New Urban Arts at the White House

I'm a "fan" of New Urban Arts -- an amazing Providence nonprofit that focuses on arts mentoring -- on Facebook (see, there is work-related value to Facebook!). Anyhow, I've been very intrigued by their recent posts. It started yesterday with this teaser: “New Urban Arts has arrived in DC. Complimentary tea and an extra queen sized bed? Yes please.”

And then yesterday afternoon, there was this: “New Urban Arts is taking it easy for the rest of the night in DC. Big anouncement tomorrow. Be at the studio. Also, Ed Norton is pretty fly.”

I have to say that my curiosity was definitely piqued. An hour ago, it all started to come together with this update: “New Urban Arts is in the White House. Yea, it's like that. OBAMA.”

About the same a press release landed in my inbox with all the details. It seems that NUA has been chosen as one of fifteen youth arts and humanities programs to receive the super prestigious 2009 Coming Up Taller Award. Here's how the release explained the award:

Coming Up Taller is a national initiative that recognizes and supports outstanding out-of-school and after-school arts and humanities programs for children, especially those with great potential, but limited outlets for creative expression. A project of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Coming Up Taller Awards honor programs that offer exceptional learning experiences in the arts and the humanities and that have a tangible effect on the lives of young people as evidenced through improved academic scores, enhanced life skills, and positive relationships with peers and adults.

So basically NUA rocks -- on a national scale. And they are accepting their award meeting with Michelle Obama. As. We. Speak. Congrats!