Expanding Pathways to the Creative Workforce

Written By: Daniel Lord

Young people are often pulled towards work in the creative economy for many reasons: the excitement, the exposure, the freedom of expression, but for a long time it was thought that pursuing these careers would not be sustainable. This is not necessarily true. The creative sector is becoming an increasingly achievable option for young people entering the workforce. In fact, it is growing at twice the rate as the economy overall. Also, the nontraditional employment structures of the Arts can offer a needed alternative to people who don’t thrive on a 9 to 5 schedule. Because of this, we think that supporting young people with their desires to enter the creative workforce is a great option when beginning to plan for their life post high-school.

A lot of people think that the only way a person can thrive financially in the creative sector is to be a household name, whether this is a famous actor, author, musician or visual artist. As such, this career path shouldn’t be followed because the chances of that happening are so small. This is a common misconception, as there are a number of career paths and opportunities that allow people to support themselves comfortably that might not be as evident at first glance. Behind every successful musician is an instrument tech, a recording engineer, and a marketing team. For every one creative that you see in the media, there is a whole team of other creatives supporting them in ways you might not even think of.

Despite a lot of these art forms being so prominent on social media, the radio, and TV, access to entering these careers can be difficult, or even seemingly nonexistent. Resources for young people to learn the ropes of these fields are often difficult to access. When they are available, they are usually not a focus or priority. The Creative Economy is often disconnected from traditional workforce training models because it's perceived as having an entrepreneurial nature, and primarily consists of less stable gig work. 

Regardless, the lack of resources and support does not prevent our students from gravitating towards these careers. We find that instead of trying to stop them from actualizing their dreams, we should listen to them, and provide them with guidance so that they can make informed decisions about their post high school plans. We do this in a number of different ways:

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Photo By LOCL Studios for Pel Productions

Concert Creators

In our Concert Creators Class, located at One Art Community Center in West Philadelphia, we help our students learn all the essential non-music skills needed to run a venue. This includes everything from ticketing and promotion, to stage lighting and running the sound board. Promoters and sound engineers are vital to the creative community even though they may not be the ones with their names in light. 

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Ready for the Future

Our Ready for the Future space is a recurring part of our after school programs that focuses on college and career readiness. We feature guest speakers from different career fields, including the creative economy, to teach students about different opportunities they might not know about otherwise. On a recent college visit trip we showcased the Community College of Philadelphia’s new recording studio.  In the past we paired up with a Berklee School of Music recruiter to build a pipeline for our students who were interested in a more academic pursuit of music. 

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MakersLab

MakersLab is a section of our programs that students rotate through that allows them to grow their graphic design skills by creating tickets and flyers for shows, and even album covers for their original music. We teach students how to use the software needed to create content, a skill that can carry into both their personal lives and potential careers. 

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Community Partnerships

Recently we’ve started to focus on creating community partnerships with other organizations doing similar work in our community, like the Highmark Mann Center Music Industry Apprenticeship Program. Interns receiving hands-on technical experience through the program attended our Summer Showcase at Kensington Health Sciences Academy in July to help with lighting and sound.

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We’ve noticed that a lot of students in our Justice Programs seemed especially drawn to the creative economy. A career in the Arts offers these students an outlet for their needed self expression. It’s also traditionally been a field that has been accepting of justice impacted individuals. 

Supporting our students who are interested in the creative sector has a lot of benefits. It allows our students to pursue a place in the workforce that aligns with their personal values. It also allows them to engage in personal expression and gives them a way to amplify their voice that is hard to find in other career paths. All of these things together go to create better conditions for our students’ mental health and allow them to lead a lifetime of wellbeing.

Especially now, in the age of A.I., it is important to recognize that our students’ creativity, critical thinking, and other “human” skills remain valuable and irreplaceable….   As technology continues to evolve and A.I. takes on more tasks, the ability to think independently/intentionally, express original ideas, collaborate, solve problems, and understand the world from different perspectives becomes even more important.

We are excited to explore and build out structures that will help our students who are interested in pursuing career paths in the creative economy. We hope that by supporting our students in these ways, others will see the success and follow. It’s important to build a collective understanding that the creative workforce has an important role in the modern economy. That is why it is important that we champion our students’ successes, so we can transform something local into national change.

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Photo By LOCL Studios for Pel Productions

Josh Craft: Hope, Music, & Life Updates

Josh from Rock to the Future here.

In January 2025, my life changed overnight when I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The months that followed were filled with chemotherapy, hospital rooms, endless appointments, and, in June, a 12 hour Whipple procedure. It was one of the biggest mountains I’ve ever had to climb. Thankfully, the surgery was successful, and for a brief moment I heard the words I had been praying for: I was cancer-free.

But life has a way of rewriting chapters we thought were finished. In March 2026, my nine-month scan came back abnormal. The cancer had returned, and this time it had spread to the lymph nodes in my neck. I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The news shattered me.

For a while, it felt like the ground beneath my feet had disappeared. But over the last months, something else has grown in its place… hope. Since April, I’ve stepped away from Rock to the Future so I could focus on treatment at Fox Chase, spend precious time with my family, and pour my heart into writing music.

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Leaving Rock to the Future was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I was there from day one, volunteering before we were even an official nonprofit. We started with just 13 students in the basement of an old church. Looking back now, it amazes me that something planted with so little has grown into something that has touched thousands of young lives.
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Those first students kept showing up five days a week. They weren’t just learning music, they were finding confidence, discovering who they were, and realizing they belonged somewhere. As they grew, we grew with them.

We celebrated victories, walked beside them through difficult seasons, wrote music together, and even drove some of them to their very first day of college. Watching students discover their purpose felt like watching tiny sparks become campfires, each one bright enough to light someone else’s path.

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Years later, many of those same students still reach out. They’ve invited us to college graduations, weddings, and asked for advice as they’ve built careers and families of their own. Some have even come back to work at Rock to the Future or serve on our board. That’s the kind of legacy you never see when you’re planting the first seed.

Then life gave me another incredible gift, my son, Max.

He reminds me every day that joy doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances. It’s found in bedtime stories, going down slides, building block marble tracks, and laughing until your stomach hurts. Through his eyes, every ordinary day feels like an adventure, and he reminds me that the smallest moments often become the biggest memories.

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My diagnosis is difficult, and I don’t know exactly what the future holds. But I do know this: I’m not finished yet. I recently received encouraging news. My latest PET scan showed that the chemotherapy is working. My tumors have continued to shrink, and they’re showing significantly less activity than before. There is still a road ahead, and it’s leading toward something brighter. If everything continues in this direction, my hope is to return to Rock to the Future. Because my work there isn’t done.

There are still students waiting to discover their confidence. More songs waiting to be written. More schools and neighborhoods to work with. I’ve realized that the most meaningful work we do is rarely about seeing the finish line ourselves. It’s about planting trees whose shade we may never sit under, trusting that one day someone else will.

So I’ll keep planting. I’ll keep writing. I’ll keep fighting. And I’ll keep believing that hope, like music, has a way of reaching people long after the last note has been played.

If you’d like to follow my journey, support my fight against cancer, or listen to some of the music that’s helped carry me through this season, I’ve included links to my CaringBridge page, Spotify, and GoFundMe below.

Thank you for reading, for believing in Rock to the Future, and for believing in me.

CARING BRIDGE
GO FUND ME
SPOTIFY
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From Student to Board Member: My Rock to the Future Journey

Written By Board Member Jaydin Torres

My name is Jaydin, Rock to the Future Alum and college student at La Salle University. I grew up in North Philadelphia and attended Kensington High School, which led me to join Rock to the Future as a student and I immediately loved it and wanted to help as much as possible. I went from being a student ambassador and helping give tours to the board, to now joining the board. I wanted to be able to help kids that are in the same environment I grew up in. In Philadelphia kids need to know about programs like Rock to the Future which keeps them out of trouble.

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Music is a big part of my life as I always liked seeing people play it but once I had the opportunity to join Rock to the Future and learn how to play an instrument it was an amazing fit. From there I have grown so much musically. Music education is super important for young people because they are able to learn something new and able to take their mind off whatever is going on outside and just play the music. It was an emotional escape for me and it is super helpful to young people to have that ability.

I love hearing the student stories about how when they first come into the program they are very shy but the more and more they show up they open up and become more of an extrovert and going to connect with everyone in the program. Everyone is there for each other. I have seen first hand how people that don’t go to the same school and come from different backgrounds and home lives can come together and have an amazing time.

Rock to the Future is an amazing organization, and I'm excited for it to grow more and more every year and be more impactful to more kids.

The Power Of Music Education

Written By: Jack Zaferes

"My Name is Jack Zaferes, I have been performing, recording, producing, composing and teaching music for 15 years now. Music is everything to me. As a child my parents pushed for me to express myself as much as possible through music. I played, recorded and actively listened to music almost everyday in my high school years and this flourished into a career for me when I entered my college years. In my early to late 20's I toured the United States and Europe with rock and roll and punk bands and worked as a studio musician recording with multiple artists throughout the east coast. I currently now teach full time with Rock to the Future, perform with my jazz band and tour with my rock band! I also run my own recording studio in Fishtown! I believe music is the thread that holds humanity together—crossing borders, healing wounds, and reminding us that even in our darkest moments, music has the power to keep us all together.

Joining Rock to the Future has taught me that teaching is an incredibly extrospective experience. I have learned more being a teacher here in my past two and a half years than I have anywhere else. Building relationships and creating a space where young people feel seen and supported and watching students grow in confidence and discover their potential has been incredibly inspiring.

Rock to the Future's MusiCommunity programs provide free, year-round music opportunities for Philadelphia teens in accessible community spaces. We provide classes in music production, songwriting, performance, and event creation. The youth that attend our classes build creative skills, confidence, and meaningful connections while gaining access to resources and support that promote lifelong well-being and community engagement.

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Jack with students at Rock to the Future's Beat Production class at As I Plant This Seed

I love the sense of togetherness and wellbeing I feel when I step into our MusiCommunity spaces. Not only are our classes informative and academic, they also feel very community driven and are a safe space for students to freely express themselves.

Access to music education can change a young person's life. Plain and simple. Music gives students a creative outlet, a sense of belonging, and the confidence to express who they are. It teaches perseverance, teamwork, and self-expression while creating meaningful connections with peers and mentors. Every young person deserves the opportunity to experience the power of music, regardless of their background or circumstances, because the lessons learned through music extend far beyond the stage or classroom.

I hope MusiCommunity continues to be a place where young people feel seen, supported, and inspired. Beyond learning music, I hope students leave the program with greater confidence in themselves, lasting connections, and the belief that their voices matter. I also hope the program continues to strengthen communities by bringing people together through the shared power of music.

Celebrating Growth, Community, and the Class of 2026

At this year’s Year-End Showcase, the room was filled with incredible music, proud families, and unforgettable moments that show just how much our students have grown throughout the year.

For many students, Rock to the Future is a vehicle and bridge to find confidence, connection, and purpose. After performing, students reflected on what music and Rock to the Future have meant to them this year.

“Music helped me come out of my shell and be more open toward people and all that.”
— First-year Rock to the Future student

Students shared how music became an outlet that helped them through challenges and allowed them to express themselves in new ways.

“Music has definitely shown a light into my life. It has low key given me a reason.”

“Music helped me express my feelings and show who I am as a character.”

When asked how playing music this year helped them grow, students spoke honestly about the emotional impact music has had on their lives.

“It helped me emotionally, I feel like. I understand people’s emotions more by hearing it through their music. Now when I hear people talk, I hear their emotions more because I feel like music has such an influential way in how you view things.”

“It helped me find myself and who I am, and I understand how to play guitar better.”

“It helped me understand life a little more easily. Me playing the drums — if I have any anger, I can play the drums to make my anger or sadness go away.”

“It helped me understand my inner confidence.”

Stories like these are why Rock to the Future exists.

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This year, we proudly celebrated our largest graduating class to date, honoring seniors with scholarships and laptops to support their next journey after high school. For them, this showcase carried special meaning. It marked the closing of an important chapter filled with growth, friendships, and memories that will last long after graduation.

“I’ve been here at Rock to the Future for a while and I’ve played at many showcases, but to be honest this is the one that hits home and matters the most because we’re leaving. This is my last one. We put in all the hard work and I’m glad to see it come to life.”
— Mason, graduating senior

“They’ve been fun. They helped me build my confidence up a lot. They helped me be able to talk in front of people more easily. I don’t have that little stutter I used to have.”
— Massai, graduating senior

For others, Rock to the Future became the place where lifelong friendships were formed.

“All of my friends that I met and that I have right now they’re mainly from Rock to the Future and I’m grateful for that, and I’m grateful that I got to experience Rock to the Future.” — Adessa, graduating senior

As we celebrate our students, the Class of 2026 and welcome new students next year, we remain committed to creating spaces where young people can discover their voice, build confidence, and find community through music.

Please join us in congratulating Rock to the Future’s graduating class of 2026: Adessa, Alan, Chase, Gabriela, Laylanie, Mason, Massai, Noah, Tamir, Xavier, and Yanitza!

Help us continue supporting students in their next chapter through our Pathways to Success Campaign, which provides scholarships, laptops, and college, trade, and career support for youth.

DONATE TO SUPPORT MORE PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS

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 .