Minnesota State Senators Visit Perpich Center

October 3, 2023

Left to Right: Rebecca Bullen, Arts High School Principal; Reagan Greene, Education Policy Committee Legislative Assistant; Sen. Mary Kunesh (39); Emma Zellmer, Legislative Assistant to Sen. Kunesh; Sen. Bonnie Westlin (42); Sen. Liz Boldon (25); Sally Grans-Korsh, Board Vice Chair; Dr. Wendy Barden, Director of PDR; George Terry Jr., Arts High School Assistant Principal; Dr. Charles Rick, Executive Director; Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (49)

Perpich Center for Arts Education was pleased to welcome members of the Minnesota Senate to campus on October 3, 2023. Sen. Mary Kunesh (39), Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (49), Sen. Bonnie Westlin (42), Sen. Liz Boldon (25), and several staffers were in attendance. Many of the guests serve on the Senate Education Policy and Education Finance committees.

Board Vice Chair, Sally Grans-Korsh, joined members of Perpich’s leadership team during the visit. The group provided an overview of the agency’s three components: Professional Development and Resources (PDR), Arts High School, and Arts Library. The legislators asked a variety of questions and then took a tour of campus.

Dr. Charles Rick, Executive Director, said, “We appreciated the visit to Perpich Center for Arts Education by Sen. Kunesh, Sen. Cwodzinski, Sen. Boldon, Sen. Westlin, and legislative staff during their Back to School tour. I felt they learned more about the Professional Development & Resource programs (PDR), Arts High School, and Arts Library. We shared with them how Perpich Center, as a state agency, is a statewide benefit to Minnesota.”

Dr. Wendy Barden, Director of PDR, said, “I am very grateful the senators came to learn about the many ways Perpich Center supports arts education (and educators!) statewide. I think we surprised them with the depth and breadth of our programs.”

Rebecca Bullen, Arts High School Principal, said, “I am grateful for time with Senators Kunesh, Cwodzinski, Westlin, and Boldon. I appreciated their engagement in learning more about the amazing work we do at Perpich, and ways they may further support educational impacts.”