February 7, 2008
An Inauguration Event
Skits and songs highlight reception for D.C. Public Schools volunteers
Wearing colorful T-shirts and giant grins, six third graders from J.C. Nalle Elementary School in southeast Washington treated a crowd of more than 50 to a song from the Native American tale, The Rough Face Girl, last Wednesday, during a dessert reception hosted by Ann Kerwin, BA ’71. The event, part of the inauguration week festivities, honored members of the AU community who serve the D.C. Public Schools.
The youngsters, who are enrolled in the Imagination Quest (IQ) program at their school, were under the direction of the Department of Performing Art’s Gail Humphries Mardirosian, who founded the arts education initiative more than 10 years ago. Aimed at strengthening literacy skills among at-risk children through the arts, IQ has reached more than 4,000 students and 1,900 teachers from the Washington metro area, California, and New Hampshire.
Robin Adams, assistant director of the Community Service Center, said programs like IQ and D.C. Reads, in which nearly 200 AU students participate each year, help spark kids’ interest and imagination.
“Not only do we empower children around reading . . . we help them realize the unlimitedness of their future,” she said. —AF
