This October, the Zeist Foundation ushers the ‘Music for Social Change’ after-school youth orchestra program into Atlanta’s Edgewood neighborhood for the launch of its second program site. Underserved kids grades 1- 8 expected to reap benefits.

The ‘Music for Social Change’ 501(c)3 organization, Atlanta Music Project (AMP), is not only changing the lives of Atlanta youth one music instrument at a time, but also injecting social change into one neighborhood at a time. On Monday, October 3, 2011, at 4:30 P.M., the Atlanta-based classical-music-inspired afterschool program will launch its second program site for sixty underserved youth at the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation’s Coan Park Recreation Center located 1530 Woodbine Avenue, SE Atlanta, Georgia 30317.

In alignment with its place-based philanthropy strategic plan for the Edgewood neighborhood, The Zeist Foundation provided the start-up funding necessary to expand AMP’s quality afterschool music program into the Edgewood neighborhood. Since 1994, The Zeist Foundation has partnered with other nonprofits to support school-based pediatric clinics, early learning programs and after school programs in the Edgewood community as part of its holistic approach to address the needs of at risk children, youth and families.

AMP’s first days of classes at Coan Park Recreation Center’s will begin with several instrument petting zoos which will introduce the students to the string instruments that the AMP Teaching Artists that will be teaching them.

“The Atlanta Music Project and its Teaching Artists are thrilled with this opportunity to serve the youth of the Edgewood neighborhood,” says Dantes Rameau, AMP’s 28-year-old Canadian-born bassoonist and Executive Director. “We look forward to working with our community partners at the Coan Recreation Center and the Zeist Foundation and thank the Foundation for their financial support of our second ‘Music For Social Change’ initiative.”

The Atlanta Music Project is based on El Sistema, the acclaimed Venezuelan National Youth Orchestra System that has transformed the lives of over one-million children through music and Rameau has a similar vision for Atlanta’s youth. Since the Atlanta Music Project piloted its afterschool program in 2010 at the historic Gilbert House in SW Atlanta in partnership with the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs’ “Culture Club: An After School Experience” umbrella, AMP has been presented with an official Proclamation from the Atlanta City Council for their successful efforts towards musical education and youth development and was recently awarded a $50,000 grant towards education and youth development by The Coca-Cola Foundation.

For More Information Contact:
Atlanta Music Project 1280 Peachtree Street NE Suite 4074 Atlanta, GA 30309
Email: info@atlantamusicproject.org
Phone: 678-235-4AMP (4267)

POST CREDIT:
Read original article Found on the ZDennis Media Group website.
By: Jen Farris