Why This Matters
- 90% of children in foster care have gone through heartbreaking life experiences.
- 25% of foster children will experience PTSD (twice the rate of U.S. war veterans).
- 20% are homeless soon after aging out of care at age 18.
- 20% will be incarcerated by age 21.
- Only 50% graduate high school.
- Only 3% obtain college degrees.
Giving kids music education improves:
- Self-esteem and mental wellbeing
- Vocabulary, reading, and writing
- Cognitive function
- Collaboration
- Pursuit of higher education
- Empathy and compassion
- Perseverance
What We Do Now
We Provide:
- Weekly one-on-one music lessons.
- Instruments for as long as a student is enrolled in the program.
- The opportunity for students to express themselves at regular performances.
- Support and encouragement to students for their efforts.
- ACTR-designed training for all teachers involved to help them more effectively nurture and support their students.
Our Goals
- Launched in 2022 with 30 students and hope to serve 100 students by the end of 2023
- Offer every Austin-area child in foster care the opportunity to take music lessons
- Increase music school partnerships to make lessons more accessible to all families
- Include children in socio-economically challenged families
- Augment music programs in public schools
- Expand the program nationwide
MEET THE AMBASSADORS
Austin-based musicians are helping us get the word out in a big way. Proud ambassadors of A Chance to Rock are:
Ray Benson
(Asleep at the Wheel)
Kathy Valentine
(The Go-Go’s)
Adrian Quesada
(Black Pumas)
Nakia
(solo artist)
Matthew Logan Vasquez
(Delta Spirit)
Zach Person
(solo artist)
Sponsors
Participating Schools
