Annual Report-2023-24 - Flipbook - Page 23
express their emo琀椀ons through music. “Some students, especially those who had faced signi昀椀cant personal
challenges, used this outlet to share their stories in ways they couldn’t in a tradi琀椀onal classroom,” said Brandon
Yangmi, Art as Mentorship Program Director. “Other students wrote songs about love, their dog, or a favorite
day. It’s a spectrum of songwri琀椀ng topics!”
This partnership taught students not only about music but also valuable life lessons. Wri琀椀ng and performing
their songs was a cathar琀椀c experience, allowing them to express emo琀椀ons that are o昀琀en hard to ar琀椀culate with
words alone. The program highlighted music as a powerful tool for healing, o昀昀ering students a crea琀椀ve outlet
that supports their mental health and ar琀椀s琀椀c growth. It also helped students build con昀椀dence in self-expression,
enhance their music composi琀椀on skills, and expand their overall knowledge.
“
People o昀琀en tell me, ‘You’re living your mother’s legacy,’ and that inspired me to turn those
words into a song.
– Johan Cuevas, Wyando琀琀e High School Junior
Students worked in small groups weekly, receiving guidance from professional musicians who record, perform,
and write music globally. The caliber of the mentors inspired students to push themselves crea琀椀vely, and many
con琀椀nued to work on their composi琀椀ons outside of the program. The mentorship provided was not about doing
the work for the students but about guiding them with insigh琀昀ul ques琀椀ons and helping them grow as musicians
and individuals.
This crea琀椀ve partnership has proven invaluable to Wyando琀琀e High School, allowing students to express
themselves in ways they never thought possible. The program demonstrates the importance of arts educa琀椀on
and that many hope will con琀椀nue to expand to reach even more students.
KCKPS PARTNER HIGHLIGHT
Art as Mentorship, a Kansas City-based nonpro昀椀t, empowers young ar琀椀sts
through mentorship, real-world skill development, and mental health support.
Their mission is to help youth write their own success stories. By upli昀琀ing
historically underrepresented voices, they envision a future where music fosters
healing, unity, and social change.
Art as Mentorship’s Rebel Song Academy deconstructs the en琀椀re crea琀椀ve process
through songwri琀椀ng, ins琀椀lling transferable skills and mental health principles to
help young ar琀椀sts discover the vital mindset needed for success in the real world.
Watch: Rebel
Song Academy
Final Concert
Learn More About
Art as Mentorship
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