STREET BLOG: OUR STAFF SHARES THEIR STORIES

Here's a few photos from our recent reading at Book Passage bookstore at the Ferry Building. Students from our Storytelling Exchange program read from our new anthology, Working It Out: San Francisco Youth Solve Real Problems.



Thanks to folks at the bookstore, who were amazing hosts, and to all the wonderful youth and families who attended! The view was probably the best one we've ever had at a Streetside event. You can pick up a book at Book Passage, or drop us a line. The books will be available for sale on Streetside's website this week!





Streetside Stories
Storytelling Exchange
Book Passage
Ferry Building

Front Row: Anna, Karla, Jenn and Vanessa Second Row: Nefertiti, Cecilia, Erika, Diana, Cindy, Linda, Bernadette, Noelle, and Pio Back: Melissa, Stephanie, Marco, Curt, and Jose

Streetside's year comes to a close at the end of each school year. We reflect on our accomplishments, hold lots of year-end events, and start planning our next year.

Today, the staff celebrated helping over 1,500 youth tell their stories this year. We had burgers and shakes at Taylor's Automatic Refresher and then took this (not very good) picture of our staff and interns. Five years ago, Streetside had only 5 staff. Today, we have thirteen staff members, and over 100 volunteers and interns. Thanks to everyone who made this an amazing year for Streetside and our students, including you!

Streetside Stories
taylor's automatic refresher
arts education

Streetside's Director Linda Johnson went to the Americans for the Arts conference in Las Vegas last weekend. Wow! Las Vegas sure is noisy, hot, cold, and overstimulating!

One highlight was seeing friends from The Crossroads Project, a groundbreaking community arts project based in New Orleans. They were the only arts education organization at the conference who actually brought youth with them, and led an amazing workshop that included african drumming.

Below, Mat, Matthew, Will and Roque from the Crossroads Project, along with Linda.



Another was seeing the Neon Museum, which is currently not a museum, but a "neon boneyard" full of cool old signs from around Vegas. They are currently raising money to construct a museum. Below (and at top of page), signs from their collection.



Last but not least, Sir Ken Robinson, who spoke at the conference. Sir Ken is a brilliant thinker who believes that our current, industrialized model of education, created to serve the needs of business, is serving neither business nor humans. He believes that restructuring education to make full use the natural human capacity for creativity through the arts is key to meeting the future. Watch him speak here--he's very funny.

Las Vegas
Neon Museum
Streetside Stories
The Crossroads Project
Sir Ken Robinson