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It is never too
soon to introduce children to arts and culture.
Most of us have heard of expectant
mothers who play classical music to their expanding stomachs.
Or of the babies who are propped in front of Picasso’s.
We don’t go to such lengths
at Investing in Children but we wholeheartedly believe exposure
to arts and culture is an opportunity that should be available
to all children. It’s crucial to the development and
well-being of children that they see, touch, feel and hear
all the riches that arts and culture can offer.
To enhance this outlook the board
of directors has deemed that 2005 be designated the Year of
Arts and Culture at Investing in Children. This challenges
and excites us to create more opportunities for children in
this area, besides all the other great work we do.
Learn more about Art
with a Heart
This editorial, written by
Investing in Children, appeared in the London Free Press in
response to the newspaper's Creative
City series. Investing in Children is organizing
a Creative Cities Conference in London on June 9-10, 2005.
E-mail info@investinginchildren.on.ca
to be added to receive updated conference info.
Being a Creative City means so much more than
just having a performing arts centre or an arts district.
It’s a bigger-picture state of mind: it’s about
creativity in all its forms and about creating a quality of
life that attracts and retains creative, skilled people and
enables them to flourish.
Creativity as a force for economic growth
in the knowledge economy is a theory popularized by Richard
Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class, and it
is encouraging to see these ideas taking root in London, as
shown by Sandra Coulson’s Creative City series.
Unfortunately, the series missed the majority
of Florida’s theory, and the problem lies in the over-emphasis
on the arts community. By focusing so exclusively on the arts,
the series ignored the broader strokes, such as where exactly
these new jobs and economic growth will come from. Having
a strong and vibrant arts community is certainly a vital piece
of the puzzle, but that alone will not be the panacea the
Creative City series suggests.
Click here
for the full editorial
After almost six
years in the leadership role at Investing in Children, Executive
Director Jan Lubell will officially leave the organization
on Dec 31, 2004. Her legacy is one of outstanding commitment
to creating opportunities for all children in our own community
and in the broader environment. Her entrepreneurial spirit
and creativity, her business-like approach in the community
services sector, and her experience and organizational skills
have been much appreciated.
Jan is joining colleagues
Glenn Howlett and Sharon Buccione in a new venture: Innovative
Edge: Consultants as Coaches (www.innovative-edge.ca).We
wish them well in using their very considerable skills in
new relationships.
 The
first year for the Investing in Children Foundation has been
very busy and very productive. With an initial goal of raising
our profile and increasing donations and an ultimate goal
of sustainability for a unique community organization, the
Foundation under its manager of fund development and communications,
Jane Antoniak, has raised the bar considerably.
We’ve extended our reach into the mainstream
media with regular newspaper columns and television appearances.
We’re introducing ourselves to new groups in new ways:
a sold out evening for book clubs will bring those who love
to read together with prominent author Richard Wright for
dinner and discussion with all proceeds going to support literacy
opportunities for children in our community.
This year’s Arts and Culture focus sees
a raffle for a Cher party on Dec 6 complete with box seats
PLUS, our children’s art exhibit at Museum London complemented
by a wine tasting fund raiser on Feb 10, a funding drive for
new program Blue Boxes for Books and other activities in process.
And, of course, we want to encourage you to
consider making a general charitable donation to the Foundation.
At this time of year, many generous Canadians are deciding
where to designate their donations in time for Dec 31st taxable
receipts. We would be most pleased to be your Charity of Choice!
All of this to support the belief that children are a worthwhile
investment, something we know you join us in taking to heart.
For information, donations, and
Cher tickets please phone Jane at 433-8996 x:230.
Investing In Children
795 Wonderland Rd. S., Suite 103
London, ON N6K 3C2
phone: 519-433-8996 fax: 519-433-6698
www.investinginchildren.on.ca
info@investinginchildren.on.ca
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