David France
(NEC.edu)
David France writes:
5
Years Ago I began a question filled journey using the one thing I knew
the best, music, to make a difference in the lives of young people in
Boston. Today we begin a journey to make this project more sustainable!
The Roxbury Youth Orchestra now in it’s 5th year is looking to recruit 100 Sustaining Donors to help us to keep this orchestra around for a very long time! It
truly does take a village to raise a child and for as little as $1 a
month you can help us to continue to build our orchestra in the hood. I
would like to ask you to consider becoming a monthly patron here.
If we can accomplish this goal it will have an enormous impact on our financial sustainability!
Over
the years so many questions have fueled this journey. Why are we so
satisfied giving people in poor neighborhoods canned goods and used
clothes while at the same time blaming so many for not being able to get
out of poverty? Why do young people in the city have to leave their
neighborhood to have access to high quality arts programs? Why is it ok
for public education to be so unequal for black and brown children while
claiming that their battle is being waged on an equal playing field?
Why do so many believe that we don’t have to give certain kids access to
the best pedagogy because they “will never become professional
musicians.” Why is it ok to put limiting beliefs on their futures? Why
do we think that being poorly trained on the violin can somehow
miraculously give a kid the work ethic they would need to be successful
at anything else? Why do we allow institutions to use our young people
of color to get funding for THEIR institutions because they give kids
free tickets to concerts? Why do so many teenagers I meet tell me that
NO ONE has ever asked them, “What is your dream?”
I
don’t have the answers to all these questions nor am I anywhere close
to my dream BUT in the last 5 years I have resolved to grow a community
where young people in the city feel valued and free to be themselves
while being challenged to become more than they thought was possible. I
have resolved to bring the highest quality instruction I know possible
to kids who can’t afford to study with the elite teachers…I have
resolved to sit at the feet of these elite teachers and take everything I
could possibly remember and serve it in the best way I can. I have
resolved to help young people dream again and to show them that the road
to those dreams is rough yet attainable through mentors, their
community, and good ‘ol hard work. In my very small corner of the world
I’ve resolved to make a difference.
My
heart is full of thanks to so many of you who have come alongside this
vision and these young people I’ve had the honor of serving these past 5
years. Consider joining us
in this journey to now make the Roxbury Youth Orchestra an institution
in the city whose light will never be extinguished. This orchestra has
given our youth a new sense of purpose while arming them with the tools
to make the future even brighter for those THEY will bless.
THIS is our Revolution of Hope and we have only just begun will you help us continue?
Thank you so much!
David France, Founder and Executive Director
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