Session 7 of the 2020 Webinar Series.
A recording of this presentation is available here.
As a result of COVID-19, students and families have pivoted to work packets, online learning, and virtual convenings. This has proven to be a very difficult transition for many. For teaching artists and arts funders in particular, there are outstanding questions around how to handle contracts, manage intellectual property, and how to ensure all students have access to high quality education. The impact of the pandemic leaves us no choice but to shift, and we are glad to have artists and other funders in the field share their findings and suggestions as we navigate this challenging and unique period in time. Join us on August 18, 2020 at 2pm ET/11am PT to hear from Kimberly Olsen, executive director, NYC Arts in Education Roundtable; Alex Nock, principal, Penn Hill Group; and Bahia Ramos, director, Arts, Wallace Foundation as they discuss federal funding changes, how funders can respond, and what teaching artists are doing to assimilate into this new reality
Alex Nock is the principal at Penn Hill Group where he brings 25 years of experience in Federal education, disability, labor, and health policy to Penn Hill Group. During his time in Washington, DC, Nock has been a part of every major piece of federal education and disability policy legislation. At Penn Hill Group, Nock manages an array of clients across the full spectrum of policy areas. He helps clients identify and secure their policy goals with Congress, the Administration, and congressional and presidential campaigns. He also helps clients better communicate their policy goals and objectives to policymakers and the public. Prior to his position with Penn Hill Group, Nock served as the Democratic deputy staff director for the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor. From 2007–10, Nock oversaw all aspects of the committee’s work on elementary and secondary education, higher education, disability policy, early childhood education, health care, retirement security, workplace safety, mine safety, workforce training, and national service. Nock has led numerous reauthorizations while working on Capitol Hill, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Workforce Investment Act, the Higher Education Act, the Head Start Act, and federal child nutrition laws.
Kimberly Olsen is the executive director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable, a grassroots service organization working to improve and advance the state of arts education across the five boroughs. As the organization’s first ED, Olsen works with a large network of NYC-based cultural organizations and arts educators to provide professional development, share resources, create community-led learning spaces, and advocate for arts education in schools and communities. Through NYCAIER, she also produces the annual Face to Face Conference, the largest, most comprehensive arts in education conference in New York State. Olsen has had a prolific career as a teaching artist working with students Pre-K to adult in over sixty schools across the tri-state area with a focus on working in District 75 with students with disabilities. She currently teaches with ArtsConnection and has worked previously with New York City Center, Queens Theatre, and McCarter Theatre Center. She holds a Masters of Science in Educational Theatre from the City College of New York and a Bachelor’s degree in Childhood & Special Education from the State University of New York Geneseo where she also received her NY State Teaching Certification.
Bahia Ramos joined The Wallace Foundation in 2018 as director of arts. She leads the team responsible for the strategy and implementation of the foundation’s work in areas including building audiences for the arts and promoting arts education for young people. Before Wallace, Ramos served as program director of the arts for the Knight Foundation, where she led the organization’s strategy for a $35 million annual investment in arts funding across the country. In that role, she built national partnerships and initiatives with organizations such as ArtPlace and Sundance, and worked on the local level to bring more high-quality arts experiences to diverse audiences and neighborhoods. Previously at Knight, Ramos had served as director/community foundations, managing a $140 million investment in community foundations in 26 cities supporting local civic innovation and community vibrancy. Ramos has given presentations on a wide range of topics at forums across the country, including Grantmakers in the Arts, the Arts & Business Council of New York, the Alliance of Artist Communities, and Black Portraitures IV. Ramos received her undergraduate degree in history from Williams College, and a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College’s Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, where she was a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha Honors Society and a National Urban Fellow.
