Every child and young person deserves the opportunity to create, imagine, belong and be heard. I was so proud to join our colleagues from Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) in meeting with Minister for Youth, Senator Dr. Jess Walsh, to talk about something we believe deeply at St Martins: that children and young people should be recognised as an essential part of Australia’s cultural life - not only as audiences of the future, but as artists, storytellers and cultural contributors right now. Together, through the National Youth Arts Network, we’re advocating for a dedicated pillar in Australia’s National Cultural Policy that places children and young people’s engagement in arts and culture where it belongs: at the heart of our nation’s cultural life. Every day at St Martins Youth Arts Centre we see what happens when young people are given the space to create. Beautiful artworks are created, children grow in confidence, find their voice, build community, and imagine new possibilities for themselves and the world around them. We’re incredibly grateful to Minister Walsh and her advisers for listening with such generosity and engaging thoughtfully with our ideas. Change happens through conversations like these, and through the collective efforts of organisations across the country working together to ensure young people are valued as creative citizens. We’re passionate and proud to be a part of a movement dedicated to the ethos that a nation that invests in the creativity of its children now, invests in its own future and excited for what comes next.

🌏 "Access to language and culture through media plays a critical role in sustaining identity, particularly for Inuit communities living outside the North." Watch the teaser from the latest Imagine Across the World story featuring Canada's Nunavut Independent Television Network - NITV | Uvagut TV. Visit the full story: https://lnkd.in/gaJPdP58 Produced by Diversity Arts Australia in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada and Toronto Metropolitan University, the Imagine Across the World series explores innovative approaches to advancing cultural and racial equity in the arts: https://lnkd.in/gyuAtVAP

Last week I published my evidence briefing, 'Autism and Heritage, Culture and Creativity Policy'. The briefing has been provided to the Department for Communities to inform the development of its 'Heritage, Culture and Creativity (HCC) Programme' - the Department's framework for developing future policy across the arts, museums, public libraries and the historic environment in Northern Ireland. It explores how cultural policy can better support autistic people's participation, inclusion and contribution, recognising that arts, culture and heritage are about more than access to buildings, collections and events. They are part of how people express identity, connect with their communities and participate in public life. The briefing highlights the importance of recognising autistic people not only as audiences or visitors, but also as artists, creators, volunteers, leaders and contributors whose perspectives and contributions enrich the cultural life of Northern Ireland. Read the briefing here:

Growing up in Cuyahoga County, I experienced firsthand how access to arts and culture shape the identity, vitality, and quality of life of a place. So its extra meaningful to have partnered with SMU DataArts on new research examining the future of public investment in arts and culture across Greater Cleveland, now featured in this thoughtful piece from Ideastream Public Media: https://lnkd.in/grzcin7d While the data confirms Cleveland's role as a national leader in public support for the arts, our research looked beyond today’s success to explore how to sustain a healthy cultural ecosystem over the long-term in Cuyahoga County, which requires thoughtful and intentional planning efforts like this one. Incredibly grateful to Assembly for the Arts and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture for the opportunity to contribute to this important work—and to Steven Litt for bringing the research to a wider audience.

The media narrative on the right and left about upward mobility in America is out of step with the reality of life on the ground historically for the majority of Americans. Which is why it's good to look at what the best empirical research has found about the amazing ability of people to seize opportunity and improve their lives in America, which I've tried to do in this new Civitas Outlook piece, which features the good work of present and former colleagues Scott Winshipp, Kevin Corinth, and RiKevin Corinth, and Richard Burkhauser, among others. Civitas Institutehttps://lnkd.in/gxNprWZy

The dismantling of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs has compounded existing inequality and closed critical pathways of upward mobility for Black Americans. Since the current administration returned to office in early 2025, federal downsizing and DEI rollbacks have disproportionately targeted the sectors where Black workers are most concentrated — public administration, financial services, and civil rights organizations. Black women have borne the brunt. They started 2025 with an unemployment rate of 5.4% — by year's end it had climbed to 7.3%, the highest in four years. That rate is now equivalent to what White women experienced at the bleakest point of the Great Recession. According to IWPR, Black women accounted for 54.7% of all female job losses in 2025, despite making up just 14.1% of the female workforce. (Sources: BLS, IWPR, EPI) This is why we created NSN. Historically, when we have been denied access, we have built parallel systems that often flourish despite whatever economic conditions the rest of the country is in. We have often relied on others who have shown they want no position for us within our shared society. What happens when we stop depending on others and build our own? https://lnkd.in/gkTbKNNv

Trademark to start $135 million Anthem development in Arlington – The Business Journals: Trademark to start $135 million Anthem development in Arlington  The Business Journalshttp://dlvr.it/TTlj3C #Trademark #Arlington #AnthemDevelopment #BusinessNews #RealEstate

For years, I've been asking myself the same question: What will future generations say we chose to build during this extraordinary era of national anniversaries? We have inherited a remarkable constitutional tradition. But every generation has to decide whether it will simply celebrate that inheritance or strengthen it. That's the idea behind The Civic Decade. I started this Substack for the National Constitution Center because I believe the years ahead offer a rare opportunity to think more deeply about the civic knowledge, institutions, and constitutional culture that enable constitutional democracy to endure. I'll explore what history can teach us, where innovation is needed, and how each of us can help write the next chapter of the American experiment in self-government. If those questions interest you, I'd love for you to join the conversation. I'm excited to see where it takes us. https://ow.ly/xR9B50ZsWHP

🤝 At the Council of Europe, we believe young people are key to the future of democracy. From empowering youth leaders and supporting youth organisations to our unique co-management system, young people are directly involved in shaping our work. Discover how we promote meaningful youth participation and amplify young voices across Europe. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/djsdzGcQ Youth at the Council of Europe

So many small business owners are hard at work building the next chapter of success for their business and their community. I hope my work as a business coach and consultant is making a difference in helping them write their next chapter. The next chapter for our country and our economy can be very bright if we have a clear path forward. If you are not familiar Oliver Libby's book, "Strong Floor. No Ceilings.", you should check it out. He puts forth a commonsense approach that will ensure we all have a great next chapter.