The Donna E. Shalala MusicReach Program, the Frost School of Music’s outstanding community outreach and music mentorship program, continues to forge new partnerships that expand its ability to foster young people’s access to and knowledge of music.
MusicReach’s newest partner is We Belong Here, which produces an annual dance music festival on Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami’s Key Biscayne, and is contributing to MusicReach to support the creation of Miami's first K-12 arts-focused school campus, a state-of-the-art educational facility that will be part of Miami-Dade Public Schools. The plan connects Arthur & Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts, an arts magnet school and key longtime MusicReach partner, with Pine Villa Elementary, a high-need Title 1 school that also partners with MusicReach.
We Belong Here is giving $10,000 to help prepare Pine Villa students for the AP Mays intensive magnet program, which starts in the 6th grade. The funds will help pay for Frost School student mentors and teaching assistants to lead choir, piano, and other music classes at Pine Villa, helping ensure that these public school students in one of Miami-Dade’s most underserved areas have access to high-quality music education from kindergarten through high school graduation.
“As We Belong Here continues to grow with intention, we are thrilled to create more opportunities to give back and empower the next generation of creativity,” said Justin Dauman, co-founder of We Belong Here. “Every person who comes to our events should take great pride in knowing that their ticket is helping to make a real difference in the lives of others, all through the power of music.”
"The MusicReach Program at the Frost School of Music is thrilled to partner with We Belong Here to expand access to music education in our community," said Joseph Burleson, director of outreach at MusicReach. "This collaboration will provide meaningful opportunities for young students to discover and develop their musical talents, creating a pathway from elementary school to higher education musical training, based on the goal of each student."
Unlike many commercial dance music festivals, We Belong Here, founded in Miami in 2021, seeks to create community around a shared passion for music, nature, history, dance, and culture. Its festivals in Miami, New York, and New Orleans are held in unique, scenic locations, with performers at the center of ample dance space. Their April festival at Virginia Key Beach Park, which boasts a rich cultural history in a gorgeous, natural beach on Miami’s Key Biscayne, partnered with HumanityCares to bring together local volunteers, artists, and attendees for a post-event beach cleanup.
