Local Creative Accepted Into Prestigious Advocacy Program
By Deja Douglas
Amador County Arts Council (Amador Arts) Student Director Annabel White (Junior at Argonaut High) has been accepted into the prestigious Student Voices Leadership 2023, a program produced by Create CA, a statewide non-profit at createca.org. As a Student Voices Leader, White joins students from across California to explore the impacts of advocacy in their communities and schools. Working in small cohorts of students in grades 9-12, these student leaders will have access to mentorship sessions, guest speakers, and industry professionals who advocate for change in their world. Leaders in the program will attend six virtual trainings and complete 8 hours of independent work per week from September 2023 through June 2024. Leaders will receive a $600 stipend to reflect their valuable time and efforts.
White is excited to have the opportunity to connect with other students through the Create CA program to learn and work together towards making positive change in Amador County. “The state of arts education in Amador is pitifully weak. There is such a lack of art opportunities that students do not get the education they deserve.” White explains that students shouldn’t have to sacrifice their educational opportunities or struggle to pay for art classes or supplies. “Student voices are essential in achieving better education for future artists.” White encourages others to volunteer and donate to organizations such as Amador Arts to further expand the reach of local student voices and to support more significant opportunities for students to engage with arts and cultural activities throughout their lives. We are lucky to have Annabel White leading the way!
This Year, Amador Arts will pour over $130,000 into arts education for kids aged 0 to 18. Each dollar donated toward art classes by amadorarts.org qualifies us for an additional dollar in arts grants.
Amador Arts Student Director Annabel White