More Than Music: Pathways to Success

Written By: Rock to the Future Education Assistant, Glenn Bell

Preparing Students for What’s Next

Rock to the Future provides music education and performance opportunities but that is not all we do. Recognizing the need for students to grow in all areas of their lives, we’ve created a unique curriculum to address issues that arise not only in their current educational journeys but also in the next chapter. To that end, we have created an experience called Ready for the Future (RFTF). 

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In the RFTF space, students gain enrichment on life skills, academic support, and assistance in navigating life as they transition from high school to future opportunities. Our broad and detailed curriculum covers college and trade school preparation, navigating middle and high school responsibilities, and effective community citizenship with a focus on service and responsible interactions with peers both inside and outside school settings.

Our interactive approach allows for both instruction and consistent feedback from the students on issues they face, such as the need for financial literacy in the student loan process. Our goal is to create informed, savvy and team-oriented students who contribute to a strong and positive environment. Emphasis is placed on academics, and any student who needs to use Ready for the Future time to study is strongly encouraged and supported.

Learn, Share, and Be Heard

Ready for the Future is not all work! We provide engaging and upbeat lessons and facilitate conversations on a variety of topics, from creative writing and artistic expression to recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Month to the origins of hip-hop culture.  Our students understand that our space is a haven where they can ask and answer questions without concern for being right or wrong, while also practicing respect for one another. Often, these conversations are inspired by students’ interest in a topic that they have heard about, but may not fully understand.

In combination with our classroom experiences, we regularly invite guest speakers to share insights from their professional fields. In addition to the financial literacy programming, this year we welcomed a speaker for Black History Month with a special emphasis on Ida B. Wells. Another session featured an admissions representative from Pennco Tech, a local community college specializing in  trade skills, an area of growing interest amongst our students. 

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Expanding Possibilities

One of the most popular aspects of Ready for the Future is the field trip experiences. In the past, we have visited universities such as Temple University. This year, we had the opportunity to visit LaSalle University and Community College of Philadelphia’s Music Department. Students toured each campus and experienced what a class at each school is like. They left these visits engaged and excited about the possibilities available through different academic pathways.

We also visited the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) Fair at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Students came away from this experience full of enthusiasm, new knowledge about the breadth of education opportunities and a stronger understanding of what it will take to achieve their goals at the next level.

Our well-rounded curriculum, combining music education and performance, with enrichment, positive youth development, financial literacy, and the support offered through Ready for the Future, creates a balanced and impactful experience. Students leave our program prepared for the next chapter!

Help support the future of our students by donating to our Pathways to Success campaign today.

Leading With Purpose Dezi Speaks on Community, Creativity, and Change

Our board members play a vital role in helping guide our mission and expand opportunities for young people through music education and mentorship. Today, we’re highlighting Desiree “Dezi Speaks” Riley, who has been an important part of supporting our students and programs.

She is the mother of five wonderful humans, a social entrepreneur, author, and alumna of The Ohio State University. Dezi spends most of her time traveling, homeschooling, and serving her community through The MasterMind Cooperative; a leadership development nonprofit she founded, based in Philadelphia. We spoke with them about their journey, their connection to the organization, and why they believe this work matters.

"My family loves Rock to the Future. My son, John (who just turned 20), was part of Rock to the Future since 2019. We experienced many showcases, watched him enjoy college tours, make new friends, learn new skills, and significant resources toward his educational future. There was no reason not to join the board.

I'm a nonprofit leader, homeschooling mother of 5, and a creative. As a person who also has experience with incarceration and community trauma, I support all programming that offers tangible solutions for our young people.

I believe that music changes lives, and has the power to save lives. I was in choirs most of my life, until I had my first child. My favorite artistic experiences included High School Show Choir, University Gospel Choir, or stage plays.

It's the future of Rock to the Future that excites me the most. I've seen the growth, it's a hockeystick."

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Desiree’s passion, lived experience, and deep belief in the transformative power of music continue to strengthen Rock to the Future’s impact. Her commitment to uplifting community and supporting the next generation reflects the heart of our mission. We’re grateful for her voice, her vision, and her unwavering dedication to our community.

From MusiCore Students to Instructors

As our programs expanded, so did the need for additional instructors. More importantly, instructors who reflect the lived experiences of our students while also providing quality, impactful lessons. Thanks to a generous $40,000 grant from The Seybert Foundation, we were able to fund our pilot Instructor Training Program and lay the groundwork. This free, paid learning opportunity was open to alumni of Rock to the Future who were interested in becoming music educators and youth development professionals. They gained hands-on experience, received in-depth training, and ultimately expanded access to free music education opportunities for hundreds of Philadelphia youth. The program also sought to cultivate a more diverse pipeline of teaching artists by increasing representation of groups that have historically been underrepresented in this field.

Check out our interviews with a few Rock to the Future alumni who completed our Instructor Training Program last June 2025. Nehemiah and Keven are former students who completed the program and are currently on our team, paying it forward to the next generation. We seek to provide more opportunities like this for our alumni and bring the experience full circle for Philadelphia youth.

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Nehemiah

How did you get involved with Rock to the Future? I was a once a student in the MusiCore program starting in mid 2020 for about 2 years. 

How has the organization impacted your life? The organization impacted my life by opening me up to music performance and professional career development.

What was it like to go through the instructor training program and to now be an instructor with the organization? It was a great experience, going through the instructor training program. It taught me a lot about how the instructors that I looked up to structured their lessons and made it fun for myself and all the other students within the program. Now, being an instructor allows me to give what my previous instructors had given me.

What's the most fulfilling part of working at Rock to the Future? The most fulfilling part of working at Rock to the Future is having the ability to put a smile on a young person‘s face.

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Keven

How did you get involved with Rock to the Future? I was a student in the MusiCore program for 1 year then I started working here since 2022.

How has the organization impacted your life? It molded me both in a professional aspect and emotionally. It helped me mature, the difference between me then in the program and now working here, I’m a completely different person. It helped me develop good habits and healthy goals 

What was it like to go through the instructor training program and to now be a part of the staff? I always been excited and confident enough to say I knew I’d be a good instructor, I was a student and that prepared me a lot. I’m basically the bridge of alumni to staff!

What's the most fulfilling part of working at Rock to the Future? It’s full circle. I got to work while my brother was in the program and I get to serve the same students that had a similar upbringing. 

It’s just a great and genuine program.

The Instructor Training Program reflects our commitment to building a sustainable, community-driven future for music education in Philadelphia. By investing in our alumni, we strengthening our team and making sure that young people can learn from educators who understand their journeys firsthand. Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to expanding this pathway, deepening representation in the field of music educators, and creating even more opportunities for our students to grow from participants into leaders who shape the next generation.

Being an Instrument for Change: The Power of Partnership

When we launched our Year-End Appeal, Be an Instrument for Change, we invited people into the ecosystem that makes Rock to the Future possible.

As our 2025 Year-End Appeal comes to a close, I’m proud and deeply grateful to share that together, our community of individual supporters raised over $211k to support our students, families, and programs. But more than the number itself, what stands out to me is how this support showed up and what it represents.

In my role as Director of Individual Giving, I have the privilege of seeing something very clearly: our donors are the glue that holds this work together.

They are the connectors between vision and action, between possibility and reality. They make it possible for us to show up consistently for young people not just with music education, but with safety, mentorship, emotional support, academic + career explortion and community.

This year, 90% of our campaign revenue came from individual donors and matching gifts. That’s not an abstract statistic, but it’s a reflection of deep trust, shared values, and long-term partnership.

What I’m most proud of this year is not just the funds raised, but the relationships strengthened.

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Longtime supporters like the Farber Family Foundation, Andrea Anania Stewart, and Matt Ramer/MOR Wealth Management exemplify what it means to be instruments for change. Their generosity didn’t happen in isolation, it grew from years of belief in our mission and a shared commitment to equity, creativity, and opportunity for young people.

Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with donors one-on-one, listen to their stories, understand their motivations, and connect their values to the impact happening every day at Rock to the Future. Those conversations matter. They inform how we grow, how we steward trust, and how we envision the future together.

This year also marked Rock to the Future’s 15th anniversary, a moment to honor how far we’ve come and the community that brought us here.

From our earliest supporters to those who joined us more recently, this appeal reminded us that our growth has always been powered by partnership. Our anniversary celebration served as both a reflection and a re-commitment: to students, to families, and to one another.

It’s no coincidence that 2025 is also a strategic planning year for us.

As we look ahead, we are asking important questions about sustainability, scale, and deepening impact. The generosity and engagement we saw during this appeal give us confidence that we are not doing this work alone. Our donors are helping shape what’s next, by investing not just in programs but in the long-term health and vision of the organization.

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What It Means to Be an Instrument for Change

To be an instrument for change is to recognize that transformation is collective.

It’s the donor who makes a first gift.
 It’s the longtime supporter who increases their giving.
 It’s the matching donor who inspires others to give more.
 It’s the belief that music can open doors and that community keeps them open.

To everyone who supported this appeal: thank you. You are essential to our ecosystem, and because of you, young people continue to find joy, confidence, and possibility through music.

As we step into our next chapter, I’m excited to keep building this future, together.

With gratitude,
 Christine Dancey
 Director of Individual Giving
 Rock to the Future

Where Joy And Justice Meet: Our Vision for the Next Five Years

A Note From Our CEO and Board Chair

Dear Friends,

We know that music has the power to change lives. It sparks joy, builds confidence, creates community, and amplifies voices that need to be heard. Over the past 15 years, we’ve watched thousands of young people step up to the mic, discover their talents, and dream boldly about their futures. Now we’re turning up the volume on our next moves as an organization.

This strategic plan is our roadmap for the next five years—a playlist of bold ideas and powerful

commitments that will guide us as we deepen our impact, expand access, and keep building a future where every young person has the resources and relationships to thrive. Together with our students, families, team, Board, and partners, we created this vision to ensure that Rock to the Future remains a place where joy and justice meet and where every beat makes a 

difference. We’re excited to share it with you and even more excited to make it real with your partnership. Thank you for believing in our mission and for rocking out alongside us. The best is yet to come!

With gratitude and enthusiasm,

Jessica Craft, CEO

Jen Bieter, Board Chair

Created with Chaya Scott, Chief Aspiration Officer, Chaya Scott Consulting, LLC

Executive Summary

As part of our strategic planning process, Rock to the Future staff and Board members participated in a visioning session to synthesize community input and shape our future direction. This session analyzed findings from Key Informant Interviews, Community Surveys, and Strategic Planning Committee discussions.

By centering the lived experiences of students, alumni, families, partners, and supporters, we were able to dream expansively while creating grounded, actionable priorities. The result is a community-informed plan that is deeply rooted in the aspirations and commitment of those closest to the work.

Our strategic plan lays out a bold vision for 2025–2030, focused on deepening impact, strengthening sustainability, and expanding opportunity for youth and families.

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Our Strategic Priorities

  1. Programs Empower Youth Through Music, Connection, and Opportunity – Expand high-quality music education, holistic support, and pathways to college, career, and life success.
  2. Operations Build a Stronger Backbone for Sustainable Impact– Strengthen systems, staff, and infrastructure to sustain growth and impact.
  3. Influence & Engagement Amplify Voices, Power Change – Elevate youth and community voices through leadership, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
  4. Resource Development Fuel the Future Through Meaningful Connections – Grow diverse revenue and partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability.
  5. Board of Directors Empower Leadership, Share Responsibility – Strengthen governance through engaged, shared leadership between Board and staff.
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Key Mission Impact Outcomes

At the heart of our plan is a commitment to expanding and strengthening the programs that support young people at every stage of their journey. By deepening our impact, we’re creating more meaningful opportunities for growth, connection, and long-term success. Key focus areas include:

  • Student leadership development that empowers young people to lead with confidence

  • Family engagement that strengthens support systems beyond the classroom

  • Alumni support to ensure continued connection and guidance after graduation

  • Education and career pathways, including paid work opportunities, career exposure, internships, and college or trade school support

  • Wraparound and holistic services that address students’ academic, social, and emotional needs

  • Specialized support for students experiencing behavioral health challenges, physical illness, neurodivergence, or other unique needs

  • Targeted services and advocacy for justice-involved youth, including diversion, reentry, and intervention support

  • Advanced music opportunities for students ready to deepen their artistic practice

  • Additional initiatives that advance our mission and reflect the evolving needs of our community

The impact of these initiatives will be determined by key mission outcomes.

Expanding Access to Joyful and Transformational Programs

Over the next five years, we plan to nearly double the number of students we serve — growing from 1,200 youth annually to more than 2,300 by 2030. This 85% increase means thousands more young people in Philadelphia’s most under-resourced neighborhoods will experience joy, creative expression, and meaningful connection through music.

As our programs expand, students will benefit from improved emotional wellness, stronger peer and community relationships, and opportunities to be celebrated through hundreds of free community performances across the city.

A key driver of this growth is the expansion of our MobileMusic programs. By partnering with organizations serving justice-involved youth, schools without music programming, behavioral health facilities, alternative schools, and youth experiencing illness or special needs, we are bringing music directly to young people who need it most.

At the same time, growth in our fee-for-service MobileMusic partnerships will help sustain our free MusiCore and MusiCommunity programs and allow us to hire instructors full-time — strengthening staff stability, student retention, and program quality.

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Building Economic Empowerment and Lives of Abundance

Our MusiCore program continues to be a powerful engine for long-term success. To date, 100% of MusiCore graduates have gone on to college or trade school, a milestone we are deeply proud of!

As our earliest students have grown, so has our graduating class. With established sites in Kensington and Germantown, and plans to expand MusiCore in year four of our strategic plan, we aim to increase annual graduates from 11 students to an anticipated 40 by 2029–2030 — while maintaining a 100% post-secondary or professional pathway rate.

Beyond graduation, MusiCore supports young people through paid work opportunities, career readiness training, and wraparound services that prepare them for life beyond high school. As the program grows, we will deepen education and workforce support and launch an alumni relations program that ensures graduates remain connected, supported, and engaged as they navigate adulthood.

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Supporting Positive Pathways for Justice-Involved Youth

We’re committed to supporting young people impacted by the justice system at every stage — intervention, diversion, incarceration, and re-entry. Justice-involved youth participate in our programs alongside their peers, fostering inclusion, dignity, and shared community.

We recognize that the juvenile justice system is deeply flawed and often prioritizes punishment over healing. While some organizations choose not to engage with the system, we have listened to our community and stakeholders who tell us that our presence is critical. Our work ensures young people have access to creative outlets, trauma-informed relationships, and opportunities to move forward with agency and hope.

Through intervention and diversion partnerships, such as, the Office of Group Violence Intervention, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and the Juvenile Justice Services Center, young people gain meaningful alternatives to incarceration. Participation in our programs can lead to record expungement, skill-building, and pathways toward stability.

For incarcerated youth, we currently reach more than 400 young people annually at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center through weekly music production classes. These sessions offer a safe space for expression, creativity, and connection. We aim to expand to serve all units within the facility while working with partners to reduce youth incarceration overall.

Re-entry is where continuity matters most. Our Youth Justice Specialist helps young people transition from detention into MusiCore and MusiCommunity programs, where they are welcomed by familiar, trauma-informed instructors. This consistency builds trust and supports successful reintegration into the community. We are actively expanding re-entry partnerships to reach more youth during this pivotal moment.

By 2030, we anticipate serving 650 justice-involved youth annually, with the greatest growth in diversion and re-entry services to ensure our work inside the system directly supports long-term positive outcomes beyond it.

Looking Ahead

This strategic plan is a commitment to our students, families, and community. With your support, we’ll continue to provide life-changing music programs, build pathways to success, and create a future where every young person has the opportunity to succeed. View the full details of our 2025-2030 strategic plan .

Rock to the Future Earns Prestigious Award from organization SixDegrees.org, Founded by Kevin Bacon

We are proud to announce that we’ve been awarded SixDegrees.org’s prestigious Root of the Community Award, recognizing our innovative, community-centered partnerships and our unwavering commitment to expanding access, connection, and opportunity for young people across Philadelphia.

Since 2022, we’ve collaborated with SixDegrees.org on numerous initiatives that empower Philadelphia youth through free, student-led music programs.

Golden Globe–winning actor, musician, and philanthropist Kevin Bacon, a Philadelphia native and founder of SixDegrees.org, has long championed community causes. The Root of the Community Award is presented annually to a network partner whose collaboration meaningfully addresses a unique community need while fostering a kinder, more connected world. Recipients are celebrated for their intentionality, resilience, and dedication to keeping community voices at the center of their work.

SixDegrees.org highlighted our ongoing impact across multiple initiatives, including transformative music programs inside juvenile justice facilities and holistic support for youth and families. Our team-wide dedication played a key role in earning this honor.

“Philadelphia’s young people deserve joy, possibility, and a system that listens to them,” said our founder and CEO, Jessica Craft. “Our partnership with SixDegrees.org helps us push back against inequity and bring opportunity where it’s needed most. This award is an honor and a reminder that we have more work to do, together.”

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Kevin Bacon shakes the hand of Rock to the Future student, Selena

Expanding Impact Through Collaboration and Community Support

Since our partnership began, our students have experienced amazing opportunities. In 2022, they collaborated on the hit single “Philly Thing” from The Bacon Brothers. We also provide weekly music programs for justice-involved youth at the Juvenile Justice Services Center. Building upon these programs in 2025, our partnership expanded with the opening of a dedicated music space. This space for learning, creating, and collaborating became the inaugural Ruth's Room, a new SixDegrees.org initiative honoring Kevin Bacon's mother, Ruth, who championed joyful opportunities for people in the justice system during her lifetime.

This recognition comes at a pivotal moment as we seek support for our free music programs for community youth through our year-end fundraising campaign. Contributions from the community ensure that more young people have access to life-changing music programs at no cost to families.

Be an instrument for change and support youth empowerment through music at RocktotheFuture.org/Change25.

Be An Instrument For Change!

For 15 years Rock to the Future used the power of music to empower Philadelphia youth to find their voice, follow their dreams, and build brighter futures. 

From free music programs and career support to justice advocacy and mentorship, our work is made possible because of people like you who believe that music can change lives.

And the results speak for themselves:

  • 100% of graduating seniors since 2010 have gone on to college or trade school.
  • 1,200+ students receive free music education every year.
  • 500+ justice-involved youth find joy and healing through music and advocacy annually.
  • Hundreds more gain paid skill development, career exploration, and vital resources to help them succeed.

"It was a great experience, honestly, like the best time of my life. If I had to rank my years in high school, the years I was involved with Rock to the Future were by far the best years. It's just an amazing program, and I always had fun every time I was there.

When I first joined Rock to the Future, I wasn't worried about actual me. I was dealing with a lot of stuff. With Rock to the Future’s help and resources as well I'm more vocal. I talk more and if I'm feeling something, I express it. I don't just complain or keep it silent. I talk way more and that’s helping me in college right now. Anything that involves me talking more, I’ve done it at Rock to the Future.”

-Recent Rock to the Future Graduate, Jaydin

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This year, your gift to Be an Instrument for Change not only helps Rock to the Future provide free music programs, mentoring, and resources for youth but also supports our families most affected by the recent government shutdown. We’ve committed $4,000 of funds raised to provide grocery support to families in our community. Each $50 donation provides one bag of groceries for a family in need.

Together, we can ensure every young person and their family feels supported, nourished, and cared for during this difficult time.

Why Now Matters

As we look ahead to the next 15 years, your support is more critical than ever. Every contribution helps us continue to break down barriers and ensure that all young people, regardless of zip code or circumstance, can access the transformative power of music and mentorship.

Your impact will go twice as far! Thanks to a $65,000 matching gift, every dollar you donate by December 31 will be doubled, amplifying your support for Philadelphia’s youth. Help us meet our goal to raise $225,000!

MAKE A DONATION TODAY & DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT
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Rooted in Music, Grounded in Justice: Our 2024 – 2025  Impact Report is Here

Each year, Rock to the Future’s Impact Report offers more than numbers. It’s a story of what’s possible when a community believes in the brilliance and potential of young people.

As we mark 15 years of Rock to the Future, our 2024- 2025 Impact Report, Rooted in Music, Grounded in Justice, reflects the deep roots we’ve built through music and mentorship and how those roots continue to grow stronger, reaching farther into communities that have faced inequities in access, opportunity, and support.

This year, more students than ever graduated from our programs, and 100% of seniors are pursuing college or trade school. Youth earned and received over $130,000 through paid opportunities and scholarships, while hundreds of justice-impacted teens found joy and belonging through our music programs at the Juvenile Justice Services Center. These are not just milestones; they are pathways that your support makes possible.
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Our Impact Report is a celebration of every donor, volunteer, and partner who helps us amplify youth voices and create a more just and joyful future. It’s a reflection of your belief that every young person deserves access to creative expression, educational opportunity, and the chance to thrive.

Thank you for helping us stay rooted in music and grounded in justice.

Read the full 2024 Impact Report →