I When I first became director of CCBC Children's Center in Washington, DC, my primary goal was to create within the school a strong community; a community where the daily experience of the children, staff, and families was a positive one. I was certain that whatever model of early childhood education we might choose to implement, feeling safe to explore ideas and eager to share and to learn would be important. If we could achieve this, CCBC would be a place where both children and adults thrived. I'm sure that other directors will recognize these as valuable goals, but how to achieve them with so many competing demands on my time and on the school's resources was not clear. EffectiveArts was invaluable during the process of creating an environment where the gifts of each member of the community are valued and celebrated. EffectiveArts helped us find a way to acknowledge and celebrate the unique talents of every member of the community. The subtle undercurrent of negativity changed to one of sharing and support for each family and each staff member. More than that, EffectiveArts gave me as director a perspective on my interactions with the parents and staff that emphasized our common goals and helped me enter each meeting with the confidence and understanding that I could shape those interactions to ensure they were positive no matter what the outcome. I am convinced that the changes EffectiveArts helped to put in place contributed to the strong enrollment and financial support that CCBC enjoyed. EffectiveArts helped us focus our energy on creativity, learning, and support for each individual's growth. I have seen EffectiveArts work with other groups and am impressed with their ability to see what is unique about each group, as well as his skill for discovering how to quickly and effectively help them find their way to being a strong community, focused on their mission.