About MINDPOP

At MINDPOP, we believe every student is a masterpiece.

Our mission is to equitably expand the arts and creative learning in classrooms, schools and communities in Austin—and throughout the United States.

Working with communities and using the transformative power of the arts, our non-profit consultancy designs and implements creative learning systems nationwide.

At MINDPOP, we use the tools of collective impact to bring equity and access to quality arts education in schools and communities, and to build the instructional tools of teachers to lead creative classrooms. Our approach combines empirical research, a strong theoretical base and decades of practical experience.

We are the backbone organization of Austin's Creative Learning Initiative (CLI), a partnership among the City of Austin, the Austin Independent School District and more than 200 arts partners. In its 10th year, CLI is embedded in 90+ participating schools, serving 3,500 educators and 50,000 students.

Nationally, MINDPOP shares its knowledge and expertise with learning systems leaders through short and long term consulting engagements, as well as convenings of national communities of practice.

Brent Hasty, Ph.D.

Executive Director
brent.hasty@mindpop.org

Christian Clarke Cásarez, J.D.

Senior Institutional Advancement Fellow
christian.clarke.casarez@mindpop.org

Jackson Knowles

Deputy Director
jackson.knowles@mindpop.org

Allyson Morales

Dance Across Austin Coordinator
allyson.morales@mindpop.org

Christy Savage

Operations Director
christy.savage@mindpop.org

Julia Vunderink

Program Associate
julia.vunderink@mindpop.org

History and Background

In 2010, leaders from across our community decided to work across institutions to ensure equity, access and quality in creative learning and the arts for all Austin students. It represented a unique opportunity for school leaders, philanthropy, higher education, government and the arts community to pool their resources to make significant change in the lives of our young people. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in support of our efforts, chose Austin as the 7th Partner City for their Any Given Child Initiative providing excellent facilitation of a strategic long-range plan.

With a solid plan and leadership in place, Austin ISD committed to a 10 year plan to make all schools arts-rich and creative campuses; the City of Austin included the effort in the 20-year comprehensive plan Imagine Austin; and an anonymous donor boosted the initiative by committing a $1,000,000 to help high-poverty schools reach their creative campus goals.

Today, the initiative is thriving, and meeting all benchmarks towards making all schools arts-rich by 2023 and assuring all students live in neighborhoods with creative learning opportunities. With 100+ arts partners, several departments within Austin City government, and thousands of Austin ISD school leaders, students in the Creative Learning Initiative receive increased access to arts learning in music, visual arts, dance and drama; increased experiences through community arts organizations; receive the academic and cognitive benefits of creative teaching across the curriculum; and much more. Teachers receive intensive professional development in research-based instructional techniques, and artists have access to additional training and a coordinated system that helps them serve more students. Even the facilitators through the parks and recreation system receive professional development in creative teaching. Our effort addresses all the players in the creative learning system, helping assure all students have access to the arts and the benefits of creative learning.

Thanks to the vision of the MINDPOP founders, attendance and student engagement has increased in schools and students are showing a boost in academic achievement and creative development. As a result, our students are better prepared for college, career and life.