Today Mayor Lori Lightfoot held a press conference on Arts in Education at Solorio Academy High School, an Academy for Urban School Leadership school. Mayor Lightfoot was joined at the podium by Dr. Janice Jackson, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Victor Iturralde, Principal of Solorio Academy, and Mark Kelly, Commissioner of the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). Mayor Lightfoot and Commissioner Kelly celebrated the Arts in Education, choosing to make the announcement at Solorio Academy because of the school’s commitment to arts education.
Following the press conference, Principal Iturralde escorted Mayor Lightfoot to hear the Solorio Band perform. Solorio students presented Mayor Lightfoot with a personalized band shirt as she spoke to the students: “Treasure these moments, I have such great memories, I was in the marching band, started playing trumpet in 4th grade, and all through high school. Some of my best memories of high school were being in the band.”