2006 annual report - Urban Gateways

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOARD PRESIDENTWhile the year 2006 represented the 45th anniversary of Urban Gateways’founding, it served, too, as a bridge into the next chapter of this organization’slife. It was unquestionably a year of transition in which Urban Gateways’ bidfarewell to Executive Director Libby Lai-Bun Chiu. An inspired leader whoushered this institution through the past eight years, Libby ensured thatthe high-quality programming, essential research and powerful curriculumdevelopment that have been synonymous with the name “Urban Gateways”remained vital.With 2006 came an invitation to Urban Gateways to take part in apromising collaborative undertaking alongside our colleagues in the cultural,educational, and civic spheres. We were given the chance to work closelywith the Chicago Public Schools to systemically create opportunities forall Chicago public school children to learn through the arts. How perfectthen, that 2006 was the year when we first understood that in a small butextremely significant way, Urban Gateways had realized one of its dreams:An arts-infused school, Horace Greeley Elementary School, where childrenH Ken Bergren and Julie F. Simpsonin grades K through 8 achieve great academic success, was not only wellestablishedin Chicago, but was poised to help others enjoy the benefits thearts can provide.Our challenge now becomes one of delivering shared expertise andknowledge. The wealth of understanding that Urban Gateways has amassedover the course of its fifteen-year partnership with Greeley School must bemade available to others. There are scores of educational leaders anxious toembrace the arts as a window into the world of academic achievement; theymust now be given the chance to learn from us and from their peers.Like other trail-blazing guides in the world of learning, Urban Gateways hasgained a solid understanding of the processes and practices that, whenpursued courageously, offer innovative results. We are eager to embraceour next organizational chapter in which a good portion of our efforts willbe dedicated to assuming our rightful role in a crucial collective effort. Weremain committed to assisting our colleagues at CPS and our fellow culturalambassadors and purveyors of arts learning to fully realize our ongoingvision … the systemic delivery of an arts-rich education across the region forevery child in every school.Ken BergrenChair, Board of TrusteesJulie F. SimpsonExecutive Director