On August 7 and 8, Loyola Marymount University welcomed some 450 arts educators from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to its Westchester campus for the 2025 ArtsMatter Professional Development Symposium. Organized by LAUSD and the LA Promise Fund, the annual two-day event was co-hosted at LMU by the School of Education (SOE) and the College of Communication and Fine Arts (CFA), highlighting the university’s commitment to fostering creative and educational partnerships.
The symposium offered lectures, panel discussions, and immersive professional learning sessions in media arts, performing arts, visual arts, music, and dance, and underscored LMU’s role in advancing equitable, high-quality arts education in Los Angeles and beyond.
The event opened in LMU’s Sculpture Garden with welcome remarks from Karla Estrada, Ed.D. ’13, LAUSD Deputy Superintendent of Instruction; Simon Osborn, board chair of the LA Promise Fund; and LMU President Thomas Poon, Ph.D. “At LMU, we believe the arts are essential to our whole-person education,” he said. “They are essential to forming ethical, engaged, and empathetic citizens. That’s why LMU’s School of Education prepares teachers to see the arts as a powerful resource for learning, healing, and expression. And it’s why programs across the university, from dance to design to our renowned graduate Art Therapy program in the College of Communications and Fine Arts, are grounded in the idea—the truth!—that the arts can change lives.”
The morning continued with a conversation between Estela Zarate, Ph.D., dean of SOE, and Frances Baez, LAUSD Chief Academic Officer, who discussed the transformative role of the arts in schools and communities. “This symposium reflects a shared vision for arts education that is culturally sustaining, equity-driven, and deeply connected to the lived experiences of all students,” Zarate said. “By bringing together educators, artists, scholars, and community leaders, LAUSD and the LA Promise Fund are building a network that empowers teachers to reach every learner.”
Zarate and Baez also discussed California’s Proposition 28 and the forthcoming student teacher stipend program, which present unprecedented opportunities (and challenges) for expanding arts education in historically underserved communities.
Day two opened with a presentation of The Otis College Report on the Creative Economy by Dr. Taner Osman, along with a panel discussion moderated by Chris Rodriquez and Shana Hable, K-12 Arts Coordinators for LAUSD. Panelists talked about pathways to arts and creative careers; panel members were Bryant Keith Alexander, Ph.D., dean of CFA; Michele Jaquis, professor and director of interdisciplinary studies at Otis College of Art and Design; David Metz, Ed.D., LAUSD’s 2024 Teacher of the Year, and Matthew Waynee, the 2024 Teacher of the Year for the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE).
ArtsMatter gave several LMU faculty the opportunity to showcase their scholarship and commitment to educator development through innovative, practice-based workshops designed to equip attendees with culturally relevant strategies:
- Rosalynde LeBlanc (CFA) screened excerpts of her Peabody Award-winning film “Can You Bring It” to demonstrate how movement spurs historical understanding and critical dialogue in her workshop Using Dance in Times of Crisis to Foster Empathy, Community, and Understanding.
- Ernesto Colín (SOE) led a session called Tzicuri and the Power of Cultural Context in Art Education, reconnecting the “God’s Eye” to its Indigenous roots and integrating decolonial art practices.
- Jessica Bianchi (CFA) led a session called Using Visual Art to Support Trauma-Informed and SEL Practices to showcase how art therapy principles foster emotional safety and student engagement.
- Shannon Tabaldo, director of SOE’s iDEAL Institute, organized Media Arts: Storytelling, Research, and Inquiry Through Audio Projects, a session on designing inquiry-based multimedia assignments that promote authentic learning.
- Nancy Choe (CFA) led the session Visual Art & Poetry: Strength-Based Approaches to Literacy and Expression, merging the Expressive Therapies Continuum with literacy development.
“The ArtsMatter Symposium was a perfect blend of scholarly and professional engagement,” Dean Alexander said. “I was inspired by the passion of the educators who spark the passion of their students to live a life of art and to artfully live, which recognizes both a quality of human expression and the continued vibrancy of the creative economy in Los Angeles to which artists contribute.”
The symposium also featured networking opportunities and collaborative planning sessions for attendees. Educators said the event gave them new tools, stronger professional networks, and renewed inspiration to bring transformative arts experiences to thousands of students across LAUSD.
“Professional development is one of the most important investments we can make in our educators,” said Veronica Melvin, president and CEO of the LA Promise Fund. “When teachers have the tools, resources, and inspiration they need, our students benefit in profound ways. We’re proud to partner with LMU, LAUSD, Snap Foundation, and so many other arts agencies to host the third annual ArtsMatter Symposium at LMU’s beautiful campus. Over these days, 450 arts educators came together to exchange best practices, inspire new ideas, and collectively shape a stronger future for arts education in Los Angeles.”