Mission and Vision

art2edu was established in 2017 by art enthusiasts and community activists with a shared vision to promote, preserve and develop the cultural arts in Van Nuys that reflect the living tradition and experiences of the many diverse ethnic groups living in Los Angeles. art2edu makes the arts accessible as an essential element to community development and well-being. As a community non-profit arts organization, art2edu prides itself in enriching, in a most innovative way, the cultural and artistic life of Van Nuys, the San Fernando Valley, and the greater Los Angeles Area residents. The Board of Directors, Management and Volunteers, share a commitment to providing quality and relevant art programs and services, and to working with community individuals and groups pursuant to this vision.

While there are many issues facing the San Fernando Valley that are unheard or not currently brought to light due to the lack of adequate research and reporting in the area, we can gleam (and dream) from similar areas (that straddle the urban and rural distinction) the innovative and powerful ways that communities can maintain a strong and vital home for the arts and culture sector within local economies. Imperative to our cause is the need to investigate further and bring as many voices and stakeholders to the table (or garden) in order to provide equitable and efficient plans to our sector of Los Angeles. Incentivize participation and provide monetary compensation for the effort put into our surveys and interviews. Furthermore, and most importantly, stakeholders are present at every stage of conceptualization, design, and implementation.

Art supports resilience.

There is a growing body of evidence that creativity and the arts can make a significant difference to people’s health and wellbeing. The rise in unemployment, the growth of personal debt, reductions in income and the problem of homelessness risk seriously undermining wellbeing, threaten community cohesion and are highly likely to lead to an increased demand for health, social and other public services. In this context, initiatives like this which increase local communities’ engagement and ability to improve their individual and community wellbeing and develop resilience, are all the more important. People who attend artistic and cultural events are more likely than other people to report good health, even allowing for important characteristics such as age, socioeconomic status and highest educational qualifications.

https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/Be_Creative_Be_Well.pdf

Youth involvement in community development is crucial.

The participation of young people provides local officials with perspectives and input that can improve plans, especially (but not only) with regard to the needs and issues most relevant to youth. Participating in the planning process offers young people an opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skills, learn responsibility and accountability, and develop meaningful relationships with other youth and adults. It also gives youth the opportunity to identify and address issues or challenges that directly affect their lives.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5863919/pdf/nihms946222.pdf

Nature and natural environments in urban areas are restorative.

Recent research indicates that exposure to vegetation and natural areas can mitigate psychological stress by providing opportunities for physical activity and social interaction, as well as by engendering cognitive and physiological responses associated with psychological stress reduction and attention restoration following stressful experiences.

https://www.ca-ilg.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/ilg_briefing_paper_3_proof7.pdf