Read along for an artist experience on the impact of our Artists-in-Schools Initiative in honor of Arts in Education Week by Mike Wiley: “He got up there to read and I said, {student} I want you to read louder, I’m gonna need you to project.

And he proceeded to do it the same way. I said I want you to hit the back wall with your voice. And he proceeded to do it the same way. So I walked up there and I looked back at his teacher and she kind of shrugged as if to say ‘this is who he is’. And I said ok [student] we’re going to work on this, ok? And he said, I just don’t speak loud. I said, ok [student] I want you to take everything that’s in here (referring to his chest) and I want you to put it out there. I don’t want you to let it go backwards, I want you to let it go forwards and to push it out, and to push it out loud like you’re on the playground. And he said ok, and then he said “MY NAME IS [STUDENT]” and he continued and the class just cheered because apparently he had never spoke this loud before! I looked back at his teacher and she was in tears. And [student] proceeded to be not only be the loudest but the funniest. When he finished I said [student] are you a comedian? And he said No, and I said well you should be and you should always live with this voice. Afterwards the teacher came up to me and said I have never heard him speak this way and I can’t wait to tell his mother because I think she’ll be in tears too. That’s the important work that we do. Chatham Arts Council and Mike Wiley Productions. This is what we do. Thanks for the opportunity to make me able to do this work.” - @mikewileyproductions This is what Arts in Education is all about. Pulling students out of their comfort zone and showing them, through art, a new way of being. This is what we do. \#ArtsEdWeek #ArtsAdvocacy #ArtsEducation