The Curb-Cut Effect: Supporting Arts Education for Students Also Benefits You

By Alorie Clark , Executive Director of DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative

DC Collaborative’s recent fundraising event was a great moment for us to amplify the organization’s work and garner new support. However, I later learned that some attendees, while they enjoyed themselves, decided not to donate because they don’t have kids. As a data-driven organization, we always appreciate any feedback. But admittedly, I’ve been pondering on this notion the last few months. It also motivated this blog post, as it felt like a new opportunity to present the importance of our work.?

In today’s society, it’s easy to focus on issues and causes that directly affect us. As the leader of an organization that advocates for equitable access to DC’s arts and humanities resources, I feel compelled to prove that supporting youth programming is not just for parents. While the immediate beneficiaries might seem limited to students and their families, the ripple effects of a robust arts and humanities education permeate throughout communities. It contributes to the prosperity and overall growth of our entire city, region, and nation.

Arts and humanities education nurtures students’ creativity, an integral quality as these students grow into professionals who approach daily problem-solving scenarios. Arts participants develop the ability to creatively use resources and innovate solutions to complex challenges. Research also consistently demonstrates that an arts and humanities education strengthens cognitive abilities, whether it's improving memory or enhancing critical thinking skills. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) found that students with a history of arts involvement have better long-term academic, occupational, and social outcomes than their peers who don’t. Developing these skills leads them to becoming great future co-workers, employers, friends, and civic leaders.

Through the arts, students are typically exposed to diverse perspectives and cultures. This exposure cultivates empathy, tolerance, and appreciation for the richness of humanity. The arts also creatively address complex societal challenges. Participants often explore current priorities, participate in dialogue, and initiate collective action. The same NEA study also showed that students with an arts-rich education demonstrate more civic engagement and civic-minded behavior than students who don’t. Particularly as issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion continue to be at the forefront, we want the next generation to tackle these problems with the necessary level of awareness and openness. As they become catalysts for positive change, today’s students will be your future politicians, government officials, and community advocates.?

The curb-cut effect is another way to consider the larger benefits of arts and humanities education. The curb-cut philosophy refers to how investing in the needs of a specific group can also prove substantial benefit for the broader society. The idea originally emerged from disability justice. In the early 1970s at the University of California, Berkeley, Michael Pachovas took a few friends to pour cement on a nearby curb, forming a short ramp. It was a political gesture during a time when wheelchair users were not considered in campus design. Motivated by Michael’s action, disability activists continued to push for basic access, and the curb-cutting phenomenon expanded locally and nationally. Then, as Angela Glover Blackwell wrote in Stanford Social Innovation Review, “a magnificent and unexpected thing happened. When the wall of exclusion came down, everybody benefited—not only people in wheelchairs. Parents pushing strollers headed straight for curb cuts. So did workers pushing heavy carts, business travelers wheeling luggage, even runners and skateboarders.”

When we consider the current status of DC, it’s vital to apply the curb-cut philosophy to arts and humanities advocacy–particularly if you desire to live in a city that thrives economically, socially, and culturally. DC’s public education system has a student population that is one of the most racially and economically diverse in the country. According to DC’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education, 75% of enrolled students are economically disadvantaged and more than 77% are Black or Latine. Equity and access are at the core of DC Collaborative’s mission, and we understand that focusing on opportunities for students also advances our beloved city. The Collaborative prioritizes students that statistically experience barriers to accessing these resources.?

As a national city with high tourism, many of DC’s residents do not feel included or considered in the city’s cultural landscape. DC continues to experience rapid growth, and gentrification has only intensified these feelings by native Washingtonians. Using US census data, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition found that between 2000 to 2013, 40% of DC neighborhoods were gentrified, and more than 20,000 Black residents were displaced. I think the continued effects of gentrification coupled with the effects of the pandemic have contributed to recent spikes in crime committed by DC youth. By offering unique opportunities to our students, we are helping to bridge the gentrification gap, and supporting young residents’ connection and pride for their community. This discovery extends into students’ homes, as they also involve their families in cultural experiences.?

While I am not from DC, I had a similar experience growing up in Philadelphia. I participated in the arts throughout my entire childhood, and I wholeheartedly believe that it helped me socially and academically. I learned the importance of perseverance, fearlessness, and transparency. It gave me an anchor as I navigated everyday issues in the inner city; meeting kids from different areas of Philly, traveling on public transportation, or working together on a project. I certainly attribute my arts background to giving me the skills to now contribute to DC as an organization leader, board member, volunteer, mentor, and colleague.

The curb-cut effect reminds us that investments in seemingly specific initiatives yield far-reaching benefits that extend beyond their initial scope. By supporting arts and humanities education, we not only encourage young minds to flourish, but also contribute to a more innovative, empathetic, and vibrant society. Regardless of whether you have children of your own, advocating for arts and humanities education is an investment in the collective well-being of our community, now and for generations to come.

References and Additional Reading