A MESSAGE FROM ANDY & BRIAN

Our theme tonight is Building a Brighter Future, and building has always been a theme for CAW, along with creativity and forward-thinking. During what has been a challenging time, we’ve experienced great productivity, strategic growth, and deliberate reinvestment toward capacity building. As a result, this has been a year of transition and positive momentum! We are truly proud that you are each a meaningful part of the CAW family at this exciting and hopeful time.

We saw our in-school programs grow to serve 1,650 NYC students, and our out-of-school-time programs served nearly 600, with offerings in an array of media. We provided 265 youth apprenticeships in the creation of large-scale public art and digital art. This spring, our character design program with FunPlus, now in its third year, is offering internships to 100 students in NYC CTE high schools. Finally, we’ve returned to community art-making events, serving hundreds of children and their families.

Our work is only as good as our people, and we have a great team. As of January 1, as part of a planned succession, Karen Jolicoeur was promoted to Executive Director; Brian transitioned to the role of Board President; and Andy continues to serve faithfully as Board Chair. We are excited about this fresh, energized era even as we remain dedicated to the stability and ongoing success of the organization.

We’re proud that we have managed to buck staffing trends, promoting from within and enhancing retention. CAW Teaching Artist Erika Sabel has joined our program management team along with new addition Donna Manganello. Madeline De Leon, who started with CAW as a summer Youth Apprentice in ‘16, and worked her way up to Teaching Artist Assistant in ‘19, is now our full-time Program Associate. We have enhanced capacity with Ellen Seltzer as our Director of Finance & Administration, and with Clair Vogel in the newly created role of Development Manager. We hosted Frances Flood as a Marketing & Communications Intern this spring, and much of her work is reflected in this journal. Our talented team of Teaching Artists continues to grow, and also features some outstanding alumni as Teaching Artist Assistants-in-Training.

We are celebrating more women in leadership as we welcome Samantha Brahms, Gail Holcomb, and Tiffany Theriault to our Board of Directors. And we thank Steve Soutendijk for joining the Executive Committee as Treasurer.

We are grateful for the selfless contributions of tonight’s Honorees and Benefit Co-Chairs. We offer our thanks to longstanding supporters Peter Brindley and Scott Corneby, as well as the newest member of our Honoree Circle, Gary LaBarbera.

Thank you to all who came out tonight to celebrate with us: our students and Youth Apprentices, our dedicated staff and inspiring Teaching Artists, our wonderful program partners, and all the sponsors and donors who make our work possible.

Cheers to you and to our youth, tomorrow and for years to come,