Get ready for thought-provoking conversations on 'The Truth in This Art' podcast, with your host, Rob Lee, and today’s guest: Derek Cooper, a multi-talented artist, educator, and actor who has made a significant impact at Port Discovery Children's Museum, igniting children's curiosity and fostering exploration. With a rich background in community theater from an early age, Derek's vibrant presence and enthusiasm infuse his engaging story times, music sessions, and theater programs at Port Discovery, delighting both kids and families. As the Senior Education Specialist, he meticulously crafts, trains, and evaluates a diverse range of activities and initiatives that encourage purposeful play and learning. Derek's unwavering dedication to expanding access to fine arts, particularly for children, shines through his work, driven by a desire to witness smiles and laughter. Rooted in a B.A. in Theatre from Lynchburg College, his passion for storytelling is evident as he harnesses its magical ability to emotionally connect and offer diverse perspectives, ultimately illuminating the world for young minds.Within this segment, we dig into:The transformative power of purposeful play as Derek Cooper shares how it becomes a catalyst for inspiration and education, capturing the hearts and minds of children at the Port Discovery Children's Museum.Dive into a riveting conversation with Derek Cooper as he explores the universality of creativity, delving into how this indispensable life skill can be nurtured and harnessed across all walks of life and disciplines.Join us on an enlightening journey with Derek Cooper as he unveils how theater and storytelling serve as captivating portals to diverse perspectives, paving the way for empathy to flourish and connecting us all through shared narratives.This is a must-listen episode as Derek shares his journey as an artist, educator, and actor. He discusses the mission of the museum, which is to use purposeful play to inspire and teach children. Derek emphasizes the importance of creativity in education and how it can be used to develop problem-solving and communication skills. He also talks about his experiences in community theater and the impact it has had on his life. Derek believes that creativity is a life skill that everyone can access and use to make things work with what they have.Mentioned in this episodePort Discovery🎧🌟 Don't forget to rate and review this episode to support the best in podcasting! 🌟🎧 Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis. Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★