Young Imaginations (YI), a non-profit agency founded in 1987, provides multicultural music and dance classes for approximately 10,000 children annually in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma and East Bay schools. We provide research-based model projects, professional development opportunities for classroom teachers and music/dance specialists, and conference presentations at state and national levels.

Young Imaginations has had a consistent presence in Bay Area counties for 18 years. It is an integral part of the fabric of arts education for children in approximately 50 schools in northern California. These schools (Pre-K through Grade 8) are located in urban, suburban and rural areas, representing a diverse cross-section of Bay Area communities.

During recent years YI has responded to changes in local, state and national policies towards education. We have aligned our programs with mandated state standards and the requirements of standardized testing. We have created programs that integrate arts education into the core curriculum, strengthening language and math learning through innovative approaches. We have found ways to keep the arts in the core curriculum despite local, state and national trends to marginalize the role of the arts in education. We believe that a strong arts program leads to increased student motivation and achievement across the curriculum and to a lifelong love of learning.

Our programs meet specific goals related to the improvement of education for children in pre-Kindergarten, elementary and middle school environments. Projects address the needs of the broader public in areas such as cultural diversity, balancing diverse needs of rural and urban populations, and educational equity.

Goals include:

• Students will develop knowledge, skills and appreciation of multicultural music and dance, the ability to connect learning in the arts with learning in language and mathematics, enhanced appreciation of multicultural diversity, readiness for learning and calm, focused attention.

• Multicultural Music/Dance Specialists will gain knowledge, skills and experience in bringing standards-based music and dance classes to students and integrating the arts into the core curriculum.

• Classroom teachers will gain knowledge, skills and experience in integrating music and dance with other classroom activities and collaborating with music/dance specialists.

• Community members: Young Imaginations builds engagement around the assumption that parents and community members are partners in the educational process. Programs aim to draw parents and others into understanding and valuing the role of arts in education.