Young artists and staff from the Yollocalli Arts Reach program of Pilsen were at the White House on Thursday to receive the Coming Up Taller Award, granted by the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities to recognize outstanding community youth arts programs.

An initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art, Yollocalli has lots of interesting programs — and the 2009 award makes NMMA the only organization to sponsor two CUT winners.  Radio Arte won the award in 2003..

Meanwhile, also in Washington, NMMA’s exhibit on The African Presence in Mexico opens November 9 at the Smithsonian Institute.