Dear St. Patrick's Parent,

Many of you have asked what I will be doing when I leave St. Patrick's and how we might stay in touch.

I am working toward creating a center where I can continue to offer the programs I have developed at St. Patrick's and to dream up new ones.

Several of you have asked if there is any way that you might help me in this next phase of my professional life. I am grateful for your offers and am eager to share my ideas with you. I value your responses, thoughts, and expertise.

I am working on both in-school and after-school programs and weekend events that

· Challenge and inspire students to use their imaginations
· Expand students' creative and artistic abilities
· Stimulate kids' curiosity about how things work in the world around them

I hope to continue to work with St. Patrick's students and I also hope to make these programs available to students from a wide variety of schools and backgrounds.

I am talking with several artists-musicians, fine artists, potters-and with creative "tech" people-in computers, video, and robotics-about incorporating a broad range of programs.

I will be meeting with organizations that are providing similar programs in New York and Cincinnati. I am looking for the following essential ingredients:

· a location for the center
· assistance in locating funding sources
· help with marketing research
· people with whom I can discuss ideas and brainstorm
· your thoughts about the kinds of programs you want for your children
· financial contributions to help in the early stages of development

Please let me know your thoughts. Also let me know if you'd like to participate in a brainstorming session before June 18.

Respond by e-mail, phone, or owl.
Please leave contact information.

P: (301) 681-0998
E: cbarker@artfulexpression.com

You may send mail to

Artful Expression Inc
402 Dennis Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20901