Arts education nonprofit receives grant benefiting low-income middle schoolers

A local arts education nonprofit announced this week that it has received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education that will benefit low-income middle school students in Long Beach Unified School District’s gifted and talented education program. Signal Hill-based Dramatic Results said the funds will support the Art of Building a City Ecosystem Project, a four-year program that will help GATE students improve in math, art and “social emotional skills.” It will also connect art and design to real world applications in STEAM fields, including science, technology, engineering, art and math. The project will include the Historical Society of Long Beach, Long Beach Public Library’s 3D Maker Lab, The Growing Experience Urban Farm, Craft in America, the American Psychological Association, architects, culinary artists and student teachers enrolled at Cal State Long Beach. “Through the ABC Project, community agencies that might typically only reach students through proactive parents will strengthen their abilities to provide equitable access to low-income youth, implement diverse family engagement efforts, and mentor students across career pathways,” the nonprofit stated.