All created by alumni of the New World School of the Arts.

It pains me to report that Miami’s New World School of the Arts (NWSA) is facing a devastating cut in state funding, right as the alumni of the public school are starting to gain wide recognition for their artistic pursuits.

That’s why I need you to make a phone call today.

The Florida House and Senate are meeting today, Friday April 28th to arm wrestle over the new State Budget.

NWSA’s funding is not currently in that budget.

As an alumni of NWSA, I can say that it was critical to my own career; the place where I honed learned many of the skills you see in my radio broadcasting and journalism today — and that all happened there while I attended school for singing.

“The Florida legislature created the New World School of the Arts 30-years ago,” says Patrick O’Connell, Chairman of the Board for the New World Foundation, which raises private funds which fund the school’s operations.

“The state has provided critical funding to the school since then, and the whole world can see the results.”

Alumni of the Miami-Dade public school — run in partnership with Miami-Dade College and University of Florida — have recently been honored for their signature contributions to culturally significant works on the big screen, the stage and television with Oscars, Tonys, and Grammys.

Oscar-winning movie Moonlight was based on NWSA grad Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play, which was adapted for the big screen. The movie — based on his life’s story — won this year’s Oscar for best picture.

The Broadway play Hamilton has become a cultural phenomenon, orchestrated by previous Tony winner Alex Lacamoire. He has won multiple Tony awards and Grammy awards for Hamilton’s record setting soundtrack.

Nobody knew that non-fiction documentary movies would spark mass interest when Cocaine Cowboys made its theoretical debut, later becoming a hit on Cinemax. NWSA alum Billy Corben’s production company Rakontur won an Emmy award for the ESPN documentary The U — Part 2.