By Tom McClimon
June 27, 2005

Members of the Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee had the opportunity to visit Gallery 37, Chicago's nationally award winning arts education program which provides employment and training to high school students.

Meeting at the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, mayors heard from Chicago's First Lady Maggie Daley, a founder of Gallery 37 and chair of After School Matters. Before taking the mayors on a tour of the facility, Daley spoke of how the program has grown from servicing 2,000 students to now over 20,000 students annually. The Gallery 37 program, named after a vacant downtown urban renewal site which served as the first location for the program has grown from a summer program to an all year around program. The program brings students from all neighborhoods in the city together with professional artists and teachers to learn about the arts. Gallery 37 is now part of a wider after school program which includes sports, technology, and literature.

Melinda Hudson of America's Promise also addressed the mayors on their new initiative to recognize the 100 best communities in America for young people. She encouraged the mayors to apply by July 29 to have their cities be recognized. Applications are available on their website: americaspromise.com

Don Rossi Nuccio gave the mayors an update on Latino Art Beat a Chicago-based awards scholarship program that recognizes high school students through arts competitions. All award winning artwork is displayed at various gallery shows during the winning year to profile the young artists' talents. Cities that have participated in the program have included Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Washington (DC), and Chicago. Mayors can find out more about this program by contacting latinoartbeat@hotmail.com.

Mayors also discussed and adopted 15 resolutions under the moderation of Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, who served as Acting Chair of the committee.

Resolution 1: National Anthem Project.

Resolution 2: Enhancing Skills Attainment through the Arts.

Resolution 3: The Land and Water Conservation Fund And The Urban Park And Recreation Recovery Program.

Resolution 4: Commendation to Albuquerque for Its 300th Birthday.

Resolution 5: National Hockey League Labor Dispute.

Resolution 6: The National Moment of Remembrance.

Resolution 7: National Arts and Humanities Month.

Resolution 8: Federal Funding for the Arts, Humanities and Museums.

Resolution 9: Senate Cultural Caucus

Resolution 10: Public Awareness Campaign for Arts Education.

Resolution 11: 30th Anniversary of Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act.

Resolution 12: 45th Anniversary of Americans for the Arts.

Resolution 13: 40th Anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Resolution 14: Drug Free Sports.

Resolution 15: Promoting Physical Fitness Activities in Cities As A Means To Improving Health And Limiting Obesity Amongst City Residents Throughout The United States.