A unique collaboration between non-profit and design industries raises funds for the arts in schools
PORTLAND, ORE — The Right Brain Initiative has released Brain Food, an exploratory activity deck designed for use at home and school by children ages 4 and up. The fifty activities reflect the integrated and creative learning that Right Brain brings to classrooms in the Portland metro area. Right Brain is an arts education partnership of the Regional Arts & Culture Council.
100% of profits from Brain Food sales directly fund Right Brain’s school programming. The decks are currently available for purchase online at BuyOlympia.com, and in person at 11 New Seasons locations, Powell’s Books, and more. Over 1,000 decks have also been donated to teachers at Portland area public schools.
“We are thrilled to provide a product that parents can use to inspire creative exploration and dynamic thinking at home,” said Marna Stalcup, The Right Brain Initiative Program Manager. “The ongoing revenue generated by Brain Food is a creative approach to supporting the day-to-day operations of our program. It’s the ultimate example of commerce for good.”
Brain Food is the result of a unique, three-year collaboration between Right Brain and the Design for Good Committee of AIGA Portland, the professional association for design. Ten local designers were tapped to provide custom illustrations for the deck, and a successful Kickstarter campaign paid for the costs of printing 2,500 decks.
“As designers, we have powerful skills to communicate, activate, engage, and motivate the community around social issues,” said Melissa Delzio, Past Chair of the AIGA Portland Design for Good committee and project lead for Brain Food. “AIGA Portland was honored to partner with The Right Brain Initiative to co-create Brain Food, from idea to final product. The project represents a true example of Design for Good in action. Designers have moved beyond ideation to make a real impact on the community.”
A release event for Brain Food will take place on Wednesday, May 7 at 6pm at Poa Café, a child-friendly space located at 4025 N Williams Avenue in Portland. The event will feature Los Angeles-based children’s author and illustrator Dallas Clayton. Clayton, best known as creator of An Awesome Book!, will present a talk about children and creativity. This event is free and open to the public, and is best for ages 8 and up.
Click here for a complete and continually updated list of Brain Food retail locations.
The Right Brain Initiative is a public-private partnership established by the Regional Arts & Culture Council to bring high quality arts education to all children in Portland area public schools. Launched in January of 2009 with 20 school partners, Right Brain now serves 20 percent of the 110,000 K-8 students in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties. This school year a total of 14,000 students in 49 schools from six districts are being served. Other partnering districts are Corbett School District, Hillsboro School District, North Clackamas Schools, Oregon Trail School District and Portland Public Schools. The organization is made up of a sustainable partnership of public schools, local government, foundations, businesses and the cultural community, which launched its effort to bring the arts to every child in the Portland area in January 2009. The program’s vision is to transform learning for all children through the arts, creativity, innovation and whole-brain thinking. The Right Brain Initiative is a project of the Regional Arts & Culture Council, with Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington serving as Implementation Partner. Read more online at www.TheRightBrainInitiative.org.