Please join the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable for its season kickoff event at the Louis Armstrong House Museum during National Arts in Education Week!
The Roundtable is proud to celebrate National Arts in Education Week by welcoming the Chancellor of the Board of Regents, University of the State of New York, Dr. Lester W. Young, Jr. for an in-person conversation about the impact and transformative power of arts education in our New York State schools and communities.
The conversation, moderated by Gary Padmore (VP of Education and Community Engagement, NY Philharmonic), will include discussion on the state of arts education across New York, lessons learned, and visioning for the future. Q&A with attendees will follow, and light refreshments will be provided.
This event will also feature a performance from bandleader, educator, and composer Luther S. Allison.
10:30am: Doors Open
11am – 12:15pm: Performance followed by Conversation
12:15pm – 1pm: Networking & Refreshments
PLEASE NOTE: Due to limited capacity, this event is currently open to members of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable and only one representative per organization. You must log-in to your Roundtable account before registering for this event. Online registration for this event will close at 11:59pm ET on Wednesday, September 11.
Please scroll to the bottom of the page for more information on venue accessibility and COVID-19 protocols.
Not a member yet? Please click the button below to learn more about the benefits of a Roundtable Membership and join today!
Already a Roundtable member? Log-in and register for this event at the link below.
About Lester W. Young, Jr.
Lester W. Young, Jr. has made creating opportunities “where every student can be successful” the guiding principle of his more than 50 years of public service. Dr. Young currently serves as Chancellor, Board of Regents, University of the State of New York. His unanimous election on January 11, 2021, made him the first African American Chancellor in the 237-year history of the Board of Regents.
He began his career with the New York City (NYC) Department of Education, holding positions as a Teacher, Guidance Counselor, Supervisor of Special Education and Principal. During his tenure as Principal, PS 183 Brooklyn (Ocean-Hill Brownsville) was recognized as a School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education (USDOE) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
Dr. Young also served as Assistant and Associate Commissioner with the NYSED (1988- 1993) and led the department’s efforts in New York City (NYC). Dr. Young’s portfolio included state-wide leadership responsibility for the Offices of School Improvement, Community Schools, Bilingual Education, and Migrant Services and Education.
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In 1993, returning to his Brooklyn roots, Dr. Young was appointed to the position of Community Superintendent, C.S.D. 13. As Superintendent, Dr. Young is credited for establishing two successful and highly sought-after schools (Benjamin Banneker Academy HS and Bedford Academy HS) as well as replicating the nationally recognized Algebra Project and Comer School Development Program. Chancellor Harold Levy appointed Dr. Young as Senior Superintendent (coordinating services in four Central Brooklyn Community School Districts). He also established and led the first NYC Office of Youth Development and School Community Services. In 2004, after 35 years of NYC public school service, Lester W. Young, Jr. retired from the NYCDOE. During 2004 – 2008, Dr. Young held the position of Visiting Professor at Long Island University, Graduate School of Education, Brooklyn Campus.
In March 2008, the New York State Legislature elected Lester W. Young, Jr. as Regent At Large, The University of the State of New York. During his four terms as Regent At Large, Dr. Young has served as Co-Chair of the P-12 Committee and Chair of the Higher Education Committee. He also Co-Chaired the Workgroup on Early Learning and Early Childhood Education and chaired the Workgroup to Improve Outcomes for Boys and Young Men of Color. His leadership in this area led to the establishment of the NYS My Brother’s Keeper initiative. Also, due to actions by the NYS Legislature, New York remains the only state in the nation to have the My Brother’s Keeper enacted into state law.
Continuing his commitment to public service, Dr. Young serves on the New York Commission on African American History and he is a member of the New York State Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. Additionally, Dr. Young is a Trustee for the Adelaide L. Sanford Institute (ASI); and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Board. During his career, Dr. Young has also been a Trustee on several not-for-profit boards serving the Brooklyn community (the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corp., and the Brooklyn Community Foundation).
Dr. Young volunteers as a mentor to superintendents, principals and aspiring leaders throughout New York City. He has been recognized by many local, national education, and civic education organizations for his professional contributions.
Dr. Young is profiled in Men of Courage II, documenting the lives and achievements of 27 African American Men. He is also a contributing writer to Child by Child: The Comer Process for Change in Education, 1999. Dr. Young is married to Dr. Renee Young and they are the proud parents of one son. Dr. Young received his Doctoral Degree in Education (Ed.D.) from Fordham University, specializing in Urban Education and the Master of Science Degree (MS) from Brooklyn College, CUNY.
About Gary Padmore
Gary Padmore joined the New York Philharmonic in 2018 as their Director of Education and Community Engagement, bringing with him decades of experience in education and community work. Prior to the Philharmonic, he was the Director of Education & Community at Orchestra of St. Luke’s where he created a concert series celebrating works by composers of color, doubled enrollment in its youth orchestra program, and increased school and community partnerships. Gary also led education programs at Midori & Friends and Brooklyn Philharmonic, served as an adjunct lecturer at Queens College, and was a teaching artist at several local organizations. As a steward of symphonic music and arts education, Gary sits on the boards of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable and The Dream Unfinished: an activist orchestra. A trumpet player and native New Yorker, Gary has degrees from Queens College and Mannes School of Music. He was named one of Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals of the Year in 2019.
About Luther S. Allison
Luther S. Allison is a bandleader, educator, composer and clinician based in New York City. As a leader he performs nationally and internationally with his trio and sextet. As a sideman, Luther has performed on both drums and piano alongside Etienne Charles, Jazzmeia Horn, Rodney Whitaker, Samara Joy, Joe Farnsworth, Ulysses Owens Jr., and is currently touring with vocalist Ekep Nkwelle. www.luthersallison.com
Accessibility
The Armstrong Center (which includes the welcome desk, museum store, exhibit area, restroom, and performance space) and the Garden of the Museum are wheelchair-accessible. For more information about the venue, click here. The NYC Arts in Education Roundtable is committed to providing opportunities for everyone to participate in our programming. Please let us know how we can meet your access needs or reach out if you have any questions by contacting Roundtable Programs Director Kinsey Keck at kkeck@nycaieroundtable.org.
