The San Mateo County Arts Commission, which views the arts as an essential part of a healthy and vibrant community, champions policies and practices that promote social and cultural equity. We strive to promote inclusive and diverse programming and to ensure equitable access to arts and culture for all, with consideration for race, ability, sexual orientation, age, gender, economic status, and cultural background. We also commit to partnering with artists and arts organizations that represent and celebrate the diversity of our county, through the fair and equitable distribution of programmatic and financial support. Through these actions, arts are a vehicle for social change.
Today, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved $1.5 million to create the Learning Hub Expansion Fund to increase the number of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged families who can participate in “learning hubs” – programs that provide safe, supportive places for K-12 students to engage in distance learning in underserved communities. Grants will be awarded to youth-serving organizations that already run such programs.