Bill Text: VA HR298 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commending A Place to Be.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-02-08 - Agreed to by House by voice vote [HR298 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-HR298-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, A Place To Be, a nonprofit music therapy organization in Middleburg, launched an animated children's show, "The Land of Music," on its YouTube channel to help young people better understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, A Place To Be received a $10,000 award from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the production, which has educated students while helping them to develop a renewed sense of hope and safety; and
WHEREAS, consisting of six 10-minute to 14-minute episodes, A Place To Be's "The Land of Music" helps children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade learn how music can help reduce anxiety and bring people together; and
WHEREAS, "The Land of Music" follows J. J., played by Jonathan Jacobsen, who travels with a cartoon character, Maestro Sound, voiced by A Place To Be co-founder Tom Sweitzer, to a world that has recently rediscovered the power of music; and
WHEREAS, featuring hand-painted backgrounds by local artist Penny Hauffe, "The Land of Music" places a special emphasis on how music can help people overcome feelings of fear and isolation; and
WHEREAS, A Place To Be also worked with local school districts to develop resources to be paired with the program, including discussion questions for each episode and opportunities for Zoom meetings with the creators, artists, and cast members; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That A Place To Be hereby be commended for launching "The Land of Music" YouTube program for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to A Place To Be as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's important work to help children better understand and cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
