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Add it to the comments here!
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Panel: "Teaching Artistry through a Racial Equity and Social Justice Lens"

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Panel: "Teaching Artistry through a Racial Equity and Social Justice Lens"

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This recording is for viewing within this artist community only.

Access Passcode: Y@MD2020

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Access Passcode: YAMD2020!

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Access Passcode: YAMD2020!

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SOLE Defined LIVE | The Illusion of Inclusion

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SOLE Defined LIVE | The Illusion of Inclusion

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SOLE Defined LIVE | The Illusion of Inclusion

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SOLE Defined LIVE | The MisEducation: Education Goes Back to School

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SOLE Defined LIVE | The MisEducation: Education Goes Back to School

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SOLE Defined LIVE | The MisEducation: Education Goes Back to School

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Access Passcode: YAMD2020!

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This recording is for use within this artist community only.

Access Passcode: BCAN2020!

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MVLA: Copyright for Artists and Creatives

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MVLA: Copyright for Artists and Creatives

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COPYRIGHT FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVES - Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.pdf

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This is the presentation that Precious shared.

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Arts in Education Updates! Presentation_ YAMD.pdf

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BCAN Local Resources for Creative Entrepreneurs

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BCAN Local Resources for Creative Entrepreneurs

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Applications due November 1st!

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Free download of the business model canvas and step-by-step guide.

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Questions to consider in our breakout rooms

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Questions to consider in our breakout rooms

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1. What does race equity and social justice mean to you?

2. How has race equity and social justice impacted your teaching artist practice?

3. How have you shifted your work to ensure that it embraces a race equity and social justice lens?

4. How can YAMD continue to shift and support artists during this time?

1. What does transparency, community and support look like from a DEIA lens?

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Upcoming Event: Marketing in the COVID-Era, November 12

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Upcoming Event: Marketing in the COVID-Era, November 12

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Join MSAC and a panel of marketing experts as they provide options for best marketing practices, both virtually and for re-opening, during this extraordinary time. To submit questions for the panel beforehand, please complete this form. Stick around for a tutorial in social media best practices by our own Amelia Evans, MSAC’s Marketing and Communications Manager from 3-3:30PM!

Register at this link:

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panel: marketing in the covid-era tickets

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Eventbrite - Maryland State Arts Council presents Panel: Marketing in the COVID-era - Thursday, November 12, 2020 - Find event and ticket information.

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After the governor's announcement of an additional $3 million towards emergency relief for the Maryland arts sector, MSAC will be releasing the application and new guidelines for organizations and independent artists on Friday, October 30. When posted, you can learn more on their website.

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Eligibility Arts Organization Eligibility (includes County Arts Agencies and Arts & Entertainment District Management Entities): The organization has previously received MSAC funding. The organization must provide an estimate of any anticipated revenue from state and/or federal sources in the budget submission including but not limited to:

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MCA Maryland Arts Institute of Racial Justice

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MCA Maryland Arts Institute of Racial Justice

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The Maryland Arts Institute of Racial Justice has two types of offerings to explore racial justice together as the Maryland Arts sector: Lunchtime Book Club, and Monthly Academy.

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Maryland Arts Institute of Racial Justice | MCA - Maryland Citizens for the Arts

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As institutions move toward Racial Equity, it is necessary to examine and reconcile the past, understand the present, and create change for the future. The Maryland Arts Institute of Racial Justice has TWO types of offerings to explore racial justice together as the Maryland Arts sector. Registration is FREE.

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YAMD Virtual Programming Artist Handbook

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Upcoming FREE PD from MSDE: Through November 11

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Upcoming FREE PD from MSDE: Through November 11

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Technology for Sharing and Reflection for Arts Educators & Teaching Artists

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Technology for Sharing and Reflection for Arts Educators & Teaching Artists

Runs September 30th - November 11th, 2020
Beginner, Intermediate and Exploratory Levels are available!

See the schedule and course offerings below.

Registration opens on September 15th!

Audio Basics: Setting the Stage for Virtual Performance

Facilitator: Lynnell Randall

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

This course is designed for the innovative and technologically challenged teacher to build the foundation and confidence to facilitate the virtual choir/instrumental ensemble/theatre process. We can do this! We are arts teachers...we can do anything!

Learning Goals:

Videography Basics for the Classroom

Facilitator: Shaiday Dancy

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 7, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Did you know you already have the basic technology you'll need to take virtual learning to this new innovative level? Whether you're using your cell phone, tablet, or laptop, you can create a beautiful professional video if you know where to go and what to click. Learn basic tools, tips, and tricks on recording on any device, finding/making good light, getting your space camera ready, and how to get that perfect angle to make you go from feeling amateur to being your very own Director of Photography & Videography.

Participants will...

Video Editing 101 - Inspiring Creative Expression and Student Engagement

Facilitators: Jessica Hale and Darryl Pilate

Date/Time: October 14, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This course will explore video editing basics for the presentation and documentation of dance and theatre composition in order to enhance student engagement.

Participants will...

Connecting Communities through Creative Compilation Video Performances

Facilitators: April Shawyer and Corey McPherson

Date/Time: Tuesday, October 27, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Showcase your student's artistic work on a virtual stage by creating compilation performance videos that can be shared with your online community!

Attendees will learn...

1. HOW to CREATE learning goals that help refine and complete artistic work

2. HOW to COMPILE student work into a video performance format

3. HOW to CONNECT your community with your virtual performance

Facilitators: Lacey Sheppard and Selena Ward

Dates/Time: Wednesdays, October 21, 28 November 4 and November 11 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

In using the concept of a camera as an alternative stage space, this interactive course will explore dance & camera composition, choreographic choice-making, and the three stages of production with video editing techniques.

Participants should have a minimum of intermediate-level skills, see Intermediate classes for descriptions.

Participants will...

Creating and Using Virtual Performances in Your Music Instruction

Facilitators: Peter Perry and Robby Burns

Course Assistant: Paul Hatton

Dates/Time: Mondays, October 5, 19, and 26 and November 2 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This course covers the techniques for making, and the pedagogy behind successfully creating and using a virtual performance in instruction. Advanced audio and video editing with industry-standard applications will be covered, as well as practical ways to include the process in instruction.

The techniques explored in this course require familiarity with both an audio editor or Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) (e.g. Audacity, Logic Pro, Garage Band, Pro Tools, Mixcraft) AND a video editor (e.g. Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, HitFilm Express/Pro).

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Technology for Sharing and Reflection for Arts Educators & Teaching Artists Runs September 30th - November 11th, 2020 Beginner, Intermediate and Exploratory Levels are available! See the schedule and course offerings below. Registration opens on September 15th! Audio Basics: Setting the Stage for Virtual Performance Facilitator: Lynnell Randall Date/Time: Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 5:00 p.m.

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Upcoming Event: Arts Education Symposium on Anti-Racism, November 21

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Upcoming Event: Arts Education Symposium on Anti-Racism, November 21

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ARTS EDUCATION IN MARYLAND SCHOOLS ALLIANCE INC

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Join us for a day of exciting, insightful, and compelling experiences to deepen your understanding of anti-racism and abolitionist teaching in arts education. In addition to a keynote by award-winning author Dr. Bettina Love, the symposium will include breakouts that can help you apply these abolitionist principles to your discipline and your classroom.

Tickets will be available for Maryland Educators ($10) starting 9/30/20

Tickets will be available for all other attendees ($20) starting 10/7/20

Event Schedule:

11am: Welcome from AEMS, MSDE, and the Arts Educator Professional Associations

11:15am-12:15pm: Keynote by Dr. Bettina Love

12:15pm: Brief break

12:30pm-2pm: Discipline-specific breakouts (including a breakout for Teaching Artists), facilitated by Maryland arts educators

Educators will break out into disciplines and discuss anti-racist instructional strategies.

Brief break determined by facilitator

BYO lesson plan: participants offer real-life examples that facilitators can discuss.

2:10pm: Adjourn

Prior to the event, participants will be sent a reflection activity to prepare them for meaningful conversations about anti-racism.
About Antiracism/Abolitionist Principles: About Bettina Love:

Dr. Bettina L. Love is an award-winning author and Associate Professor of Educational Theory & Practice at the University of Georgia. She is one of the field's most esteemed educational researchers in the areas of how anti-blackness operates in schools, Hip Hop education, and urban education. Her work is also concerned with how teachers and schools working with parents and communities can build communal, civically engaged schools rooted in intersectional social justice for the goal of equitable classrooms.

For her work in the field, in 2016, Dr. Love was named the Nasir Jones Hiphop Fellow at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. She is also the creator of the Hip Hop civics curriculum GET FREE. In April of 2017, Dr. Love participated in a one-on-one public lecture with bell hooks focused on the liberatory education practices of Black and Brown children. In 2018, Georgia's House of Representatives presented Dr. Love with a resolution for her impact on the field of education.

Dr. Love is a sought-after public speaker on a range of topics, including: anti-blackness in schools, Hip Hop education, Black girlhood, queer youth, Hip Hop feminism, art-based education to foster youth civic engagement, and issues of diversity and inclusion. In 2014, she was invited to the White House Research Conference on Girls to discuss her work focused on the lives of Black girls. In addition, she is the inaugural recipient of the Michael F. Adams award (2014) from the University of Georgia. She has also provided commentary for various news outlets including NPR, The Guardian, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

She is the author of the books We Want To Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom and Hip Hop's Li'l Sistas Speak: Negotiating Hip Hop Identities and Politics in the New South. Her work has appeared in numerous books and journals, including the English Journal, Urban Education, The Urban Review, and Journal of LGBT Youth. In 2017, Dr. Love edited a special issue of the Journal of Lesbian Studies focused on the identities, gender performances, and pedagogical practices of Black and Brown lesbian educators.

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Join Us! This year, AEMS's annual Maryland Fine Arts Education Conference is an Arts Education Symposium on Anti-Racism! We are honored to have Dr. Bettina Love, author of "We Want To Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching" as the Keynote Speaker!

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I get to be with Charlotte often and she brings me so much joy! She’ll be 2 in a couple of months. In the photo she’s just glimpsed a chocolate Popsicle.

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Annual Artist Retreat Community Agreements

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YAMD Artist Retreat 2020: Agenda for Artists

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Some questions I have regarding our future...

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Some questions I have regarding our future...

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From Stacie!

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Some questions I have regarding our future:

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Thanks to Devin for the article suggestion!

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Photo: Michael Hession

Our pick

Our pick adds two speedy, wired network connections, anywhere you have power in your home.

TP-Link's TL-PA9020P V3 is one of the fastest kits we've tested, is less expensive than competing adapters with the same speed ratings, and includes dual Ethernet jacks on each adapter so you can wire two nearby devices to your network-like a streaming box and a video game console. It's a great way to add strong network connectivity to devices where Wi-Fi is impractical, and it comes with a two-year warranty.

Runner-up

The PLP2000 offers some of the speediest connections in our tests, but its higher price and short warranty are drawbacks.

The Netgear PLP2000 is a good choice if our top pick is out of stock, and if you need the best possible performance-think online gaming and streaming 4K video. The speedy connection to any devices you plug into it should make a big difference compared with unstable Wi-Fi, but it won't have as much impact on regular browsing on a so-so network. Netgear offers a shorter warranty than TP-Link, but this an excellent alternative, especially if it's the same price.

Budget pick

If you need to take just one bandwidth-hungry device off your Wi-Fi network, this is an inexpensive solution.

TP-Link's TL-PA7010P V2 is much less expensive than the TL-PA9020P and it's up to 20% slower while transferring data. It's still more than fast enough if you need to connect one wired device like a smart TV. Most people should pay a little more for one of our faster picks with a second Ethernet port, but if you have only $50 or so to spend, the TL-PA7010P is your best option.

Everything we recommend

Our pick

Our pick adds two speedy, wired network connections, anywhere you have power in your home.

Runner-up

The PLP2000 offers some of the speediest connections in our tests, but its higher price and short warranty are drawbacks.

Budget pick

If you need to take just one bandwidth-hungry device off your Wi-Fi network, this is an inexpensive solution.

The research
Collapse all

Why you should trust us

Before joining Wirecutter in 2018, Joel Santo Domingo tested and wrote about PCs, networking, and personal tech for PCMag.com, Lifewire, HotHardware, and PC Magazine for more than 17 years. Prior to that, Joel was an IT tech and system administrator for small, medium-size, and large companies. Wirecutter has tested powerline networking kits since 2014.

Who this is for

Powerline network adapters extend your home network by using your home's electrical wiring instead of an Ethernet cable. This makes powerline a great way to get a high-quality connection to distant parts of your house, which can also relieve stress on your Wi-Fi network.

You should consider a powerline kit if you have a router from the past year or two that covers most of your space well but doesn't get a reliable signal to somewhere that needs it, like a home office or an entertainment center on the opposite side of the house. Check to be sure your router supports the 802.11ac standard-if not you may want to replace it before getting a powerline kit. You should also only consider powerline networking if you have a relatively modern, midsize home-less than 2,500 square feet-since powerline performance can vary depending on the quality of your home's electrical wiring. If your home is larger or older, or if your router is due for an upgrade anyway, you should probably consider a mesh networking kit instead.

A single pair of powerline adapters will typically provide much lower latency-the time between when you try to do something online, and when your device actually starts doing it-than a device would achieve on a busy Wi-Fi network. This makes a powerline kit potentially a better option for a gamer who complains about "lag" on their Wi-Fi connected console or PC but doesn't have an available Ethernet connection nearby. Powerline can also serve as a bridge across walls or a foundation that kills Wi-Fi signals (like a basement or garage, for example).

What you should know before buying powerline

A powerline kit contains two identical devices: one adapter connected to your router that you then plug into a nearby electrical outlet; and a second adapter you plug in where you need an internet connection. If you need more networking ports where you're putting a powerline adapter, you can plug in a network switch and still get better performance and lower latency than using Wi-Fi to connect those gadgets. To add more rooms to your powerline network, you only need one more powerline adapter in each room-the same router-side adapter will service your entire powerline network.

Despite its limitations, powerline is a useful and affordable way to extend your network to areas where Wi-Fi doesn't reach and running an Ethernet cord would be impractical. Powerline can bridge network connections throughout a multistory structure where building materials like brick, glass, or lath-and-plaster block Wi-Fi signals. However, powerline signal quality depends greatly on the quality of your electrical wiring, which can be a problem in older buildings.

Some powerline kits have Wi-Fi extenders built into one of the adapters. These can work better than traditional wireless extenders because they don't rely on Wi-Fi for the connection between the router and extender. However, if powerline networking doesn't work well with your house's wiring, you're better off upgrading to a Wi-Fi mesh kit.

While it's possible to mix and match older powerline adapters, you really shouldn't. They can slow the network speeds by two-thirds or more.

The good news is, powerline doesn't interfere with Wi-Fi, and vice-versa-walls that stop Wi-Fi cold or your neighbors' Wi-Fi interference don't matter to a powerline connection. The network's performance depends on the overall quality of the wiring in the house, followed by the electrical distance-not the straight line distance-between two powerline adapters. Shoddy wiring can lower the bandwidth or drop the connection. Powerline networking is expandible but can be subject to collision and congestion-the more powerline adapters you have, the worse they'll all perform.

You should also be careful to encrypt the connection between your powerline adapters, using the physical pairing button on each adapter, especially if you live in a multi-unit building. If you forget this step, you can end up merging your network and your neighbor's.

Other factors can affect powerline performance. You don't want to connect a powerline adapter to a surge protector or power strip, or outlets that are behind AFCI circuit breakers. (These will be labeled as "AFCI" or "Arc Fault" in your breaker box.) SmallNetBuilder noted in its testing of powerline adapters that some brands of AFCI circuit breakers cut transmission rate in half, though others barely impacted throughput at all.

While it's possible to mix and match older powerline adapters, you really shouldn't. They can slow network speeds by two-thirds or more. Older powerline devices that use the AV standard are compatible with the AV2 standard devices we tested here, but that just means that they won't completely break the network when plugged in at that same time. I ran into this situation when I neglected to remove a rogue powerline adapter left over from testing years ago. With an unpaired AV adapter plugged in, overall throughput on the newer gigabit AV2 adapters slowed to a crawl. AV and AV2 devices can't be used at all with powerline adapters that use the competing G.hn standard, and we found the interference from the spare AV adapter slowed the G.hn network down as well.

You don't want to connect a powerline adapter to a surge protector or power strip, or outlets that are behind AFCI circuit breakers.

Powerline networking kits can be susceptible to interference from other devices (particularly poorly constructed phone or laptop power supplies) on the circuit. Appliances on the line can also interfere with powerline signals, so it may not be the solution for improving your internet connection on outlets near kitchens or laundry rooms. According to this knowledge base article from TP-Link, "Electrical equipments [sic] with electromotor, like washing machine/air-condition, can generate interference [and] may even cut off your powerline connection."

It's also possible, though somewhat unlikely, to get interference from a powerline kit showing up in other devices. In 2016, we tested for interference from a floor lamp with a dimmer switch and three 13 W LED bulbs. We didn't see any speed drops on any of the kits we tested then, but we did get a light show when we benchmarked a Zyxel PLA5405KIT with the lamp plugged into the same outlet and turned off at the dimmer switch.

How we picked

Much like any network connection, what we're really looking for here is the most speed and reliability we can get for the best price. Unfortunately, just like Wi-Fi, the big numbers on the box can be misleading-you'll never get the theoretical maximum of 2 Gbps out of a kit that uses the AV2-2000 standard. And sometimes a product from one brand on the slower AV2-1000 standard can actually perform better than a product from another brand that uses AV2-2000. So we directly tested each kit, using the same techniques employed in our Wi-Fi router, Wi-Fi mesh, and Wi-Fi extender guides.

When deciding which devices to test, these were our criteria:

Throughput, or speed: We measured how fast each powerline kit downloads files and streaming data. At a bare minimum, we're looking for at least 25 Mbps, the speed you'd need for 4K video streaming to one device. If your home internet connection is slower than that and the cause of your problems, a powerline networking kit may not make a difference. We used AV2 throughput ratings as a guideline when picking which kits to test-those numbers aren't always indicative of real-world performance, but newer and better kits do generally have higher throughput rates.

Latency, or delay: This is the kind of speed that makes most of what you actually do on the internet-such as web browsing and game playing-seem fast or slow. It's frustrating when you have to wait longer than a couple of seconds for a response from a website or an app's servers

Price: A pair of Ethernet-only powerline adapters shouldn't be more than $120; a kit with a Wi-Fi radio on the far end shouldn't be more than $150. Once you reach that price, you may be better off looking at a mesh networking kit or evaluate if you need to install wired Ethernet in your home.

Wi-Fi capabilities: You'll get the highest performance results from a powerline connection by plugging in an Ethernet cable, but many people really want to get good Wi-Fi coverage to another room.

Extra Ethernet port(s): Having an extra Ethernet connection (or two) is a boon for smart homes. They come in handy if you need "just one more connection" and don't want to bother with an additional network switch for a media streaming box and a desktop PC in the same room.

Power passthrough: It's not a dealbreaker, but we prefer powerline kits with 110 V passthrough outlets on the front. Powerline adapters should always be plugged directly into the wall-not into a power strip-and kits without power passthrough will block one or both of your wall outlets.

Warranty: It's not the most important feature, but we gave extra points to powerline kits with two- or three-year warranties. Two contenders had only a single year of coverage.

We tested only current-generation powerline devices, and we don't recommend older non-AV2 devices. The modern AV2 standard brings much faster real-world speeds, better reliability, and mandatory push-button encryption.

The AV2 standard (and the G.hn standard the Zyxel kit uses) requires modern, three-prong electrical wiring. If you only have two-prong outlets, powerline networking is probably not for you-but if you want to try it anyway, your best bet is the TP-Link AV600 Powerline Adapter Kit.

How we tested

To test coverage and performance, we connected each kit to a TP-Link Archer A7 (our current budget Wi-Fi router pick) in a challenging home environment. The three-story, 2,400-square-foot house we used is built into a hillside. The house has Wi-Fi-blocking interior materials, including interior glass panels, a masonry fireplace in the middle of the living room, and a metal-and-wood staircase in the center of the home.

The router and web server were located in a home office in the attic of the home. One powerline adapter was also plugged into a nearby outlet, with its Ethernet cable connected to a port on the router. Powerline adapters are paired automatically when you plug them in, but to ensure we had a secure connection, we tapped the pairing/encryption button on both units after they were plugged in.

Adapter placement

We picked two spots that would show each adapter's capabilities: The downstairs bedroom has four interior walls and two ceilings between it and the router, which challenge Wi-Fi reception more than the 60 feet or so of straight-line distance. The second test spot in the attic is "easier" at about 25 feet distance, but it still has a pane of window glass in between it and the router. These are exactly the sort of places powerline is best-suited to reach.

Test device placement

All of our powerline adapters offered wired gigabit Ethernet ports, and we tested those wired connections with an Intel gigabit network adapter on a Dell Vostro laptop. Placement of the actual laptop doesn't really matter when you're wired; we tested with a 3-foot Ethernet cable, which is just as challenging as a 100-foot Ethernet cable.

For the kit that offered Wi-Fi connections on the remote adapter; we tested it using the same Dell Vostro laptop with a TP-Link T4U USB WI-Fi adapter, also about 3 feet from where the powerline adapter was plugged in.

Test protocol

We tested our powerline adapters using Netburn, an open-source tool that tests networks with the same HTTP protocol your browser uses to read web pages. This allows us to test the network the same way we actually use it and minimize the likelihood that we'll pick a device that's better in testing than it is in the home.

We used an Intel NUC mini PC running Linux and Apache as the back-end server for our tests. The NUC was plugged directly into a spare port on the Archer A7 in the home office, and the test laptops had to connect to it by way of the powerline adapters.

Each laptop was tested for download performance and for web browsing performance. The download test simply downloads a 1 MB file repeatedly as fast as possible. We also ran a version of the download test with a 16 MB file to stress the network further.

The web browsing test is considerably trickier; each web page consists of 16 side-by-side 128 KB downloads, and the next web page can't be downloaded until the last one finishes. Problems with the reliability of the connection-or the speed of the adapters' CPU-get uncovered more quickly on the browsing test than they do with a simple full-speed download. We ran the tests on all the adapters with an Ethernet cable connected. In addition, for the Wi-Fi-capable TP-Link kit, we ran the same suite of tests again while connected to Wi-Fi. We also ran the test at each location with the laptop connected via Wi-Fi to a TP-Link T4U USB adapter.

Our pick: TP-Link TL-PA9020P V3

Our pick

If your Wi-Fi can't reach one or two devices like game consoles or streaming boxes, and you can't run Ethernet wiring through your home (or just don't want to), the TP-Link TL-PA9020P Kit is one of the best ways to extend your network where the Wi-Fi is spotty. It was among the top three fastest competitors in our download throughput and browsing tests, so you're assured speedy wired connections in the room where you place the receiving adapter regardless of your router's or your home's construction.

A top powerline adapter like the TL-PA9020P improves speed (throughput) and responsiveness (latency) compared with Wi-Fi. For example, the adapter was faster than all the others in one of our six tests. At a closer distance of about 25 feet, throughput jumped from 78 Mbps on Wi-Fi to 238 Mbps, an improvement of 205%. When we increased the distance, the gap narrowed and the TL-PA9020P placed third behind the Zyxel PLA6456 and Netgear PLP2000, but the TP-Link adapter was still 76% faster than Wi-Fi at the same location.

In addition to performing well, the TL-PA9020P is a good value, generally about $10 to $20 less expensive than the Netgear PLP2000. Both have dual Ethernet ports on each adapter, similar performance, passthrough power ports (you can still use the power outlet for other things), and both are easy to set up. Just plug the TL-PA9020P's adapters in, and they will work right out of the box. If you live in a multiple-unit dwelling like an apartment building, you'll want to activate the onboard 128 bit-AES security by pressing the sync button on each adapter, but that's a one-time process that takes seconds to implement.

The PA9020P comes with a two-year warranty, like the other TP-Link and Zyxel adapters, and double the single year of the D-Link and Netgear adapters. Only the TrendNet comes with a three-year warranty, but the TrendNet TPL-423E2K has other issues.

If you need to wire more than two devices to your network over a powerline adapter, you can also connect an inexpensive network switch to the PA9020P and have enough ports to hook up your entire entertainment center. Taking those (often bandwidth-hungry) devices off your network can be a double win. Your streaming box, smart TV, the desktop hooked up to your TV, and any other local devices will benefit from the stronger signal from a wired connection, and the rest of your wireless devices will be more responsive since they are on a now less-congested wireless network.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Plugged into the bottom outlet, the PA9020P covers the ground plug of the power outlet above it; you might be able to connect a two-prong plug to the top outlet, but most three-prong plugs won't fit. Thankfully, there's a passthrough adapter on the front, so you can plug a device directly into the PA9020P itself.

There's no Wi-Fi built in, so you'll need to connect a wired access point or Wi-Fi extender to the PA9020P if you want wireless networking at the far connection. Even with the extra complexity, that will likely be a faster system than the Wi-Fi-capable TP-Link WPA8630 v2-the PA9020P absolutely trounced the former in our throughput tests.

Runner-up: Netgear PLP2000

Runner-up

Since it's normally a little more expensive without offering a clear benefit, the Netgear PLP2000 is only a good choice if the TP-Link TL-PA9020P is out of stock, or if you can find it at a lower price. Both powerline adapter kits excelled in our throughput tests, trading places for the top spots. The PLP2000 was faster overall, but you'd need a calculator to see the difference between the two on most tests; on one test the difference was less than a percentage point.

The PLP2000 kit placed a smidge higher than the TL-PA9020P on four of the six throughput and latency tests, meaning it is technically faster than our top pick. But the truth is that both powerline kits performed within a hair's breadth of each other. With so many variables in play, you're unlikely to notice the difference in day-to-day use around your home. And both options were over twice as fast the lowest performing kits-the TP-Link TL-WPA8630 v2 and the TrendNet TPL-423E2K-at the long-distance tests. Either of the top kits will do just as well to extend your network where Wi-Fi is problematic.

Most of the time, the Netgear adapter is about $10 to $20 more than our top pick from TP-Link, and Netgear only offers a one-year warranty compared with TP-Link's two-year coverage. Those two factors were the main reasons the PLP2000 is only our runner-up pick. Aside from the similarities in speed, the overall design and feature set don't differ in most meaningful ways. Both kits have two Ethernet ports per adapter, so you'll be able to connect two devices in each location. And the PLP2000 also includes a power passthrough, a benefit because the adapter's bulk blocks the other outlet.

Budget pick: TP-Link PA7010P V2

An overview of the test results

Wired connections, like those of our seven powerline adapter kits, improve the stability and responsiveness of the network connection. So we concentrated on how fast each kit was able to transfer data. Overall, the best powerline kits were faster than Wi-Fi, especially as more obstacles were placed in between the router and the test laptop.

Our throughput test measures how much data can be transmitted through the network, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). For example, if you're paying for 200 Mbps internet service, you'll be able to download files and stream media at 200 Mbps to a laptop connected to the router via a wired Ethernet connection. Obstructions in your walls or electrical wire distance will degrade the Wi-Fi or powerline throughput, respectively.

Note that we're testing these throughput speeds locally using a server: If your home has a 15 Mbps data plan, your connection to streaming services on the internet will be limited to 15 Mbps maximum, no matter how fast your router and adapters are.

As mentioned earlier, we tested throughput at two locations in our test home. The first site was in the attic about 25 feet from the router, but on the other side of a load-bearing wall and plate-glass window that decreased Wi-Fi signals. In general, the powerline transfer speed in an attic was quite fast, easily exceeding Wi-Fi over the same distance.

The other test location was in a bedroom two flights down, and on the other side of the home, a challenging 60-foot distance for both Wi-Fi and electrical signals. At this location, the best powerline kits still managed rates that were twice as fast Wi-Fi-only performance, while the worst two kits were a bit slower than Wi-Fi.

For comparison, during our last router test session the TP-Link Archer A7 router had no trouble maintaining almost 200 Mbps throughput to a similar laptop about 15 feet away, through a ceiling.

To challenge the network kits, we also ran the same test with a larger file for a shorter period to simulate a quick, massive burst of data that would really stress the network. Wi-Fi slowed a bit at both locations compared with the 1 MB file download tests, showing that the wireless network was becoming saturated at that point. However, the best performers, including the PLP2000 and TL-PA9020P v3, managed to provide double the throughput at both test sites compared with Wi-Fi. They had the extra headroom and just kept going, while the Wi-Fi connection direct to the router was really starting to show its limits.

The TL-WPA8630 v2 (both wired and with a Wi-Fi connection) and the TrendNet TPL-423E2K were no better than the Wi-Fi connection in the first floor bedroom. Both were rated Powerline AV2-1300, which goes to show that you shouldn't expect advertised speeds simply because the adapter is rated "up to 1,300 Mbps."

One notable anecdote: The G.hn-compatible Zyxel PLA6456 was fastest at long distance in the first-floor bedroom, but it was merely above average in the attic location. Therefore, we consider it a possible alternate if you need to cover a long distance or if our main pick and runner-up are out of stock.

The competition

The TP-Link WPA8630 V2 was the pick in a previous version of this guide. However, after our latest round of tests in 2020, it dropped from middle of the pack to the bottom of the performance charts. While it was the only kit we tested with Wi-Fi built in, it was simply too slow to recommend over the others here.

The Extollo LanPlug 2000 and Extollo Una were listed as also-great picks in the previous version of this guide. We tried to acquire these G.hn extenders from both the Extollo Communications website and on Amazon for our 2020 update. They are listed as sold out on the former, and unavailable on the latter. We tried to contact Extollo, to no avail. As they are no longer readily available, we are dismissing both adapters.

Our budget pick matched the features and performance of D-Link's DHP-P701AV, for half the price. It's similar to the DHP-701AV we tested in 2018 but with the addition of a passthrough power jack.

TrendNet's TPL-423E2K has a three-year warranty and a nice price, but its performance placed it last in the latest round of testing.

The Zyxel PLA6456 also used Wave 2 G.hn technology instead of AV2, and topped our throughput tests at the longest distances, but its other performance numbers were just behind the top three. It might be an alternative if you need to cover a long distance or if our pick, runner-up, and budget pick are out of stock.

Previously tested

We tested all devices listed below-including our picks from 2016-using new protocols in 2018. Any devices that we previously tested that aren't listed here should be considered very inferior to anything listed, even down here in the Competition section-powerline networking has come a long way over the past several years.

TP-Link's WPA-7510 is a decent kit but didn't quite fit any of our pick categories. It offers Wi-Fi for less cost than our pick-but has no passthrough outlet, and provides only one Ethernet port per adapter and noticeably less performance. We didn't think the money saved was worth it.

D-Link's DHP-701AV, the first AV2 2000 kit we tested (and one of the kits we retested in 2016), is only slightly faster than TP-Link's AV2-1200 and AV2-1300 devices, and nowhere near as fast as TP-Link's AV2-2000 kit or Extollo's G.hn kit. It has no passthrough outlet, doesn't offer Wi-Fi, and is usually priced far too high.

Zyxel's PLA5456 kit is another AV2-2000 kit that just doesn't hit the mark. It costs a little less than the DHP-701AV, and it does offer a passthrough power outlet, but there's still no Wi-Fi and it's even slower than the D-Link kit.

Netgear's PLW1010-100NAS offers Wi-Fi capabilities at a decent price, but there's no passthrough outlet and only one Ethernet port, and the performance is nowhere near what it should be.
Jim Salter contributed to previous versions of this guide.

Sources

1. Dong Ngo, No Wi-Fi at that Corner? Get a Pair of Powerline Adapters!, Dong Knows Tech, March 28, 2018

2. Powerline Charts, SmallNetBuilder

3. Tim Higgins, SmallNetBuilder's Powerline FAQ - 2015, SmallNetBuilder, July 20, 2015

4. Tim Higgins, How We Test Powerline Products, SmallNetBuilder, November 14, 2011

5. Tim Higgins, How To Troubleshoot Your Powerline Network, SmallNetBuilder, July 6, 2015

Joel Santo Domingo

Joel Santo Domingo is a senior staff writer covering networking and storage at Wirecutter. Previously he tested and reviewed more than a thousand PCs and tech devices for PCMag and other sites over 17 years. Joel became attracted to service journalism after answering many "What's good?" questions while working as an IT manager and technician.

Further reading

by Joel Santo Domingo

TP-Link's RE220 Wi-Fi extender is the best one to get if there's a spot in your house your router can't reach, but extenders often hurt as much as they help.

by Joel Santo Domingo

We've tested the latest Wi-Fi routers to find the best ones-from budget options to top of the line-to make your wireless network faster and more responsive.

by Joel Santo Domingo

The Eero Pro + 2 Eero Beacons is the best mesh kit for most people because it's fast, reliable, flexible, and easy to set up and use.

by Andrew Cunningham

We've spent hundreds of hours testing dozens of routers, mesh kits, and extenders to find the best gear to get strong Wi-Fi throughout your home.

by Joel Santo Domingo

by Joel Santo Domingo

by Joel Santo Domingo

by Andrew Cunningham

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Our pick Our pick adds two speedy, wired network connections, anywhere you have power in your home. TP-Link's TL-PA9020P V3 is one of the fastest kits we've tested, is less expensive than competing adapters with the same speed ratings, and includes dual Ethernet jacks on each adapter so you can wire two nearby devices to your network-like a streaming box and a video game console.

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Thanks to Tiffanie Horner for sharing this upcoming event!

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Causes event in Arlington, TX by Dr. Temple Grandin on Wednesday, October 28 2020 with 78K people interested and 7.3K people going.

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Tools and resources for liberation.

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Resources Archive - Allied Media Projects

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Tools and resources for liberation created by the AMP network

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DR. APRIL BAKER-BELL is a transdisciplinary teacher-researcher-activist and Associate Professor of Language, Literacy, and English Education in the Department of English and Department of African American and African Studies. A national leader in conversations on Black Language education, her research interrogates the intersections of Black language and literacies, anti-Black racism, and antiracist pedagogies, and is concerned with antiracist writing, critical media literacies, Black feminist-womanist storytelling, and self-preservation for Black women in academia, with an emphasis on early career Black women.

Baker-Bell's book, Linguistic Justice: Black Language, Literacy, Identity, and Pedagogy, brings together theory, research, and practice to dismantle Anti-Black Linguistic Racism (a term Baker-Bell coined) and white linguistic supremacy. The book provides ethnographic snapshots of how Black students navigate and negotiate their linguistic and racial identities across multiple contexts, and it captures what Antiracist Black Language Pedagogy looks like in community with Black youth. Linguistic Justice features a range of multimodal examples and practices through instructional maps, charts, artwork, and stories that reflect the urgent need for antiracist language pedagogies in our current social and political climate.

Baker-Bell is the recipient of many awards and fellowships, including the 2019 Michigan State University Alumni Award for Innovation & Leadership in Teaching and Learning, the 2018 AERA Language and Social Processes Early Career Scholar Award, the Literacy Research Association's STAR fellowship, and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Cultivating New Voices among Scholars of Color fellowship. Baker-Bell's research has been published in The Journal of Language and Literacy Education (JoLLE), English Education, The Journal of Literacy Research (JLR), The Journal of International Review of Qualitative Research, and Theory into Practice.
News:
Address correspondence to:

adbell@msu.edu

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DR. APRIL BAKER-BELL is a transdisciplinary teacher-researcher-activist and Associate Professor of Language, Literacy, and English Education in the Department of English and Department of African American and African Studies.

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" All Events

- 3:00 pm

Saturday, November 7, 2020
9:00 AM - 2:45 PM online

The UCLA Writing Project and Center X invite you to the 30 th annual With Different Eyes Conference. We focus on access and equity for all students, with multilingual students center stage: newcomers and advanced English learners, speakers of African American English and indigenous languages.

A virtual conference this year-we'll pay close attention to the realities of teaching on-line, including how to transform prized lessons so they'll speak to students across the screen. Workshops across the disciplines include combatting anti-Blackness along with other issues of linguistic and racial injustice. They focus on the riches our students carry with them, and the sustaining pedagogy that honors students' identities and experiences.

Our theme:
"Unmuted Voices: Our Students, Ourselves."

Tentative Schedule

Welcome & Keynote Speaker #1

9:00 - 10:00

Session 1 Workshops

10:15 - 11:30

Lunch Break

11:30 - 12:15

Keynote Speaker #2

12:15 - 1:15

Session 2 Workshops

1:30 - 2:45

Keynote Title
"We Wanna Be Linguistically Free Too: In Pursuit of Black Linguistic Justice"

Keynote Speaker

April Baker-Bell

Teacher, Researcher & Activist
Michigan State University
Author
Linguistic Justice: Black Language, Literacy, Identity, and Pedagogy

Dr. April Baker-Bell is a transdisciplinary teacher-researcher-activist and associate professor of language, literacy, and English education in the Department of English and Department of African American and African Studies at Michigan State University. A national leader in conversations on Black Language education, her research interrogates the intersections of Black language and literacies, anti-Black racism, and antiracist pedagogies, and is concerned with antiracist writing, critical media literacies, Black feminist-womanist storytelling, and self-preservation for Black women in academia, with an emphasis on early career Black women. Baker-Bell's new book, Linguistic Justice: Black Language, Literacy, Identity, and Pedagogy, brings together theory, research, and practice to dismantle Anti-Black Linguistic Racism (a term Baker-Bell coined) and white linguistic supremacy. The book provides ethnographic snapshots of how Black students navigate and negotiate their linguistic and racial identities across multiple contexts, and it captures what Antiracist Black Language Pedagogy looks like in community with Black students.

Keynote Title
"The Politics of Language: Teaching About Language And Power"

Keynote Speaker

Linda Christensen

Oregon Writing Project Director
Lewis & Clark College
Author
Reading, Writing, and Rising Up: Teaching about Social Justice, Teaching for Joy and Justice: Re-Imagining the Language Arts Classroom

Linda Christensen, Director of the Oregon Writing Project in the Graduate School of Education at Lewis & Clark College, is the author of Reading, Writing, and Rising Up: Teaching about Social Justice; Teaching for Joy and Justice: Re-Imagining the Language Arts Classroom; and Rhythm and Resistance: Teaching Poetry for Social Justice. She has also coedited several books, including Rethinking Elementary Education, The New Teacher Book: Finding Purpose, Balance, and Hope During Your First Years in the Classroom, and Rethinking School Reform: Views from the Classroom. Linda regularly works with teachers and administrators demonstrating how to teach literacy as a consequence and instrument of social justice. She is a member of the editorial board of Rethinking Schools, the activist journal for social justice in schools, and has received numerous national and regional awards for her teaching and writing, including the designation of Outstanding Teacher in the Western United States.

SAMPLING OF WORKSHOPS
For Teachers and Administrators PK-University

Family Stories, historias familias

Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy

Multicultural Literature-Mirrors and Windows, Both

Community Building and Creative Expression in Social Studies

Reimagining Prized Lessons for the Virtual Classroom

Reimagining the English Curriculum Through Ethnic Studies

Representation in Writing Through Mic-Drop Moments

Spoken Word in The Classroom

REGISTRATION

Conference Fee: $75

Full-time Students: $30
Purchase orders accepted. Ask your administrators to support your attendance.

Please take a look at last year's conference program.

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With Different Eyes Conference - UCLA Center X

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" All Events - 3:00 pm Saturday, November 7, 2020 9:00 AM - 2:45 PM online The UCLA Writing Project and Center X invite you to the 30 th annual With Different Eyes Conference. We focus on access and equity for all students, with multilingual students center stage: newcomers and advanced English learners, speakers of African American English and indigenous languages.

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Dr. Bettina Love is the William F. Russell Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University and the bestselling author of Punished for Dreaming

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NDN Collective a national organization dedicated to building Indigenous power.

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If you didn’t complete this last fall, please take a few minutes to fill it out! Ensembles: we would love it if each member of your ensemble could fill this out individually as well. Thank you!

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Artist Meeting 2020 Pre-Survey Results.pdf

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New to Google? Here's how to set up your account. (A lot of documents we are sharing are most easily accessed when you're logged in with a Google account.)

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A Google Account gives you access to many Google products. With a Google Account, you can do things like:

Send and receive email using Gmail

Find your new favorite video on YouTube

Download apps from Google Play

1. Go to the Google Account sign in page.

2. Click Create account.

3. Enter your name.

4. In the "Username" field, enter a username.

5. Enter and confirm your password.
Tip: When you enter your password on mobile, the first letter isn't case sensitive.

6. Click Next.
Optional: Add and verify a phone number for your account.

7. Click Next.

1. Go to the Google Account Sign In page.

2. Click Create account.

3. Enter your name.

4. Click Use my current email address instead.

5. Enter your current email address.

6. Click Next.

7. Verify your email address with the code sent to your existing email.

8. Click Verify.

Check if you already have a Google Account

If you signed in to any Google product before, such as Gmail, Maps, or YouTube, you already have a Google Account. You can use the same username and password you created to sign in to any other Google products.

If you can't remember that you signed in and would like to check if you have an account, enter your email address. You'll find a message if there isn't a Google Account associated with your email address.

You can sign in to an existing Google Account.

Check where email notifications are sent

By default, account related notifications are sent to your new Gmail address, or to your non-Google email if you signed up with a different email address.

To change where you get notifications, edit your contact email.

Tip: You can also create a Google Account with a non-Google email you already own.

You can't choose this email address for a new account. If this email address is yours, it's possible that:

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A Google Account gives you access to many Google products. With a Google Account, you can do things like: Send and receive email using

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New to Zoom? Details on how to download it are here.

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Download Center for Zoom Apps and Plugins | Zoom

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Download Zoom apps, plugins, and add-ons for mobile devices, desktop, web browsers, and operating systems. Available for Mac, PC, Android, Chrome, and Firefox.

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Vanessa López '07 (Art Education) received her Bachelor of Arts in art history from Purchase College, State University of New York and a Master of Arts in Art Education from MICA.

She joined the College after 10 years of teaching art in Baltimore City Public Schools. Vanessa is a locally and nationally recognized art educator due to her service on the writing team for the National Core Arts Standards in Visual Arts, her work as the coordinator for the 2010 National Art Education Association Convention held in Baltimore, and her role on the Fine Arts Education Advisory Panel for the Maryland State Department of Education.

Her research interests focus on cultural identities in school settings and urban education. She has been published in the Art Education Journal, Art and Social Justice Education: Culture as Commons (2011), the New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) newsletter and the National Art Education Association blog.

Scholarly Articles & Publications by Vanessa:

Courses Taught by Vanessa:

Introduction to Teaching Art in Schools

Teaching Internship I Supervision

Teaching Internship II: Curriculum Design Seminar

Teaching Internship II Supervision

Professional Seminar

Student Teaching Supervision

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Vanessa López '07 (Art Education) received her Bachelor of Arts in art history from Purchase College, State University of New York and a Master of Arts in Art Education from MICA. She joined the College after 10 years of teaching art in Baltimore City Public Schools.

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During the shutdown I have focused more on my musicianship. This shift in focus led me to write, produce and record my first single, Freedom Call. My vision is that this song becomes an anthem of hope and inspiration. It is available for downloading and streaming here.

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Freedom Call by Delaware Artists for Change

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Stream and Save Freedom Call - Distributed by DistroKid

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I just want to remind everyone to "Come from contribution." Call, text, email, write a note card and mail it to someone. Right now, more than ever people need to know that you "see them" and that they matter, so keep sharing your joy with everyone you meet because you never know what they are going through.

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My memoir "A Land Twice Promised" finally came out on Audible (narrated by me). I have promo codes from the publisher to give out to anyone WITHOUT an audible account who wants a free download in exchange for a short review on audible.com

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Israeli storyteller Noa Baum grew up in Jerusalem in the shadow of the ancestral traumas of the holocaust and ongoing wars. Stories of the past and fear of annihilation in the wars of the '60s, '70s, and '80s shaped her perceptions and identity. In America, she met a Palestinian woman who had grown up under Israeli occupation, and as they shared memories of war years in Jerusalem, an unlikely friendship blossomed.

A Land Twice Promised delves into the heart of one of the world's most enduring and complex conflicts. Baum's deeply personal memoir recounts her journey from girlhood in post-Holocaust Israel to her adult encounter with "the other". With honesty, compassion, and humor, she captures the drama of a nation at war and her discovery of humanity in the enemy.

Winner of the 2017 Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award, among others, this compelling memoir demonstrates the transformative power of art and challenges each listener to take the first step toward peace.

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A Land Twice Promised: An Israeli Woman's Quest for Peace

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Check out this great listen on Audible.com. Israeli storyteller Noa Baum grew up in Jerusalem in the shadow of the ancestral traumas of the holocaust and ongoing wars. Stories of the past and fear of annihilation in the wars of the '60s, '70s, and '80s shaped her perceptions and ...

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I am working on a new physical theater show with my students at acting conservatory. This is a new format - we rehearse on Zoom and then open live with only 6 people in the audience. Very excited to try a new challenge.

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Stay healthy!

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Synetic is literally doing a play about finding Joy. I helped write it, it's interactive, dynamic, and touching. I'm very proud of it!!!

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How do we create joy when it feels like the world is falling apart? And why does art bring us joy?
Veteran company member Vato Tsikurishvili and audience-favorite Maria Simpkins star in Joy - an autobiographical​ and interactive experience ​about the impact and pursuit of joy in their own lives. Performed via Zoom in rotating repertory, these two solo performances take audiences on a journey that blends physical storytelling with innovative technology.

"We've seen a lot of innovative approaches to online theatre, but this one seems genuinely new."
- American Theatre Magazine

Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili, Joy with Vato Tsikurishvili tells the story of a boy caught between two worlds - Georgia and The United States, reality and the world on stage, sadness and joy. From the fall of the Soviet Union and fleeing war-torn Georgia to overcoming personal hardships.

Joy with Maria Simpkins uses dance, poetry and deeply personal anecdotes to offer a different perspective on the pursuit of joy. With the aid of Company Director Katherine DuBois, Simpkins takes us through her childhood, from discovering ballroom dancing to finding joy in the theatre. Her story takes center stage in this visceral, interactive performance that reminds us of the importance of reclaiming our identity and what brings us joy.

Take your experience to the next level, audiences can purchase a which arrives in the mail prior to their performance. The contents of this mystery package will stimulate the senses and provide audiences with an unforgettable, interactive experience.

Joy with Maria Simpkins contains loud noises, some strong language, and descriptions of trauma. Joy with Vato Tsikurishvili contains loud noises, gunshot sound effects, and strobe lighting.
* When you purchase a box ticket, please be sure to include a current shipping address in your order. Please allow 4 business days for the box to arrive. If your box has not arrived within 48 hours of your performance, contact boxoffice@synetictheater.org. This production is generously sponsored by Ryan E. Merkel.

1. Purchase your tickets. This is a live performance that is streamed via Zoom, but performance times are live just like at the theater! You can purchase tickets with OR without an interactive Joy Box.

2. and ensure your camera is functioning properly - there are moments during each performance where you will be able to interact with the performer.Download Zoom

3. If you purchased a Joy Box, wait for the package to arrive in the mail.* Feel free to open the box, but refrain from opening the individually wrapped items until you are instructed to do so.

4. At the day and time of your performance, follow the login instructions that will be emailed to you. Arrive in the Zoom call at least 15 minutes before your scheduled performance and ensure you have a stable connection to Wi-Fi. Late seating may not be available!

Director - Joy with Maria Simpkins:
Performed by Maria Simpkins
Created and Adapted by Chris Rushing
Choreographer - Katherine DuBois
Katherine Zukeri
Composition and Sound Designer - Sinan Refik Zafar*
* Member of United Scenic Artists

Joy with Vato Tsikurishvili:
Performed by Vato Tsikurishvili
Created and Adapted by Chris Rushing
Director - Paata Tsikurishvili
Choreographer - Irina Tsikurishvili
Composer - Konstantine Lortkipanidze
Sound Designer - Thomas Sowers
Digital Content and Stage Effects Assistant - Ana Tsikurishvili
READ THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S NOTE HERE.
For Both Productions of Joy:Production Designer - Raymond Simeon
Associate Production Designer - Yaritza Pacheco
Costume Supervisor - Stacy Walker
Stage Manager - Jade Brooks-Bartlett
Digital Streaming and Lighting Operative - Niomi Collard
Audio and Video Engineer - Thomas Sowers
Master Electrician - Alex F. Keen

Want to learn more? Hear from artist Maria Simpkins about how Joy will work:
Let's be honest - things really suck right now. Literally on one side of the country there are fires everywhere. On the other side, we're experiencing floods. The election is near. And we hear about it every day on repeat. The world is unprecedentedly connected in this time of collective darkness. What we need is hope, but where can that be found? Through experiencing joy. Yet joy is not a passive experience. You have to pursue it. Watch and discover two electric performers do what brings them joy - performing - and let it be a spark that ignites joy in you. #findyourjoy

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OCTOBER 16 - NOVEMBER 8 How do we create joy when it feels like the world is falling apart? And why does art bring us joy? Veteran company member Vato Tsikurishvili and audience-favorite Maria Simpkins star in Joy - an autobiographical​ and interactive experience ​about the impact and pursuit of joy in their own lives.

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Stay Strong in these times, stay focused and keep pushing!

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I have been creating new music videos during the pandemic!

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Alden has a grand baby! Maybe he'll share some photos. ;)

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Over the last year, my workshop training entitled, "Racism in Children's Music: Liberating Music for the Black Child," has been gaining national and international attention.  I was just hired out to conduct my training for employees at the Brooklyn Public Library system, where over 100 people participated.  They loved it so much that they have contacted me for further training programs later this year and early next year.

Also, I have delivered this presentation for the People of Color Conference sponsored by the National Association of Independent Schools and the DC Music Collaborative.  Additionally, I have been interviewed on the subject by Genius.com, which has over 225K thousand views, and I consistently receive emails from around the world from teachers and librarians around the world who are seeking me for advice on the history of certain children songs they are using.  I had one teacher from Australia and the other from the Neverlands reach out asking about the origin of songs they were using in their classroom.

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Precious Blake is a visual journalist and non-profit administrator living in Baltimore, MD. Precious makes pathways for equitable access to the arts by working with arts education advocates, leading workshops, curating conversations, and creating collaborations that combine her passion for journalism, illustration and highlighting historically marginalized voices.

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Maggie Villegas is a Baltimore-based arts and culture producer and the Executive Director of the Baltimore Creatives Acceleration Network (BCAN). Prior to her role at BCAN, Maggie developed and oversaw community-driven arts initiatives throughout the City of Baltimore on behalf of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and The Arts from 2014 to 2017.

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Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts - Left-Brain Support for Right-Brain People

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MdVLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Maryland artists' legal rights. We believe it's our responsibility to stand up for artists who need legal representation. Your work is precious. We can help protect it.

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Funds available to available to public schools in Baltimore City to cover 80-100% of the cost! Application required.

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Program Underwriting through Access for All

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Program Underwriting through Access for All

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All the details about this opportunity are attached!

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Proposal for Artist Support via Access for All Fall 2020 - rev 10-16-20.pdf

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Funds are available to schools and venues in rural counties to cover 60-100% of the cost! No application necessary.