MYAC is committed to addressing racism.

We here at MYAC are deeply saddened by the current events in our country. We pride ourselves on being an organization that is warm and welcoming to all, and puts first the hearts of children and their families. At the center of what we do, we are an organization centered on humanity that values all equity, which will result in equality. We realize there is always room to grow in this area, but above all we want to make ourselves known as allies for those who are oppressed, frustrated with the inequities in our country, and uncertain or scared during these trying times. While it is tiring and uncomfortable to stay engaged in the conversation pertaining to race, it is important for everyone to stay engaged and to experience discomfort. We will never reach the perfect society where no racism exists, but we must keep the conversation going in a healthy manner.

MYAC stands in solidarity with anti-racist action and believes Black Lives Matter. We mourn the murders of Black Americans and condemn violence toward Black Americans. We mourn the violence against those fighting against any form of racism. We hope that through our mission to foster arts and music education, current and future generations may recognize the humanity that we share. We here at MYAC commit to deepening our dedication to uprooting inequities that may exist within our own organization and programs. Going forward, we commit to sharing with our local and national audiences the cultures and contributions of Black musicians and musicians of color, and learning more ways we can counteract the systems that perpetuate racism and discrimination.

At MYAC, we hope to emphasize the importance of teaching the whole child. This does not just mean playing incredible literature and providing enriching experiences for young people. Through these experiences, we hope to be much more than that. We teach children how to break things down, problem solve, work with others, think empathetically and globally, give perspective for our current time and place in history and the world. These are just a few things that we do every week with our students. We hope they turn into life skills that will strengthen our students into a future that does not fear change and is able to take on large problems head on. But most importantly, we see our students understanding the value and joy of becoming compassionate human beings who effect positive change in their communities.

We hope that through their time in MYAC we are equipping young people to think of a world larger than themselves in a broader period of history. We hope that through the development and nurturing of their musical skills, they are also able to continue to express themselves in a way that is meaningful and transformative for those around them.

There is a great amount of diversity of thought, political views, cultures and ethnicities in our program. For this we are extremely honored and it makes us a stronger organization. We thank everyone for the perspective they bring to our community. We also hope to foster a space where people can bring their differences openly, honestly and constructively.

When working with the students in our program, one of the underlying important principles is that we absolutely must keep the environment honestly positive. There are moments these days where this feels extremely difficult. How do we keep a positive environment when the divisiveness and darkness and sadness in our country seems like it could swallow us up whole at times? We cannot fix our systemic issues alone as an organization, but we can teach our children to find the beauty in any situation, stay hopeful and connected and not to be afraid to express their voice, whether that be through words, actions or music.

The world desperately needs all of these things right now, and our young people are going to be the most effective for change over time. We believe in them as we partner with all of the families in our organization.