Known as the Nation's Museum, the Smithsonian Institution has served as the touchstone destination for American history and culture for over 178 years. However, for most of this time, our collections, objects, and stories have only been accessible for those who are able to visit Washington, D.C. Conceived in 2023, the Smithsonian's Rural Initiative aims to connect with rural and Tribal communities across the nation as a resource to tell their local stories and center them in the larger American narrative. In this keynote address, Andy Mink, Director of the Rural Initiative, will share how these efforts are being operationalized from lessons learned in a year-long Needs Sensing research project. Spoiler alert: schools and educators are key to these efforts.
Nancy will give the audience an inside look into her career going from a public school art teacher for more than 20 years to her stepping into the boardroom of Archie Comics. She will tell about how what she learned as an Art Educator helped her in business and how she has had to use those skills to adapt. Nancy shows how teachers can use graphics to open the discussion for many important topics and give some examples of that. She will instill the importance of being an art teacher and the value they carry in the school and in young students' lives. Nancy will aim to inspire, educate and entertain during this lively talk and welcomes questions from the audience
