Alysia Lee grew up within the suburbs of Baltimore however got here again to Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood 10 years in the past to be with household. Along with her, she introduced her classically educated singing voice and efficiency background.
“I started to search out myself considering like what is the objective of all of this music if it is not constructing neighborhood and connecting individuals, and I wasn’t satisfied that simply attending a live performance actually created connections that have been actually impactful and transformative,” she stated.
She created a program that did all of these issues and known as it “Sister Cities.” It’s a girl empowerment choral academy that gives musical coaching for ladies from kindergarten all the way in which to twelfth grade.
They participate in seasonal packages, theater, music, dance and poetry workshops, and have gone on tour with the Philadelphia Orchestra, carried out at Carnegie Corridor, the Kimmel Heart, and the Academy of Music, to call a number of.
“It is so necessary that college students have alternatives to construct new issues to make use of their creativeness, to create one thing that wasn’t there earlier than and likewise to share the issues that they are serious about with others. It actually builds confidence, it builds vital considering, it builds connection and it helps younger individuals to succeed now and later,” she stated.
This system has ladies representing from 36 Philadelphia zip codes and has expanded its attain to ladies in Camden, New Jersey and Baltimore Maryland.
And with a worldwide pandemic making the humanities and performing harder, Lee discovered methods to maintain college students engaged via digital rehearsals and performances. Consider it or not, in addition to small financial donations for provides, this system is totally free.
“I bear in mind my household actually harping on us that the heroes have been simply common individuals who did one thing that they believed in and in order that hero standing is accessible to all of us,” she stated. “I want to assume that younger ladies of Sister Cities Girlchoir sooner or later may even be considered Black historical past heroes as they forge a brand new world they usually create a greater world for all of us and all of us get to take pleasure in.”
“My largest dream: there can be no baby sitting round in search of alternatives to make music that can’t,” she stated.
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