Music has kept me off the streets. I found my talent. It¼s my music. That¼s the best thing about me. Everett Holland, Southwest Site Student

Since its founding in 1976, the Levine School of Music has been providing music programs for all members of the community, regardless of economic circumstance. But in order to prevent risky behavior among youth in the District of Columbia, the Levine School provides young people with an alternative after-school activity in a safe location closer to home. In 1994, the Levine School established its Public Housing Orchestra program. The program proved so successful that this leading community music school is again leading the field with the establishment of a permanent presence in a struggling neighborhood. Indeed, it is the first major nonprofit arts organization in the Washington area to locate in impoverished Southeast Washington.

In the fall of 1998, Levine opened its "Southeast Site" at the Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church near the historic Frederick Douglass Home. "We discovered that the long-term growth of Southeast programs depended on Levine having one established, consistent presence in the community," explained the site's director, JoAnn Williams. "In order to create an atmosphere that suits the needs of music instruction, we needed a space that is controlled by and dedicated to Levine's daily use."

Currently, 145 young people - a substantially higher enrollment than expected - take advantage of this alternative to nonproductive behavior by involving themselves in music activities that build habits of discipline and nurture a sense of mastery and self-worth. Thanks to underwriting by foundations and corporations, Levine is able to provide scholarships to 98 percent of the Southeast Site students, making the program very accessible to young participants and their families.

The family is an important part of the Levine approach in Southeast. The school's programs encourage parental involvement in home practice sessions, promote interaction between program artist/instructors and family members, and involve family members in all program meetings, recitals, and special events. What's more, because the new site reaches a predominantly African-American population, many of its programs are being designed to integrate African culture and further engage the community.