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So much LEAF LOVE to our friends, family, artists, healers, volunteers/Wex, and kids who love LEAF!
LEAF Global Arts community and all of Western North Carolina are facing immeasurable losses and challenges in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Our region was hit with unimaginable devastating floods and landslides leading to loss of roadways and all water-power-communication systems, as well as loss of vehicles, homes, and — most tragically — lives. Thank you for your patience as we are all in emergency response, and communication has been zero to limited. We are grateful to be able to finally connect with you. We are all navigating so many layers of life and survival, as well as coming together.
Thank you to all who have checked in on us and offered to be there for us — we will need your support in so many ways! The LEAF staff, teaching artists, Board and our families are all safe and accounted for after many survived precarious situations – we are taking things day by day. Right now, our main priority is caring for our community and making sure our loved ones and neighbors have their basic needs met. Thankfully LEAF Global Experience in downtown Asheville is ok, and when services are restored we will see the needs it can serve. LEAF is dedicated to our community, our mission, and our LEAF community — YOU!
It’s with heavy hearts we must announce that this year’s LEAF Global Arts Festival, scheduled for October 17-20, is canceled at Lake Eden. World Drum Day will be able to happen (see below), and there are Disaster reLEAF Concert possibilities brewing for when and where it is safe and best for our community to uplift each other through music, culture, and connection.
Thankfully our beloved Lake Eden is resilient; we are grateful the building are in good shape. The big challenges are roads, fallen trees, lack of water and services, and the surrounding devastation. The World Changer Festival we had created for you and for us was so excellent- we have put so much love into this event with a super star team. Did you know that LEAF Festival is our No.1 fundraiser of the year? Not only does the festival fuels our mission and work across our community and globally, it is the time we come together to CONNECT with the best of the world, each other and revive our joy. We will find new paths with your inspiration- a lil time is needed, and missives will be shared.
We want to make sure YOU are taken care of as best we can. Please complete the below form to help guide us. In this moment we’re caring for each other and dreaming of a brighter future. Which option is best for you to transform your Festival ticket(s)? Fill out Festival Update Google Form LINK
We have created the LEAF Global Arts Artist Relief Fund (see below) to support LEAF’s teaching and performing artists who are cut off from gigs and so cannot earn a living. We will also be teaming up with DrumSTRONG, a charitable organization partnering with us on World Drum Day, and who has dedicated their 2024 fundraising to help LEAF and Western North Carolina. If you are able to donate to the LEAF Global Arts Artist Relief Fund, we’re so grateful.
Stay safe and take care of each other! Community is our most valuable resource and a little kindness goes a long way. Thank you for your LEAF love and support! We’ll share more soon.
For questions, please contact Alli at communications@theLEAF.org. She is checking email daily, but response times may be slower due to limited internet availability.
Pick up the Drum & Come Together at Festival for World Drum Day … or join virtually from anywhere in the world! 24 hours of drumming for unity.
LEAF’s mission comes to life as an agent for positive social impact in many ways and places.
The “ways” include: cultural exchanges, residencies, programs, workshops, mentoring, Easel Rider Mobile Art Lab, Learning Journeys, Signature Events, and immersive experiences. “Places” include: LEAF Global Arts Center in downtown Asheville, in communities across the world, in schools, in community centers, at event locations such as Lake Eden in Black Mountain, and downtown Asheville.
Our vision is to create relationships with communities around the world in order to strengthen cultural and global arts education program with which to engage youths in their rich cultural heritage, while cultivating community and connection. These are our guiding tools:
LEAF global arts education program goals, curriculum, teacher & student evaluations are aligned with the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP), developed by the Search Institute. The Search Institute has identified 40 assets which comprise a set of skills, experiences, relationships, and behaviors that enable young people to develop into successful and contributing adults. Building these assets prepare youth for success in some type of college or education, a career, and citizenship.
LEAF has identified and prioritized 6 assets that exemplify the types of skills our programs help to develop in our youth participants:
LEAF’s Global Arts Education programs align with Common Core State and NC Essential Standards to supplement what teachers are doing in their classrooms.
The UNESCO Culture for Development Indicators Suite identifies several dimensions that address the interrelations between culture and development. LEAF International aligns with 5 indicators that provide a guiding framework for quantifying the contribution of culture in development.
The 5 indicators that guide the design and evaluate global programs:
Within these 5 dimensions, 9 indicators are utilized by LEAF as direct indications of how our programs are enriching individual lives, communities, and preserving forms of cultural expression:
Since 2018, LEAF Community Arts as a team with Buncombe County Schools (BCS) are John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – Partners in Education Program. This national recognition is only the 3rd cohort in NC! The SHARED purpose of LEAF and BCS as Kennedy Center – Partners i
533,788+
LEAFers at Events
56
Signature Festivals
116
Countries Represented
26,615+
Performers
4
Virtual Events
85,606
Youth Participants
8,831
Youth Performers
621
Arts Education Programs
23,650
Easel Rider Youth
36
Kennedy Center Cohort BCSTeachers
6,230+
Youth Participants
10
Countries
15
Programs
5
ONEmic Studios
22
Culture Keepers
98
Cultural Exchanges
Mayani is a Maasai boy from longido Arusha. He went to boarding school at 6 years old and lost his Maasai language and tradition. Since joining the LEAF program, he has learned to sing Maasai songs, practiced the ‘jump’ tradition and wear Maasai shukas (traditional clothing). Mayani is extremely happy and is currently teaching other youth the culture.
