Books, Brushes & Bands for Education (BBB4E) is proud to celebrate this milestone today, the actual day of its incorporation, September 12, 2000.

Your presence indicates your support for BBB4E and a healthy Northwest Indiana (NWI) arts ecosystem.

Ecosystem, first used by Sir Arthur George Tansley, a British botanist, to describe the complex interaction between living organisms and their non-living environment. The application of this word today perfectly describes our connected network of families, educators, artists, musicians, non-profit partners, and business/community leaders.

Under the leadership of Michelle Golden, BBB4E has developed and implemented region-wide music, literacy, and visual arts initiatives that have served thousands of students & families across NWI.

In 2023, with the support of the Legacy Foundation, the BBB4E Board of Directors began strategic planning for the future. One of the many outcomes is a revised organization Mission Statement:

BBB4E empowers youth and families to become lifelong learners through exposure to engaging experiences in literary, visual & musical arts.

BBB4E is proud to receive continued grant funding from the Indiana Arts Commission, City of Hammond and the Legacy Foundation. Thank you to the Legacy Foundation, Lake County’s Community Foundation, who provided a 2025 Strengthening NWI Grant to support our strategic planning for this significant milestone.