Sparks For Success!
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Mission Statement
Sparks for Success! was founded to change the lives of children through music to end intergenerational incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline for our students. We want all our students to reach their full potential, succeed in school, and become contributing members of our community.
About This Cause
Sparks for Success! offers two programs. We operate in-school Music Therapy classes conducted by board-certified music therapists. Sparks also offers after-school private music lessons for interested students. Our goal here is to give those students the skill and confidence to join middle and high school band or orchestra. COVID-19 MUSIC THERAPY PROJECT: Austin ISD schools are closed indefinitely but both our Sparks students as well as all children are suffering some level of trauma during this time. In addition to our Music Therapists who are sending encouraging messages to their students by way of our school counselors, Sparks for Success! is producing weekly videos, each teaching a skill to help all our children develop the resilience they need. Here is the link to our first video. These videos are being distributed to our Sparks families as well as all families in our schools. Our partnership with Austin ISD and Communities In Schools (CIS) of Central Texas means hundreds of families have the opportunity to learn these techniques. MORE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS Parental incarceration is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an adverse childhood experience (ACE). International human rights advocates have called parental incarceration "the greatest threat to child well-being in the U.S." And some children suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), especially when they have witnessed a parent's arrest. When a parent commits a crime, their innocent children suffer serious consequences. Witnessing the arrest, trial, conviction, and sentencing of a parent is tough enough. But then, while that parent has certain guaranteed rights as a prisoner, their children do not. Some of their children even end up homeless because part or all of the family income has gone away. WHY MUSIC? Sparks for Success! uses music as a vehicle to reach our students. Music goes beyond ethnic, geographic, and socio-economic barriers. The research proves that children who learn to play an instrument do better academically and socially, and those involved in group music activities make better life choices. The study of music instills important life skills that will serve our students as they progress through school, get jobs, and serve their communities. WHAT IS THE RELEVANCY? Some children suffer prolonged stress that can lead to life-long problems in mental and physical health as well as learning and behavioral problems. That in turn affects our schools, our city, and our state. It is not unusual for children of inmates to act out, get into trouble, and sometimes end up in juvenile detention. According to The Justice Policy Institute in their Factsheet dated March 2015, in Texas IT COSTS YOU $3059.77 PER WEEK to put just one of our children in juvenile detention. SPARKS CAN SERVE 15-20 CHILDREN PER MONTH for that same amount! PROACTIVE vs. REACTIVE: Sparks for Success! is committed to reaching our students before they get into trouble. We begin our K-2nd grade students with Therapeutic Drumming to help them develop Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills. We give private music lessons to our students beginning in the 3rd grade to prepare them for middle school band or orchestra. SPARKS FOR SUCCESS! RELIES ON THE GENEROSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF THESE VULNERABLE CHILDREN. Financial contributions and gifts in-kind are helping SPARKS grow. There are more than 5,000 children of the incarcerated here in Travis County. By giving through Benevity YOU can help us IGNITE THE SPARK so we can give more kids the skills they need to overcome their circumstances and become successful adults. Please help us take students off our wait list and into our Music Therapy classes (@$50/class of 4-8 students led by a Board Certified Music Therapist) and Private Music Lesson programs. THANK YOU!