By Breck Smith, College of Education intern
PULLMAN, Wash. – A College of Education Ph.D. candidate is helping spearhead the inaugural Cultural Arts of Education Showcase at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, in the CUB ballroom.
The free, public event will demonstrate the potential that music, literature and art have for enriching teaching and learning. Among other guests, the event will feature national award-winning slam poet Anthony C. Rucker as host and a reading by author Mary Weems exploring socioeconomic and racial topics.
Douglas “Sage” Hoston, a doctoral student in Washington State University’s cultural studies and social thought in education program, studies how the popularity of the spoken word and slam poetry among youth can be used as a tool in urban education.
“In order to be culturally responsive to others, we need to be able to react to the learning needs of all types of people from diverse backgrounds,” he said. “Artists are particularly adaptive to responding to the needs of different people because they can shift, shape and present information in more imaginative and compelling ways.”
The showcase will present live performances from local artists and dance groups including: Culture Power Crew, Detour Dance Company, Drew Smith, Paulina Abustan, Jeremiah Sataraka, Lauralea Edwards, Elements Trio, God’s Harmony Gospel Choir and Group Effort Dance Company.