the city of Calgary is growing its public participation in all things Calgary. If you want your city to be a better place to live in, work in and play in, you can help make it happen by getting involved in your community or by reaching one person at a time.

Personally, I am doing a bit of everything. I participate with community art groups.  I teach art at Studio C and the Calgary School of Arts. I show my work in grass root fundraisers like Community Cultivated (June 15 @ #1LegionHall).

And so it goes, you get immersed in a subject and you start recognizing it's presence in every morsel of your life. At a recent Calgary Arts Development (CADA) gathering I listened as Dr. Terry Rock, outgoing founding President & CEO of CADA, as he was giving his last Report to Community.

My takeaway from this presentation, if you want the arts to be a part of your city's future, get involved with children and the arts now.

Dr. Terry Rock
Outgoing founding President & CEO of CADA

This idea truly resonates with me. What I have always known and now bear witness to is just how important the arts are to a child's growth, maturity, creativity and spirit.  Case in point, my eldest niece, a lovely spirit, quiet, whimsical, creative and smart. She would never admit to wanting more attention or more of anything outside of a book. Until now. 

An amazing thing happened to this young lady - her high school drama class. She found herself within this group of unsuspecting friends; she found her voice, and she found she wanted more. After her second year in drama and the debut of a recent play, she posted the following message and with her permission I share with you, her story:

Liz Penner and fellow actor Ariel Lavallee
John Maland High School, Alberta

"You are the most amazing people I have ever met. Every play was different but means so much, and I could never have done anything like this without you.

Mama Mia, was my first play. It was terrifying and I thought of not coming back. But the twelves, then elevens, showed me how wonderful drama could be.
 West Side Story, second play. I gained more confidence than I thought I could ever have. Our class was HUGE! And our performances were amazing.
 Shaken not Speared, most recent play. I have changed so much; every single person I have met has changed me for the better. I can go on stage and I am my character, 'Liz' stays off stage. I have so much confidence now; I'm surprised I don't burst. And I got it all from the Twelves, our teacher, and everyone I know.
 I have made so many friends and I'm so close to them, I don't know what to do. I consider you all family. I love you all!"

How much more proof do we need that the arts are integral for the development of our children's confidence, social skills, and their budding identity? This child might have been a tragedy, without the skills to overcome bullies and social pressures; this child might never have wanted to share. And that is the tragedy of cutting funding to the arts.

Like I say, if you want to get involved in making the arts a part of your culture, you can help make it happen by getting involved in your community or by reaching one person at a time.