The Music School
P.O. Box 603038ProvidenceRI02906
401-272-9877401-455-3733

Program: The Cultural Alternatives Program Year Started: 1989 Focus: Music Youth Served: 400 Ages: 9-14 Budget: $250,000 The Music School's Cultural Alternatives Program integrates arts and cultural education with mentoring and training in conflict resolution and substance and violence refusal methods. Classes and performances give students outlets through which to develop positive attitudes about themselves and constructive risk-taking experiences. "The strength of the Program is its interconnectedness," says Executive Director Alan Fox. "There is a linkage among the different elements and a layering of activities that support each other." Music and dance teachers, along with college mentors from Brown University, Rhode Island College and Providence College, lead activities at public housing sites, after-school programs, community centers and churches. The participants simultaneously receive training and supervision from the University of Rhode Island Teen Crime Prevention Program. Around 20 youth per site meet once a week for 1 or more hours over a 6- to 9-month period to develop their artistic skills and peer relations in preparation for performances, some of which address cultural identity or social issues. Participants perform for the community at New Year's Eve activities and at other neighborhood and community events.