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ALNW Newsletter: Black History Month

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ARTIST HIGHLIGHT

Black History Month

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Habiba Addo, a native of Ghana, radiates the spirit of the village through a vibrant, interactive performance spiced with singing and movement. Dressed in authentic West African costume and pulsing with song and dance, she transports her audience across borders. Drawing from her rich treasury of West African, Afro-Cuban, and Afro-Brazilian lore, Habiba sparks a retelling of stories designed to amuse, guide, and inspire us to reach our better selves and heal our communities.

From the Executive Director’s Desk: Coming Home to the Arts

My connection with Arts for Learning NW began long before I ever imagined leading it. As a Portland Public Schools student, I Ran for the Arts. I still remember the electric power of Obo Addy’s drumming reverberating through our school gym. I remember the pride I felt knowing I had helped bring him to our community by knocking on doors in my neighborhood and asking for sponsorships. I was an incredibly shy kid. But that experience — fundraising, participating, witnessing the joy of live performance — showed me that the arts give young people something profound: agency and courage.
 
The arts also gave me a voice when I didn’t yet have one.
 
When a teacher noticed my fear of public speaking and allowed me to draw my responses instead of speaking to them, I learned firsthand that expression doesn’t have to look just one way. The arts create space for students to show what they know when words fall short. That simple act of understanding changed how I saw myself as a learner.
 
In middle school at Harriet Tubman, drama classes with Madonna Doucey and Adele White slowly helped me find my literal voice. Through performance, practice, and encouragement, I developed the confidence to speak publicly — skills that have shaped my life and leadership ever since.
 
Years later, I had the privilege of serving on the founding leadership team for The Right Brain Initiative, working alongside educators and artists to build a model of arts integration that honors creativity as essential — not extra — to learning. We believed then, as I do now, that when the arts are woven into everyday instruction, students engage more deeply, think more critically, and feel a stronger sense of belonging.
 
Stepping into the role of Executive Director feels like a full-circle moment. I am both humbled and energized to help steward an organization that shaped me as a child and continues to transform classrooms across our region.
 
At a time when education faces complex challenges, the arts remain one of our most powerful tools. They cultivate courage. They build connection. They help young people discover their agency and voice — just as they did for me.
 
I am excited to work alongside our extraordinary teaching artists, dedicated educators, partners, and supporters to ensure arts education in our region is not only sustained, but strengthened and expanded. This work has always been collective, and I look forward to listening, learning, and building the next chapter together.
 
With gratitude,
Briana
photo by Heather Hawksford
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WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS MONTH

This school year we’ve already worked with 9,280 students who’ve had nearly 24,000 experiences in NW Oregon and SW Washington. ALNW general roster programs are stretching all around our region this winter with programs like these:

Mz. Pearl’s Variety Circus Show for preschoolers in Camas, Washington.

Habiba Addo’s Rivers of Stories - Tales from Africa storytelling performance at Naas Elementary in Boring, Oregon.

A school-wide residency program at Portland’s Arleta Elementary where students learned Zapateo, Afro-Peruvian stomping rhythms and body percussion with Luciana Proano.

Check out our Program Guide to book a performance, workshop or residency at your school this spring!

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The winter trimester is a busy season for our Right Brain Initiative programming. Here’s just a sample of our February work in progress:

Alex Addy with Woshishijee is integrating Ghanaian dancing and drumming with math patterns at Hollydale Elementary.

Mo Phillips is writing songs with students at Kelly Creek Elementary.

Lulu Moonwood Murakami is wrapping up an identity-integrated residency with mask making at Jackson Elementary.

Jess Graff is teaching observational drawing of bugs, insects and other creatures to middle school students at The Ivy School during their science classes.

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