2020 vision summary

In 2014, six Vision 2020 Summits were held across the southeast.

Three hundred fifty participants, including volunteers, Festival attendees, LEAF members, community leaders board members, and former board members explored the power and impact of LEAF Community Arts’s programs and the opportunities for its future. LEAF is so grateful for every one who joined us on the six 2020 Vision Summits in 2014 across the southeast. These conversations are inspiring and guiding our steps forward.

THANK YOU.

Out of these collaborative conversations came the core principles of the LEAF 2020 Vision: Growth and Stability, Transforming Lives, Connecting Cultures and Generating Unity. LEAF Community Arts staff has crafted this plan for achieving these 2020 goals, while remaining true to its core values. LEAF is looking towards 2020 and the legacy we want to be generating in the communities we serve. We see ourselves using music, art and festivals to create welcoming places and spaces of possibility embracing these core values.

Stepping Towards the Future with Five Focuses

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LEAF Funding Empowers

LEAF Event s Build Community

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LEAF International Connects

Help us today make the LEAF 2020 Vision a reality!

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LEAF EL AF ing S choo h S c tree ls & Tea rtist e ts E A itut ngag ting cul t c es tu Ins nn e r

theLEAF.org | info@theLEAF.org | 828.68.MUSIC [686-8742]

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Stepping Towards the Future with Five Focuses

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theLEAF.org | info@theLEAF.org | 828.68.MUSIC [686-8742]

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2020 Strategy #1:

Empowering Teaching Artists through Professional Development The Goal: In 2020, LEAF is a regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized resource for Arts Education. Through Professional Development and the Teaching Artist Institute, teaching artists locally and from around the nation acquire a level of mastery, delivering high-quality programs that utilize the arts to cultivate life skills, economic empowerment, cultural competence, and education.

Action Steps:

2020 Strategy #3:

LEAF Schools & Streets Inspires and Engages The Goal: In 2020, LEAF Schools & Streets programs empower local youth and build community sustainability through cultural, visual and performing arts education and performance opportunities which strengthen community engagement and increase access to the arts through effective partnerships.

Action Steps: •

Create and deepen existing partnerships within the community through strategic collaboration and participation.

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Partner with a local university or other professional organizations to create a certification and/or accreditation program based on the LEAF Methodology.

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Offer pathways for youth to be involved in the creation and implementation of LEAF programs.

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Develop arts based programming that meets community needs.

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Hire a professional curriculum specialist to coordinate networking partnerships within the community, incorporate best practices, write the core curriculum for the LEAF Certification program, and lead professional development for teaching artists.

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Increase under represented communities’ access to visual arts through the Easel Rider.

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Collaborate in the community to create a professional network that supports LEAF Teaching Artists, increasing their inherent value and career opportunities.

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Create a LEAF Teaching Artist Institute which operates year round, offering certification and engaging professional development opportunities.

2020 Strategy #2: LEAF International Connects

In 2020, LEAF International empowers communities and is an innovator in preserving dynamic cultural traditions around the world. By deepening existing community connections, and through the expansion of music, arts, cultural preservation programs, the development of new opportunities for cultural expression, and the creation of self-sustaining revenue streams, LEAF International serves an important role in maintaining the diversity of cultural heritage.

Action Steps: •

Strengthen and expand traditional music and arts programs to enhance community engagement and cultural preservation.

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Develop cross-cultural connections through use of dynamic technology to broaden perspectives and cultivate a global community.

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Sustainably expand opportunities for cross-cultural immersion experiences.

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Create self-sustaining revenue streams to support LEAF international.

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Hire a full time LEAF International Director.

2020 Strategy #4: Championing Community Engagement through Events

The Goal: LEAF Festival, LEAF Downton and local LEAF events serve to connect cultures, create community, celebrate diversity and champion creativity in WNC. These events will curate spaces that encourage interpersonal exchange, cultural awareness, and artistic excellence.

Action Steps: •

Elevate and strengthen LEAF Festival’s and LEAF Downtown’s role as cultural & community epicenter in Western NC and become an Internationally celebrated model for a mission centric, sustainable, culturally significant, and intergenerational music & arts experiences.

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Partner with high integrity community leaders to collaborate on unique music, arts, and cultural events in WNC.

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Foster long standing and reciprocally beneficial relationships with musicians with whom we share a common mission.

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Develop a culture of social awareness, racial and social equality, & inclusion within the core organization.

2020 Strategy #5: Funding that Empowers

The Goal: In 2020, LEAF has created a culture of philanthropy where charitable giving is plentiful; supporting 100% of LEAF’s non-festival programming and operations.

Action Steps: •

Establish an annual communications Campaign that identifies LEAF as a non-profit Arts Education organization.

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Prepare for and conduct fundraising initiatives to support mission-centric sustainable growth of the organization.

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Build relationships with businesses and individuals to foster diversified revenue streams.

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Adjust grant funding strategy to place primary importance on LEAF Schools & Streets, LEAF International, and long-term development of the organization.