Operation HOPE supports Quincy Jones bid
to establish a Secretary for the Arts and Culture
More than 250,000 signatures of support already collected thus far;
add your name as a voice for positive change!
I believe that money and music represent two universal languages in our world, and understanding both the language of money (financial literacy), and the power of the arts and culture to lift, inspire and to give substance to the soul, and meaning in our lives, is key to producing well rounded, empowered, hopeful and engaged youth. This is what makes being human, human, and I support Quincy Jones 100% in his effort to make arts and culture a national public policy priority in and for our national health, says Operation HOPE founder John Hope Bryant.
Entertainment icon and national co-chair for Operation HOPEs FIVE MILLION KIDS Initiative (5MK), Quincy Jones is renewing his focus to make arts and culture a fundamental priority in America, and ultimately petitioning the Obama administration for a Secretary of the Arts and Culture position. [Sign the petition here].
Quincy Jones [Hear his 5MK Message here] is deeply concerned about the state of arts and culture integration into the lives of our youth, and understands that one of the key reasons children are dropping out of high school is because they dont see education as relevant to their future. According to recent nationwide studies, the high school drop-out rate amongst all young people is 30% nationwide, and in urban, inner-city and under-served communities, it hovers between 50-75%. As Quincy Jones says, It takes 20 years to change a culture. Weve spent the last 20 years making dumb sexy and lost a generation of kids to lost causes in the process. My work through 5MK and my bid to create a national policy is founded in the desire to inspire the next generati on by Making Smart Sexy and helping them to appreciate and understand the significance of arts and culture in their lives.”
To accomplish its mission of breaking the cycle of Americas high school drop-out epidemic, 5MK recognizes that education must be made aspirational as well as relevant to keep kids engaged in learning. By including an arts program in the academic curriculum creates a natural bridge for making education relevant and engaging, and studies have shown that involvement in the arts is associated with measurable gains in math, reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skills; it can also improve motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork.
Throughout the United States, educational institutions act as centers for public culture, and for instilling in our youth the values and knowledge that comes only from study of the humanities and the arts. It contri butes to lifelong learning and culminates in defining our public culture. Years of research studies reveal that an Arts program within education curriculum is closely linked to academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity.
A study by the Business Circle for Arts Education in Oklahoma found that arts in education:
- Builds a school climate of high expectation, discipline, and academic rigor that attracts businesses relocating to your community;
- Strengthens student problem-solving and critical thinking skills, adding to overall academic achievement and school success;
- Helps students develop a sense of craftsmanship, quality task performance, and goal-setting skills needed to succeed in the classroom and beyond;
- Can help troubled youth, providing an alternative to destructive behavior and another way for students to approach learning;
- Provides another opportunity for parental, community, and business involvement with schools, including arts and humanities organizations;
- Helps all students develop more appreciation and understanding of the world around them; and
- Helps students develop a positive work ethic and pride in a job well done
In order to Make Smart Sexy again, to get our youth re-engaged in school and live with the personal dignity that comes with knowing that they CAN succeed in life, we need YOU.
Get involved with the Q movement for a Secretary of the Arts by signing his online petition here.
Get involved in the 5MK movement to help keep the kids in your community engaged in education by making a 5MK Pledge. Visit 5MK and make your own unique pledge.
