∗ The Summer Arts Institute (SAI) at Broward College is a cooperative, 6 week program between Broward College and Dillard School of the Arts, a magnet Performing Arts High School in Ft. Lauderdale serving an extremely diverse population of students from low income, at risk communities throughout South Florida. 

∗ As the founding Artistic Director, Erin Schmidt was part of the grant writing and funding negotiations for the SAI at Broward College. She selected the material, hired the teachers, and wrote the curriculum for the Theatre component of the Institute. They worked on material that was issue driven and was reflective on all levels of the population which they were serving.