About Us

PEACE Forward is a two-day conference hosted by Patchogue Arts Council that brings together educators, artists, cultural organizations, policymakers, and funders to share outcomes from the PEACE Project and explore sustainable models for arts-in-education partnerships. 

Taking place August 17-18 at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, the conference centers student voice, highlights research and case studies, and fosters exchange across the arts and education community. Day 1 focuses on classroom practice and collaboration that support student success, while Day 2 addresses policy, funding, sustainability, and long-term impact.

‍

‍

Details

Date & Time

Monday August 17-Tuesday, August 18, 2026 
Check-In: 9:30 AM
Event Program: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Location‍

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts
71 East Main Street
Patchogue, NY 11772

Overview‍

PEACE Forward is a two-day conference hosted by Patchogue Arts Council that convenes educators, artists, and community partners to share outcomes from the PEACE Project and advance arts-in-education partnerships. Through conversations on practice and policy, the conference supports collaboration and sustainable approaches to arts integration.

‍Who Should Attend‍

PEACE Forward is designed for educators across disciplines, school and district leaders, students, artists, and cultural organizations engaged in arts-in-education work. The conference also welcomes funders, local officials, civic and business leaders, chambers of commerce, current and past PEACE Project partners, and those interested in building new cross-sector collaborations.

Registration Required

‍CTLE Credits available through Eastern Suffolk BOCES

Sponsorships available | Questions? Contact Beth Giacummo | Contact

‍

Edel Rodriguez is a Cuban American artist and illustrator whose work explores identity, migration, memory, and social justice through bold, graphic imagery. Born in Havana in 1971 and raised in a rural farming community, Rodriguez immigrated to the United States during the Mariel boatlift in 1980, an experience that continues to shape his perspective and creative practice. His work reflects the intersection of personal history, political realities, and cultural displacement, offering powerful visual language for understanding contemporary social issues.

Rodriguez holds a B.F.A. from Pratt Institute and an M.F.A. from Hunter College. His illustrations have appeared in major publications including The New York Times, TIME, and The New Yorker, and his work is held in institutional collections such as the Smithsonian. In addition to his editorial practice, Rodriguez has illustrated award-winning children’s books and completed public-facing commissions, bringing complex ideas into accessible, widely shared visual form.

‍

Day One |  August 17, 2026 | Practice

Classrooms. Collaboration. Creative Learning.

Day One celebrates the educational impact of the PEACE Project through stories from classrooms, partnerships, and communities. Participants will explore how arts integration strengthens teaching, amplifies student voice, and builds lasting connections between schools, artists, and families.

Registration & Check-In | 9:30 - 10:00 AM

Check in, pick up your conference materials, and enjoy coffee and light refreshments while connecting with fellow educators, artists, and community partners before the day's program begins.

Opening Plenary | 10:00 - 10:30 AM

Welcome to PEACE‍

The conference opens with an introduction to the PEACE Project, reflections from the leadership team, and the release of the new PEACE graphic novel, setting the stage for two days of inspiration, collaboration, and celebration.

Presenters: PEACE LEADERSHIP TEAM Beth Giacummo, Project Director, Linda Beckerman, Asst. Project Director, Christine Baum, Project Manager, Loretta Corbisiero-Drakos, Education Specialist, Laura Reeder, PhD, Curriculum Director, and Susanne Harnett, PhD, Research Analyst

Session One | 10:35 - 11:20 AM

Partnerships That Grow Beyond the Classroom

Presenters: Loretta Corbisiero-Drakos, Education Specialist & Laura Reeder, PhD, Curriculum Director

Discover how meaningful collaborations between schools, teaching artists, and community organizations evolved into lasting partnerships that reached far beyond individual projects. Through three compelling case studies, presenters will share how an arts ecosystem and lessons learned help build relationships that create enduring educational and community impact.

Keynote | 11:30 AM- 12:15 PM

Presenter: Edel Rodriguez‍

Internationally acclaimed artist Edel Rodriguez explores the role of art as a catalyst for communication, civic engagement, and creative expression. Drawing from his own artistic journey, Rodriguez reflects on the power of visual storytelling to shape culture and inspire change.

Lunch and Book Signing | 12:15 - 1:25 PM‍

PrE-order Discounted Ticketed Lunch available @ Toast Kitchen & Coffee (please order here)

Connect with featured illustrators and authors                                                            ‍

Enjoy lunch while connecting with fellow attendees and meeting keynote artist Edel Rodriguez, author and illustrator of Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey during a special book signing. Celebrate the launch of PEACE Rising: Creativity & Courage in Learning with author Laura K. Reeder, PhD and illustrator Michael Mastermaker as they sign copies of the Patchogue Arts Council's new graphic novel inspired by the voices and artwork of PEACE Project students.

Session Two | Breakout Sessions | 1:30- 2:30 PM

Replicas & Meaning-Making in an ENL Classroom ‍

Presenter: Pam Gustafson, High School Librarian and Academic Specialist

Discover how arts-integrated inquiry and object-based learning helped English Language Learners build language, confidence, and deeper personal connections to history and culture.

Nosotr-Us and Cultural Connections

Presenter: Paul Rodriguez, Author and Illustrator

Explore two collaborative classroom partnerships that use the arts to foster cultural understanding, student voice, and meaningful connections across diverse communities.

Student Ambassadors for PEACE

Presenter: Alina Wilczynski, Photographer and Multimedia Artist

Go behind the scenes of the PEACE Student Ambassador Program to learn how portfolios, documentation, and creative mentorship empowered students to become leaders in their schools and communities.

Session Three | 2:45- 3:15 PM

The Stories from PEACE

Presenters: Loretta Corbisiero-Drakos, Education Specialist & Laura Reeder, PhD, Curriculum Director

A special presentation highlights the themes of collaboration, creativity, and community introduced throughout the day, demonstrating how student stories can extend the reach and impact of arts education from PEACE years 2021 - present.

Interactive Performance | 3:20- 3:55 PM
Presenter: Austin Pelissier, Music Education Professional

Returning student performer from Cohort 1 returns to us from the SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music as a Music Education major will lead the conference participants through an interactive live performance celebrating collaboration, rhythm, and artistic confidence.

Interactive Visual Art Experience  | 4:00- 4:25 PM

Create Together

Presenters: Alina Wilczynski, Photographer & Multimedia Artist

Paolo Bartolani, Pianist, cultural manager, and Artistic Director of Rites of Spring Music Festival

End the day with a collaborative light painting installation led by photographer and multimedia artist Alina Wilczynski. This interactive experience invites attendees to contribute to a shared artwork while exploring the creative possibilities of light and photography.

‍

Day Two | August 18, 2026 | Policy

Systems. Sustainability. Community Impact.

‍Day Two expands the conversation beyond the classroom to examine how arts education strengthens communities, drives economic vitality, and creates lasting social impact. Through conversations with educators, artists, civic leaders, and policymakers, participants will explore strategies for sustaining arts-integrated learning through advocacy, investment, and partnership.

Registration & Check-In | 9:30- 10:00 AM

‍Start the day with coffee, light refreshments, and informal networking as you reconnect with colleagues and prepare for a day of conversations focused on arts education, advocacy, and community impact.

Welcome & Awards Celebration | 10:00- 11:10 AM

PEACE Forward Awards and PEACE Mini Film Festival‍

Celebrate remarkable educators, artists, and community leaders whose work exemplifies the mission of the PEACE Project. Short films showcase inspiring student and community stories while recognizing individuals who have advanced arts education across Long Island.

Awardees

PEACE Project Arts Eco-system Award

Claudy Damus-Makelele

STAND TALL (20.30)

A special student documentary made possible through Eastern Suffolk BOCES, inspired by a PEACE Project partnership.

PEACE Project BLOOM Award

Pam Gustafson

PEACE Project District Partnership Award

Michael Hershkowitz, Alina Wilczynski, & Paolo Bartolani

KINETIC CANVAS (10:27)

Students Grades 9-12 at Islip High School

PEACE Project District Partnership Award

Mike Carlson, Alexa Toyas, Andrea Cote, Miroslava (Miros) Gonzalez, Kimberly Zambrano, Diane Fox, Keegan Bishop, Maira Rogel Zavala, Michael Morgan

OUT OF THE DARKNESS (11:11)

Documentary Film

Students Grades 9-12 at Hampton Bays High School

Session One | 11:15-  12:00 PM

The State of the Arts on Long Island Presenter: Lauren Wagner, Executive Director of the Long Island Arts Alliance (LIAA)

Explore current research on the cultural and economic impact of the arts across Long Island. This session examines how investment in arts education contributes to workforce development, community vitality, and regional innovation.

Lunch | 12:00 - 12:50 PM ‍

PrE-order Discounted Ticketed Lunch available @ Toast Kitchen & Coffee (please order here)

Keynote Conversation | 1:00- 1:40 PM

The Power of Social Emotional LearningPresenter: Michelle Lopez, Art Therapy Specialist Consultant

Explore the vital connection between creativity, social-emotional learning, and student well-being through a developmentally informed lens. Michelle Lopez shares practical insights for nurturing resilient learners and creating supportive environments where students can thrive.

Session Two | Breakout Sessions | 1:50 - 2:40 PM

Accessibility through Art Education

Presenter: Laura Yacoubi, Museum Educator and Multidisciplinary Artist

Explore how museums and community organizations are expanding access to the arts through free programming, innovative partnerships, and reduced barriers for schools and families. Discover practical models that make arts education more equitable and accessible across Long Island.

Arts Education at the Crossroads: Navigating New York's New Graduation Measures

Presenter: Mike Hershkowitz, Director of Fine and Performing Arts at Islip Schools

As New York reimagines high school graduation requirements, explore what these evolving changes could mean for arts education. This session examines emerging opportunities, unanswered questions, and practical ways to advocate for meaningful recognition of student learning through the arts.

Welcome to the Multi-Verse: Teaching in Multilingual Classrooms Using Comics

Presenter: Anu Annam, Founder and Executive Director of SEA of Visibility

Discover how comics can bridge language barriers, build literacy, and engage multilingual learners through visual storytelling. Leave with practical strategies and hands-on tools to bring this creative approach into your own classroom.

Session Three | 2:50- 3:20 PM

The Findings & Future of PEACE EDU‍

Get a first look at PEACE EDU, the PEACE Project's new online professional learning platform designed to expand arts-integrated education beyond Long Island. This preview will share the vision, development process, and how this new initiative supports the long-term sustainability and growth of the PEACE Project.

Presenters: PEACE LEADERSHIP TEAM Beth Giacummo, Project Director, Linda Beckerman, Asst. Project Director, Christine Baum, Project Manager, Loretta Corbisiero-Drakos, Education Specialist, Laura Reeder, PhD, Curriculum Director, and Susanne Harnett, PhD, Research Analyst

Closing Session | 3:30- 4:30 PM

Student Ambassadors: Building the Program

Presenters: Christine Baum, Project Manager,  Loretta Corbisiero-Drakos, Education Specialist & April Francis-Taylor, Equity Specialist

‍

Sponsorships available | Questions? Contact Beth Giacummo | Contact

‍