Testimonials

I wanted to personally recommend an outstanding arts educational program that we work with here at Kilmer - Arts For Empowerment (AFE).

For the last two years, our 8th grade students here at Kilmer have been so fortunate to have the opportunity to experience an ELA curriculum infused

with visual and the performing arts. The teachers worked seamlessly with Robin to tailor the project to align to the units being taught.

The amount of joy and enthusiasm this program brings to the students is both palpable and moving at the same time. This program has consistently brought out even the most reluctant students to participate wholeheartedly. My teachers who have hosted the program confirm the AFE Program has added a valuable element to their students' sense of self and to the teachers' teaching approach. It has supported an outlet for embedding the arts into their teaching and learning and created endless opportunities for student voice and student choice.

We here at Kilmer highly recommend giving this opportunity to your students. In the 2022-2023 school year, we will be sponsoring AFE for our third year in a row. It is becoming an 8th grade tradition at Kilmer for our students and teachers.

I recommend you contact Ms. Fisher at rfisher@artsforempowerment.org to set up the Arts For Empowerment program for your school for the 2022-23 school year. It is truly a worthwhile program.

Mrs. Jean McKeown Papagianis

Principal, Joyce Kilmer Elementary School

Chicago Public Schools

To Principals and Teachers,

I had the pleasure of hosting the Arts For Empowerment (A4E) programs at my school for the past two years. Executive Director and Lead Teacher, Robin Fisher brought a great knowledge of integrative curriculum, theatre, playwriting, dance, and visual arts to our school through weekly in-classroom visits and after school programing. Original stories were presented to students based in their weekly lessons, current topics, or past historical figures. The A4E team of artists choreographed dances, rehearsed songs, and taught students the art of acting while teaching the students about having fun while learning. Many of our fifth-grade parents were impressed with the ability of our students to not only act, sing, dance but to also share their knowledge about curriculum topics and lessons in such a beautiful way. It is my pleasure to recommend the Arts For Empowerment programs to you and your school.

Jody Reuter

School Principal

Without a hint of hyperbole, I know that every single one of our students has benefited from their experience with the Arts Empowerment process of creation and performance. Reluctant learners became engaged, students with anxiety overcame their struggles and performed in front of their peers, students with learning and language differences were provided with multiple ways to access and engage with our curriculum, and our above average students found opportunities to push themselves past their comfort zones through the process of creation and performance.

I personally have found the infusion of performing arts within our classroom to be a teacher-practice enhancing experience. Approaching curriculum and instruction with an eye out for opportunities to infuse different art forms has helped me to think outside the box and discover new ways for students to experience and engage with the curriculum.

The inclusion of performing arts into our middle school curriculum has allowed teams of students with different backgrounds, skills, and interests to come together, bringing their passion and creativity as they work towards common goals. They have devised scripts based on their own writings regarding texts and topics we are covering in class as well as current goings-on within their personal lives and our community. They have incorporated music, movement, dance, and poetry. As the program continues to develop, students will also design staging, backdrops, and props. They will operate lights, projections, and sound systems. They will also be taught hospitality, house management, marketing, and fundraising.

Partnering with the Arts Empowerment program has helped us to create a classroom theatre. Through this experience, our students have developed and strengthened their skills in creative writing, improvisation, communication, collaboration, and conflict management. They have gained a better understanding of each other, their communities, and ultimately themselves! I firmly believe that every school would benefit from bringing Arts Empowerment program into their classrooms.

Sincerely,

Jason Feriend

Learning and Behavior Specialist

I have had the pleasure of working with Excutive Director and Lead Teacher of Arts For Empowerment (A4E) Robin Fisher over the past 4 years. Last year, as we were all navigating education during a pandemic we had read The Hate U Give and while the students really enjoyed the novel, we wanted to extend their contact with the concepts encountered through the unit. Ms. Fisher offered to create an arts/dance and music element for the 8th grade students. She presented her plan to our team, and it worked nicely as an end of year artistic output. The students enjoyed breaking from the monotony that was pandemic assignments. They were submitting photos of art they created, videos of dances and songs they were doing with friends. It culminated in a finale video that still resides on our principal’s signature line.

Our return to school brought with it a renewed sense of the importance of communication. With that in mind, Ms. Fisher’s program, our team felt, would give all students an opportunity to communicate in the way that best fits their learning styles. Ms. Fisher’s program, Arts for Empowerment, was tailored to work in sync with our unit on Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy. It was curricularly abundant with ways for students to express themselves through art. The book had a profound impact on our students and Arts for Empowerment allowed for self-expression in ways that diverged from just oral or written responses. Each student could tailor their expression to one of the artistic forms taught to them in class. While there is some hesitancy when trying something new with middle school students, Ms. Fisher and her program made it easy to find a unique way for students to express themselves.

Working with Ms. Fisher and the Arts For Empowerment program has added a valuable element to my students' sense of self and to my approach to teaching too. I would highly recommend giving this opportunity to your students.

James Flynn

Kilmer 8th Grade ELA/Civics

Reading Specialist

Debate Coach

As a teacher at St. Catherine Laboure School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Executive Director and Lead Teacher Ms. Robin Fisher of Arts For Empowerment (A4E) Over a 10-week period, the students in my class participated in the A4E program under the direction of Ms. Fisher.

The A4E program was incorporated into the daily literature curricula for one hour per week. Ms. Fisher worked closely with administrators and myself to make sure that this integration was seamless and was in alignment with the standards for fifth grade. Through different mediums of literature, the students learned the history of various women and the impact they had on the world we live in today. This program allowed students to discover and celebrate the cultural diversity that exists both within and outside the walls of our school.

Ms. Fisher’s enthusiasm for the arts transferred over to the students. Even those that were apprehensive at first, soon discovered new interests in literature, dance, theater, singing and art. Students were motivated and took a vested interest in their learning. Most importantly, the students learned the importance of collaboration as they worked together to create their own written play and present their culminating performance to both their classmates and families.

This program was successful and it was an experience that the students and I will always remember. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Cathy Lillig

5^th Grade Teacher

I am writing to provide my recommendation for the Arts For Empowerment (A4E) programs directed by Executive Director, Robin Fisher of Arts For Empowerment. Robin has brought the A4E program to our school this year. The A4E team is currently working with our fifth-grade class on this project which introduces students to the broad themes of cultural sensitivity social justice and equality through the inspiring stories of historical figures all within a context of theater and the arts. This program is standard based adhering to Common Core benchmarks and serving to enhance our school’s curriculum beyond what is possible to do during a normal school day. The A4E program is also cross curricular incorporating elements of social studies, reading, language arts, and science. We are looking forward to the capstone project of the A4E program which is a performance of The Journalists. This story and play was directed by Robin Fisher and developed by the students and focuses on historical figures presented during class, it is a brilliant way of showcasing the students learning and providing a unique opportunity for students to explore the arts. I have been very pleased by the work that my students have done with the Arts For Empowerment Programs. This has been a valuable learning experience for my teachers and students, as well as the source of great excitement enthusiasm. It has been a pleasure to work with Robin Fisher and the Arts For Empowerment team. I am happy to recommend it to other schools.

Sincerely,

Adam Default

School Principal,

I have had the pleasure of working with Executive Director, Robin Fisher of Arts For Empowerment A4E and their programs for the past two years. Robin Fisher developed and directed the A4E program that was incorporated into our fifth-grade science curriculum Robin Fisher worked closely with the students in the classroom for one-hour-a-week over a 10-week period. The A4E team also met with students after school twice a week over the course of the residency. The A4E program integrated music, art, dance and theater into our earth and life science unit. Through the arts students shared the story of the Golden Bird whose habitat is being threatened by the construction of a new golf course. Students learned how the choices we make impact other living things within the biosphere they also learned that owls are part of the food chain and the larger food web and removing one organism has far reaching effects. Most importantly they discovered that their voices can be an advocate for change the Arts For Empowerment program is an exceptional program that I would highly recommend Robin Fisher is a dedicated professional that devoted her time and energy to making this program a success in ensuring that each child had a positive experience. Her passion for the arts and the love for children was evident in every lesson she planned and taught. Through her guidance students brought a story to life and at the same time communicated powerful message to their audience.

Catherine Lillig

5th Grade Teacher