One Dance, One Song, One Community: Join Us in Uplifting the Arts

Becoming a mother has had me reflecting on what I value most dearly in this life. As I make the slow return to my role as executive director at The Vanaver Caravan, I’ve been thinking about how to strike that healthy balance between work and family, while facing a future overshadowed by daunting uncertainty. But I’m not here to dwell—this is a message of hope!

Lucky for me, my work here is not just a job. The people who make this organization thrive—staff, artists, board members and volunteers—do so because we believe in the essential impact we have in the communities we touch. Whether it’s the 20 schools and nearly 8,000 students we reach annually, the many audience members who attend our performances, the talented artists with whom we collaborate, or the families, children, and aspiring dancers in our dance institute— our work as an arts organization is far-reaching and meaningful.

Yet, the impact is always difficult to quantify. It is the work of human connection and dignity, of building confidence and breaking down barriers, of igniting that singular spark of joy that only dancing and singing together can ignite. The Vanaver Caravan is a thriving, ever-changing, endlessly supportive network of people bound by a shared hope for this world and the people within it.

As we near Into the Light season, the fervor of community gatherings, performances, and shared joy remind us that hope isn’t just an abstract ideal—it’s something we build together, one song, one dance, one moment of connection at a time.

Now, more than ever, we need our community’s belief to keep going. I know we're not the only nonprofit reaching out for support at this time of year—so many worthy causes deserve our attention and resources right now. But if there’s one thing I can say about the Caravan, it’s that our mission is to uplift others as well. A gift to us nourishes the arts and strengthens our partnerships. We work hand in hand with other nonprofits, artists, and organizations to create an arts ecosystem where each of us supports the other.

Your support isn’t just for us—it’s for every student who finds belonging, every artist whose work reaches further, every audience member who feels renewed hope. In a time when so much feels uncertain, your donation is a testament to the power of small organizations that, together, make a tremendous impact.

What a wholly unique and beautiful thing it is to know that my three-month-old daughter already has a community—a web of support and creativity that has been lovingly woven over decades by people who believed in this work, just as I do. The Vanaver Caravan is a place where every effort, every donation, and every partnership contributes to something deeply felt by all who are a part of it.

I invite you to be part of this journey. To be part of a community that believes in the value of the arts, of human connection, of daring to hope. With your support, we can continue to be that source of strength, joy, and resilience.

Thank you for considering the Caravan in your end of year giving. We—and our concentric communities—are truly grateful. 

With love and hope,

Miranda Wilde Way 

Executive Director 

The Vanaver Caravan 

Photo of Miranda and her daughter, Wynnie, at AppleFest 2024. Taken by Rafal Pustelny.