On July, 1, 2021 WhyArts and Arts In Motion (AiM) became one organization under the WhyArts banner. This decision was a very strategic one by both organizations. Both nonprofits entered this decision from a position of strength. Each held a trusted place in the community and had a long history of strong programming and leadership.
It became clear that our missions, goals, and programs were similar. That the audiences and community partners we served were are aligned. And that our roster of professional teaching artists would blend together beautifully. A united organization would be able to serve more people, grow new and exciting programming for persons in poverty, with disabilities, and at risk and employ more local artists in our community.
Together, we are able serve more diverse members of our community and continue to help our community partners achieve their missions. By joining forces we proactively avoid redundant overhead expenses so more funding and donations go directly to support our expanded programs.
Specifically, Arts in Motion was best known for the nationally recognized Dancing Classrooms which reaches almost 1,500 local students a year. This program teaches social emotional learning skills through cultural dance. Students learn kindness, respect, partnering, sharing and inclusion all while doing the tango, waltz or foxtrot. AiM also brought with them their senior Golden Ballroom programming and Saturday Academy for advanced students of Dancing Classrooms. Together we have developed Across the Floor which is a movement program for adults and children with disabilities. All of this programming reaches right into the heart of WhyArts’ mission and helps us to grow our pallet of programming.
We are now united in our missions, and stronger together. We are WhyArts.