New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Hundreds of local school children at the John Winthrop Elementary School in Dorchester will participate in a day of music, culture and history during a unique Jazz Ambassador Kickoff event, hosted by Natixis Global Asset Management.
The event, which takes place on Wednesday, May 27, will include a concert performed by Berklee College of
Music student musicians and a jazz-civics workshop conducted by Dr.
Wesley Watkins, Ph.D., Founder of The Jazz & Democracy Project. Interim
Boston Schools Superintendent John McDonough is also scheduled to attend.
The Jazz & Democracy Project is an integrated curriculum that uses jazz as a metaphor to bring American democracy to life, enrich the study and teaching of U.S. history, government, civics and culture, and inspire youth to become active, positive contributors in their communities.
"Jazz is a unique and powerful medium that has united cultures and brought people together for centuries," said John Hailer, president and chief executive officer of Natixis Global Asset Management in the Americas and Asia. "It has so much to offer students in terms of its creativity, diversity and rich history. We're thrilled to bring this unique program to
Boston as part of our long-standing partnership with the Winthrop School."
The Jazz Ambassador Kickoff is part of Natixis' innovative Adopt-a-School program held in partnership with the City of Boston, which gives private companies the opportunity to make a direct, sustained impact on individual
Boston schools to enhance student education and improve learning environments.
Since "adopting" the Winthrop School in 2012, Natixis has provided a variety of support in key areas such as technology, facility enhancements, mentoring and special volunteer projects.
"Our Adopt-a-School partnership has not only led to new enhancements at Winthrop, but it's been a tremendous experience for our employees who have had a chance to really experience the commitment of faculty, staff and students at the school," added Hailer. "Our focus has been on establishing deep and collaborative relationships with all of our nonprofit partners, and we're pleased to host this event that celebrates jazz and promotes civic engagement."
The Jazz Ambassador Kickoff takes place at the Winthrop Elementary School in Dorchester at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27. The event also serves as the official launch for Natixis' 2015 Jazz Ambassador Program, a series of more than 15 events throughout the year that celebrates jazz and gives back to local communities. The series includes Natixis' sponsorship of the Newport Jazz Festival, Berklee's Summer in the City concert series and the Berklee Jazz Festival, among others.
The Jazz Ambassador Program is part of Natixis' broader Ambassador Program, a community involvement initiative that supports fundamental social services, including healthcare, housing, education and mentoring through strong partnerships, employee involvement, financial contributions, and sharing resources and ideas.
