A Message of Gratitude for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection and gratitude, a time to acknowledge the many blessings in our lives. We at the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts wanted to take the opportunity to let you - our friends, supporters, and partners - know how thankful we are for your encouragement and confidence in all that we do. Our mission to promote the development of youth through the arts requires the support and engagement of many individuals.

Today, we'd like to share our messages of gratitude with you:

"I'm so thankful that we have such a strong team in Louisiana dedicated to keeping arts in schools in a meaningful way. Without the staff of both George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and Louisiana A+ Schools, plus the dedicated LAA+ Fellows and teachers in our LAA+ schools, our foundation would never be able to enrich the lives of so many students through the arts. We are destined to see higher test scores, fewer discipline problems and increased attendance because of the work that these hundreds of people do. My family and I will be forever grateful for their hard work."
- Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director

"Thank you to all of the sponsors, donors, and partners that make our programs and projects a reality. We couldn't do it without you."
- Wayne Fernandez, Development Director

"I am thankful for the opportunity to work with great people, carry on Mr. Rodrigue's legacy and help the young people of our state realize their creativity through a quality arts education."
- Gus Anderson, Director of Operations

"The arts meant so much to me growing up, and I'm so thankful to be part of programs that inspire lifelong creativity in young people."
- Rachel Gaudry, Special Projects & Communications Coordinator

"I am thankful for the amazingly talented and hardworking teachers and school leaders that are part of the LAA+ Network."
- Bethany France, Director of Louisiana A+ Schools

"I am thankful for the opportunity to work with amazing colleagues, Fellows, and educators who have dedicated their lives to cultivating the next generation of artists."
- Kim Leavitt, Deputy Director of Louisiana A+ Schools

"'I'm thankful to be associated with a company whose mission is not only educational, but philanthropic, while nurturing creativity and curiosity in the minds and hearts of Louisiana's youth!"
- Jordan Haddad, Events & Office Coordinator of Louisiana A+ Schools

Happy Thanksgiving!

GRFA Welcomes National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

Last week, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) held their annual meeting in New Orleans, and the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts was pleased to be presenting sponsor and host for two of their networking events. This community of state arts agency staff and appointed council members is a national network of arts leaders. In addition to many peer sessions, attendees enjoyed a special keynote address by Dr. Jane Chu, the newly appointed chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

On November 11, members of NASAA's Arts Education Mangaers Professional Development Institute had their opening reception at Rodrigue Studio in the French Quarter. The event, which brought together colleagues for informal networking and refreshments, was co-sponsored by the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and Louisiana Partnership for the Arts.

Jacques Rodrigue welcomes NASAA's Arts Education Managers to their opening reception at Rodrigue Studio.

The following evening, NASAA's Board Members gathered at Rodrigue Studio for their annual dinner meeting. Jacques Rodrigue welcomed guests to the gallery with a tour of the current Memorial Retrospective and an overview of the arts education programs provided by the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.

Jacques also presented a session at the NASAA conference on behalf of GRFA. His session, "How a Blue Dog Is Transforming Schooling in Louisiana," shared the origins of George Rodrigue's iconic Blue Dog image, its community impact, and how GRFA's Louisiana A+ Schools program is supporting long-term education improvement through arts integration in the classroom.

"How a Blue Dog Is Transforming Schooling in Louisiana" presented by Jacques Rodrigue at NASAA Assembly 2014.

It was a pleasure to be a sponsor for NASAA's Assembly 2014 and meet so many inspiring individuals working to promote the arts across the country! To learn more about the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, visit http://www.nasaa-arts.org.