We have a lot
to be thankful for as our holiday season begins in earnest, starting with the
people in our lives—family, friends, colleagues, and even the barista in
Starbucks who always gets your latte just right. Here’s someone else I want to
be thankful for: Daron Hawkins, the Educational Theatre Association’s late
Florida state chapter director.
Some of you
probably knew Daron. Certainly those whose lives he touched in his home state
knew and loved him—more than eight hundred people attended a recent memorial
service for Daron. I didn’t know him well, having only met him last year at
Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. We talked briefly the evening prior to
the event, about students, the logistics of getting around D.C., and of course,
advocacy and why it was so important to speak up on behalf of theatre
education. Daron didn’t have a lot of time to chat. He was shepherding eight of
his Riverview High School students to their hotel rooms, through advocacy
training, and finally, up to Capitol Hill where they visited Congressional
offices. Arts Advocacy Day is two-day crash course on the democratic process,
with lots of data, walking, handshaking and earnest commitment to arts and
education. And you have to get up early to participate. Really early, for
breakfast with members of Congress and a star-studded lineup of arts supporters
(last year, it included Yo- Yo Ma) testifying at a hearing before everyone fans
out on the Hill. I remember wondering how Daron was going to get those eight
teenagers up, moving, dressed, and down in the hotel lobby in time for the
subway ride, the morning hearing, and their
first office appointment.
They beat me
to the lobby. When I came off the elevator at 6:30 a.m., the Florida students
were gathered on a half circle couch, set to go, learn, and advocate. And there
was Daron, standing before them talking quietly, preparing his students for something
new and important. In other words, he was teaching and they were listening.
That singular moment has stuck with me.
There are, I
know, lots of Darons among you, teaching day after day, year after year. Or, if
you are a student, you are lucky enough to have your own Mr. Hawkins. Sometimes
we take things for granted, like the assumption that we will wake up tomorrow, and
greet the day anew. Daron probably felt that way too. But I don’t think he
assumed that there would always be theatre programs and teachers who could
share the wonder and joy of its artistry. That’s why he was in Washington.
What’s more, he believed that his students could also make a difference. His
Florida colleague and new state chapter director Lindsay Painter said, “Daron
knew that if students had a voice they could effect change, and he was so
talented at helping them use those voices.”
The
Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) wanted to find a way to remember this
respected educator and honor his commitment to speak up for theatre education. I
think we have found an appropriate manner to do so.
Every year,
EdTA sponsors Democracyworks, an essay competition for our student members in
which they are asked to write about how their theatre education experiences
have made a difference to their academic and social skills. The winning
essayist and a chaperone are awarded a trip to Arts Advocacy Day. For the 2014
contest, we’re asking students to write about what they have done or might do on behalf of theatre or
other arts education in their district or state. We all know that theatre
changes lives and we want to be sure that keeps happening—that’s where advocacy
comes in. I think Daron understood that and would approve of this proactive
prompt for the contest. He did a lot of doing, and his commitment to advocacy
was part of his work.
To ensure
that the spirit of Daron’s commitment continues to thrive, EdTA is making its
own commitment: The Democracyworks essay competition will now be funded by the Daron
Hawkins Advocacy Fund, a program that will support both student and adult
advocacy activities on behalf of theatre education. EdTA will seed the grant
with $7,000 this year and hopes that it will grow through contributions. More
details are in the works about how individuals can donate and apply for
funding.
Daron Hawkins
is gone, but the need to advocate for theatre remains. He
believed that he could make a difference, and he’d probably believe you could
too. So, what are you waiting for?
You can get started by checking out the EdTA’s Advocacy Toolbox
and Arts
Advocacy Day 2014.
Students who
want to tell us about what they’re doing to make their own difference should
read the Democracyworks guidelines.
Happy Holidays.
We have a lot to be thankful for.