Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelley Downey .
Hi Kelley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Mentorship saved my life. I grew up in a low-income household, and neither of my parents graduated college. Thanks to a mentor I met when I was eleven years old, my life changed so that I didn’t have the same fate. Nancy Burkholder was a special education teacher at my school and would recruit me to help in her classroom. She took me under her wing, and my relationship with her gave me a safe space to grow. Eventually, Nancy would take me on college tours and advocate on my behalf for scholarships. I attended Clemson University and was the first and only person in my household to graduate with a degree in higher education. I credit so much of this achievement to Nancy. She was the matron of honor at my wedding and is considered family to my kids. Because of Nancy, my work with the nonprofit organization Musical Empowerment is focused on the life-changing impact of mentorship.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Losing both of my parents before I turned 35 was the most difficult challenge that I’ve encountered. Thankfully, family, friends, and strangers have helped carry me through. I have always been fortunate to have a loving family, a supportive network, and a growing community of cheerleaders.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Musical Empowerment?
Musical Empowerment was started as a student organization at UNC by Christine Moseley in 2002 (formerly called “Carolina Music Outreach.” Now, 20 years later – over 300 college volunteers give free music lessons and mentorship to kids from marginalized communities in 3 states. The triangle area has the most student/mentor pairs with chapters at UNC, NCSU, and NCCU. 96% of the students served are from low-income families, and 78% of the students are people of color. Through one-on-one weekly music lessons, the students and their mentors form a bond and develop a mutually beneficial relationship.
Musical Empowerment strongly focuses on social-emotional support for the students and mentors. Musical Proficiency is less focused on the benefits of mentorship and the one-on-one relationships that help build resilience and confidence in our pairs. Not only do students develop a deeper appreciation of music, but they learn about life.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My dad took us to see the symphony. I remember it was free, an afternoon rehearsal that didn’t require tickets. I walked in with a crabby 10-year-old attitude and left feeling weightless. The music transformed me. I was hypnotized by the live performance aspect and the vibration of the instruments. The experience moved me.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://musical-empowerment.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musical.empowerment
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicalEmpowerment
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClihtN9k4JSadvog7CE9ykw
