smAll that Jazz

Elementary-school age artists and entrepreneurs learn from Viktor

Students at Grant Elementary School in Lakewood, Ohio may become the youngest grantmakers in the state when their arts education foundation begins accepting funding proposals later this year. The children are well prepared: they have participated in an arts curriculum, created and sold a fundraising product, and learned how to start and run a foundation. And it was inspired by Viktor Schreckengost.

Two years ago, second and third graders in Dina Bluemel’s gifted education program were shown the PBS documentary, Success by Design: The Schreckengost Legacy. They made their own paper Jazz Bowls and wrote letters to Viktor Schreckengost and his wife Gene, who have visited with them since on multiple occasions. The children’s designs were exhibited at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, an event supported in part by the Cowan Pottery Museum. Eventually the entire school participated in a curriculum on Viktor’s life and work, developed upon request by Art on Wheels.

The next step was inspired by Viktor’s lifelong roles as artist, entrepreneur, and humanitarian. The Schreckengost Foundation helped the children produce notecards featuring their artwork, which were sold as a school arts fundraiser. The Foundation provided administrative support and made a monetary donation as well. Total funds raised by the project have so far reached $1000.

How did this all start? "When I was teaching 1st grade in 2000, I went to a wonderful show about Viktor at the Cleveland Museum of Art," explains Ms. Bluemel. "The show had a lot of children’s things. I bought a video and book on Viktor, which I used to teach the children about his life and accomplishments. Those children are now fourth and fifth graders"—and the student leaders of the foundation effort. They met this year with a representative from the Mandel Center for Non-Profit Organizations (Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio) who taught the children how foundations work. "The students loved learning about foundations, especially the older ones, and asked lots of questions," remembers Ms. Bluemel. In personal narratives written this year, many students expressed excitement that they will be helping other students through grantmaking next year. "Their biggest question is wondering how they will decide who gets the money!"

The Mandel Center has tried without success to locate other foundations run by elementary school students in Ohio. In fact, this project has been unique enough to capture local and even national attention. The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce had the children speak at one of their breakfast meetings. Lakewood Magazine covered the Beck Center show. A local PBS station, WVIZ, did a story, segments of which were aired on ZOOM, a nationally-distributed public television series for school-age children.

What’s next? "We have been invited to host one of the 100 shows that will open in honor of Viktor’s hundredth birthday," answers Ms. Bluemel. "We are looking forward to that, and to raising more funds for the foundation. At the beginning of next year we’ll do additional fundraising, get our grantmaking moving, and prepare our Schreckengost display at the school."

What have the children gotten out of this experience so far? "Respect," says Ms. Bluemel immediately. "Especially for art and elderly people. Also better skills in language arts (reading and writing), current events, math and business." The children have come to know Viktor and Gene so well that a recent batch of letters to them include Jazz Bowl-inspired jokes. Two examples conclude this report:

Question: What did the green jazz bowl say to the blue jazz bowl? Answer: Why so blue?

Question: What do jazz bowls do for fun? Answer: Go bowling!