Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Loyi Malu, Director of Student Services, Inclusion and Engagement at Third Street Music School Settlement
4:57:13
ยท
164 sec
Loyi Malu from Third Street Music School Settlement testifies on the importance of prioritizing funding for arts education in New York City schools and communities, highlighting the inequitable access to arts education and its benefits for lower-income students.
- Third Street Music School Settlement provides music and dance education to over 6,000 students annually through on-site and off-site programs.
- The organization partners with 35 public schools and community sites, including five public housing and community centers, reaching over 4,000 students.
- Over 95% of students served through these partnerships live below the poverty line, emphasizing the critical impact of these programs.
Loyi Malu
4:57:13
Good afternoon Chair Rivera, Chair Joseph, and staff and members of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations and Committee
UNKNOWN
4:57:23
on
Loyi Malu
4:57:23
Education.
4:57:25
My name is Lodi Malu and I'm the director of student services inclusion and engagement at third street music school settlement and council member Rivera's district.
4:57:34
Third street is a nonprofit community music school that provides on-site and off-site music and dance education programs to over 6,000 students annually.
4:57:43
I'm testifying today to call on our city to prioritize fiscal year twenty six funding for arts education in New York City schools and communities.
4:57:52
The arts are a core component of a well rounded twenty first century education despite the numerous benefits, access to arts education in New York City Free New York City youth remains inequitable and public schools serving lower income communities are historically the most likely to face funding shortages.
4:58:11
They tend to have fewer partnerships with cultural organizations and their students earn 25 to 30% fewer arts credits.
4:58:18
Meanwhile, it is lower income students who stand to benefit the most from consistent access to arts education.
4:58:25
Lower income students with high arts participation have lower dropout rates, score higher in math and English and are three times more likely to graduate college than their peers who are not enrolled in arts programs.
4:58:38
Third Tree is one of hundreds of cultural organizations bringing arts education programs into New York City communities by sending professional teaching artists into our vast network of 35 public schools and community sites.
4:58:50
Some of which we've partnered with for thirty years.
4:58:54
Through these partnerships we reach over 4,000 students annually with arts education programs.
4:59:00
I administer third street's partnerships with five public housing and community centers where our arts education programs have a deep impact on students in these communities.
4:59:09
Third Street partners with University Settlement to deliver a broad range of music and dance community programs to these sites reaching over 200 students with after school arts education in a safe and supportive environment.
4:59:22
Over 95% of students at Third Street serves through these partnerships live below the poverty line, making our programs all the more critical, impactful, and necessary.
4:59:33
Arts education is essential to young person's development, equipping them with the skill set they need to succeed in high school, college, and beyond.
4:59:41
Third Street requests your support to grow our essential education programs and I implore the council to invest in New York City's youth and ensure that students of all backgrounds can access invaluable arts learning opportunities.
4:59:56
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.