John Muir PSAs 2017: Making a Difference
In the spring of 2017, Jackie Osborn and Karen McHegg’s fourth grade students at John Muir Elementary School worked with Jack Straw’s artist team to create Making a Difference, 12 original public service announcements about getting involved. Students explored the question, “How can one person make a difference?” Working in small groups, the students identified a cause, wrote an opinion statement, and collaborated on scripts that include a call to action. Listen to the pieces below:
Jack Straw vocal coaches Alyssa Keene, Christine Marie Brown, and Katya Landau helped the students work through their scripts and use their voices to tell their stories. Students recorded their PSAs in Jack Straw Cultural Center’s professional recording studios, working with our vocal coaches and audio engineers.
Making a Difference was produced by John Muir Elementary School, Jack Straw Cultural Center, and YMCA Powerful Schools with the generous support of Creative Advantage, the Washington State Arts Commission, and individual contributors.
Our thanks to John Muir fourth grade students, fourth grade teachers Jackie Osborn and Karen McHegg, Julie Trout, visual arts teacher and arts team lead, Nicole Hill Senior Director of Education YMCA Powerful Schools, and John Muir Principal Brenda Ball Cuthbertson. Our special thanks to Lydia Jurcys, Powerful Schools Quality Improvement Director, Education Initiatives, who makes this partnership a reality.
The Jack Straw artist team included vocal coaches Alyssa Keene, Christine Marie Brown, and Katya Landau, audio engineers Tom Stiles, Joel Maddox, and Daniel Guenther, photographer Sherwin Eng, web designer Levi Fuller, and Jack Straw Executive Director Joan Rabinowitz.
