"There is a lot of anxiety and fear surrounding the reopening of schools, what is safe, what is best for families, etc. One of the largest and most valid fears is that students are missing out on valuable learning experiences and life experiences. While this looks different for us all right now, there are Teaching Artists like Influence conducting unbelievably valuable programs digitally. I have witnessed Influence engage parents and kids alike in person, and I have seen him engage groups of teenagers online. Influence was able to facilitate a Spoken Word poetry event on Juneteenth that engaged teenagers to think about and process the Racial Uprising in our country. They shared personal experiences, responded to poetry performances, asked questions, and challenged the adults that were present. Though I was silently sitting in, I was moved to tears and to action. Influence has the ability to connect with young people in a way that is unique and profound--no matter the format."