From working with @oprah , @whoopigoldberg , and @quincyjones in @thecolorpurple to leading the charge for educational excellence in North Carolina, Timisha Barnes-Jones proves that dreaming big can take you places. Now, as chief of schools at @wsfc_schools , she’s shaping the future by helping implement #principalpipelines to develop and support strong school leaders. Link in bio to watch the full video by @storiesforgood .
#schoolleadership #educationleadership #educationleadership #principals
She imagined a Great Hall surrounded by "starburst" floral arrangements—softening its scale and welcoming visitors with living beauty.
More than 50 years ago, philanthropist Lila Acheson Wallace established an endowment to ensure The @MetMuseum 's Great Hall would always be adorned with fresh flowers. That vision has become a signature part of the museum experience.
Every Wednesday, the arrangements are replaced with new seasonal blooms—continuing a ritual that blends artistry, care, and tradition.
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Floral design by Remco van Vliet and Van Vliet & Trap (@vanvlietandtrap ).
In 2023, researcher Nazanin Ghaffari, Ph.D, embedded into Rebuild’s ecosystem to document the evolution and culture-keeping and culture-sharping practices of our organization, an effort commissioned by the Wallace Foundation’s (@WallaceFdn ) Advancing Well-Being in the Arts initiative.
Now, the Social Science Research Council (@ssrc_org ) has published new analyses that look across grantees in the Thriving Communities cohort of the initiative, uplifting the strategies we’ve developed in the face of challenges we share as community-based arts organizations.
We’re excited for these findings to be shared with other funders, arts researchers, and organizations in the field, helping to build a deeper understanding of our organizations and the many ways in which we contribute to cultural stewardship and community connection.
You can learn more about the report at the link in our bio.
Burnout and staff attrition are all too common across the nonprofit sector. But some organizations are charting a different path. A new study of BlackStar Projects (@blackstarfest ) examines a leadership model that centers care, staff artistry, and experimentation. Rather than separating creative practice from organizational work, leaders encourage staff—many of whom are artists—to bring their full selves into both.
Researcher Davinia Gregory-Kameka (@dr_davs ) finds that this approach not only supports well-being, but also fosters collaboration, innovation, and retention. Click the link in our bio to read more.
@ssrc_org
What does it mean to revitalize a neighborhood without erasing the culture and history that already exist there?
A new research brief examines how Chicago’s @rebuild_foundation uses arts-making and placemaking together to support cultural preservation, community well-being, and Black creativity on the city’s South Side. Through archives, artist residencies, community gatherings, and restored cultural spaces, the organization demonstrates how the arts can help foster social cohesion, cultural resilience, and thoughtful economic development.
The study also highlights the importance of investing in artists and arts organizations as long-term drivers of community well-being and local growth. Click the link in our bio to read the brief and more research from our Advancing Well-Being in the Arts initiative.
@ssrc_org
Arts organizations rooted in communities of color serve as vital cultural anchors, spaces of connection, and drivers of innovation in their communities. Yet, they often navigate persistent structural challenges—from histories of disinvestment and mistrust to limited funding and narrow definitions of artistic value.
A new report from the Social Science Research Council (@ssrc_org ) examines cross-cutting themes from studies of more than a dozen organizations participating in our Advancing Well-Being in the Arts initiative. Drawing on research conducted through the Arts Research for Communities of Color (ARCC) Fellowship, the report highlights the adaptive strategies these organizations use to sustain their work, strengthen community accountability, and contribute to long-term cultural vitality.
The findings also underscore the need for funding and research approaches that better recognize relationship-building, care, collaboration, and place-based work as essential components of organizational sustainability.
Click the link in our bio to download the full report for free.
Can tradition be a source of innovation? A new research brief explores the Ragamala Dance Company (@ragamala_dance ), a Minneapolis-based company rooted in Bharatanatyam, the classical dance of South India, and how it continues to evolve artistically while navigating limiting labels such as “traditional” or “ethnic.” The study highlights how deep cultural roots can fuel experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and lasting audience impact.
Click the link in our bio to read the full report and find more reports from our Advancing Well-Being in the Arts initiative.
@ssrc_org
In honor of #NationalPrincipalsDay, NASSP’s Chief of Staff Meghan Park represented the organization at the @wallacefdn Maryland School Leadership Honors—celebrating the vital impact of K–12 public school principals. The event featured special guest, Maryland Lieutenant Governor @ltgovarunamiller , who helped recognize this year’s honorees.
Congratulations to all the principals recognized today, and happy National Principals Day! 🎉
Happy #PrincipalAppreciationDay! 🍎
Across Maryland, principals are the steady leaders behind every thriving school—supporting teachers, uplifting students, and shaping strong communities every single day. Today, we’re proud to partner with the @wallacefdn to celebrate the incredible impact of school leadership.
Take a moment to say thank you, and tag a principal who inspires you. 👇
Happy National Principal Appreciation Day!
Empowering strong school leaders is no small feat, but it’s so important for advancing educational equity. A new CALL/ECL report from Wallace’s Equity-Centered Pipeline initiative (ECPI), shares how eight major urban districts came together for a multi-year journey to boost great school leadership across the country—using creative strategies and leadership pathways tailored to their own communities.
Click the link in our bio to read the early insights into how districts are restructuring leadership development to ensure students have equitable access to opportunities and resources.
What does it take to prepare a principal to lead effectively? A new Vanderbilt University (@vanderbiltu ) study builds on a 2022 synthesis of research and the first-hand perspectives of principals to better understand how opportunities are structured, the content covered, and the perceived usefulness. The report also offers targeted recommendations for how state policymakers, district leaders, and principals themselves can support and strengthen learning opportunities.
Click the link in our bio to learn more about this report and its findings.
Happy Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week!
This week is an opportunity to recognize the educators, mentors, and youth workers who help young people thrive. Survey findings from more than 7,000 youth-serving adults highlight both their dedication and the importance of supporting the workforce behind afterschool and youth programs.
Click the link in our bio to learn more.
#heartofafterschool
