The Young Singers of the Palm Beaches has received a $1,000 Diversity & Inclusion Award from the Florida Department of State. The award this year recognizes 18 Florida-based arts organizations and individuals with outstanding initiatives reflecting diversity.
The award is given by the Division of Cultural Affairs and Citizens for Florida Arts, made possible through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Young Singers CEO Beth Clark and Managing Director Melanee Blankstein received the award in Gainesville during the 2017 Convening Culture Conference held Feb. 22-23.
Convening Culture is a statewide cultural conference that brings together individuals working in arts and culture in Florida for two days of informative sessions, facilitated discussions and networking opportunities. The conference was presented by Citizens for Florida Arts, a statewide nonprofit organization that works to support the efforts of the Division of Cultural Affairs.
Money received by the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches will be used to support the group’s “Choir in the Glades,” an after-school choir program offered free to elementary and middle school children in the Belle Glade area. Led by music professionals, Choir in the Glades provides not only choral instruction and performance techniques, but also fulfills the Young Singers’ mission of “teaching life skills through music,” as singers also learn to work as a team, appreciate other cultures, give back to the community, and build pride and self-esteem.
For more information, visit www.yspb.org.
ABOVE: Melanee Blankstein and Beth Clark receive the Diversity & Inclusion Award on behalf of Young Singers of the Palm Beaches from Florida’s Secretary of State Ken Detzner.
