We aim to create a connected, diverse, supportive community within Recharge. We want every student to know their worth and be appreciated for what they have to offer, beyond just the arts. This is why we will have volunteers and staff who put our students first in their work and share our heart and mission.

Our programming is designed to create groups rather than only individual artists, peer feedback and support, and faithful mentorship. We also partake in games, meals, service, and other things beyond just art with our students, for more well-rounded time spent together.

Musical education can provide outlets for emotional expression, reduce stress and anxiety, and foster social connections for youth. Our CEO and staff can attest to this personally, as well as recent research.

According to a 2023 University of Maryland Study, former music students reported significantly less illicit substance use as adults than did former non-music students. Emerging adults also have better vocabulary after studying music, theatre, or visual arts, and are more optimistic as adults after studying music and theatre. (1) Another 2016 study found that playing music “better(ed) communication skills, improved emotional release, and decreased anxiety and agitation” (6).

Expressing emotions through musical expression is an effective therapeutic tool in many contexts, and doing it alongside peers and mentors makes it socially enriching as well. Creating opportunity for that connectedness is important to us in our programming.

“Summer slide” refers to decrease in academic proficiency and increase of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues during students long summer break away from school. A lack of structure in students schedules can cause or exacerbate mental health issues in teens, and lack of intellectual stimulation/learning can cause learning loss (3). Students living in poverty are at high risk (4).

Music and arts education is greatly benficial to learning and development and helps knowledge retention, combatting the “summer slide” effect (5). Below are positive effects of music on brain development and learning.

• Auditory: The auditory system processes sound more effectively after musical training, making both speech and music easier to hear (2).

• Motor: Brain areas that control instrument-related muscles and body parts grow in size. More neurons in the brain are devoted to fine-tuning those muscle movements (2).

• Reading: Studies show that better musical ability is related to higher reading scores, suggesting a link between how well we hear speech and how well we can map speech sounds to letters. (2)

• Socio-emotional awareness: Playing music together can enhance the ability identify, manage, and express emotions constructively. Young children are more likely to interact positively with people they play music with. (2)