"Girls in A Groove" Showcase features KING Youth

By Kids In A New Groove Program Coordinator, Dorian Colbert.

I've been involved with Kids in A New Groove since its inception in 2009. Across the board, I've noticed that music is a vehicle for many KING students, who haven't had their voices heard - or perhaps felt like their voices aren't worth hearing. For a moment in time, through music, we are able to connect in a way that they haven't been open to.

Kids in A New Groove pairs young people who have experience with the foster care system with dedicated music mentors. Through one-on-one lessons, KING youth connect with trusted adults and share their experiences, all while learning and practicing music.

KING's "Girls in A Groove" Songwriting Showcase has come full circle, culminating in a performance at Austin Sound Garden & Studio. Here, three young women took the stage to perform the original songs they developed alongside our guest mentor songwriters.

Katie is a natural born performer. She came to the songwriting workshop with fully formed ideas, and came away with a song she could have performed on stage that day. Working with Monica Valli to set her songwriting to chords, Katie's songs touch on love in all its forms. She has since released her debut album!

Heaven came into her own through her writing and performance. Heaven has a beautiful voice. The songwriting process was cathartic; her mentor, Melat, helped her feel validated. She was able to open up about her life experiences in such a short time, the camaraderie of music bringing her and her mentor together. Heaven performed a song called "Lost and Confused," about her experience in the foster care system.

Ava is new to the Kids in A New Groove program. Though she hasn't been paired with a one-on-one mentor yet, she joined us at the songwriting workshop to experience KING firsthand. Ava plays the keyboard and piano, and has a brilliant mind for production and DJing. With her mentors, Ava put together a song that incorporated her piano and production capabilities! It was so special to discover Ava's clear vision for her project and create a performance that expressed her intent.

We're honored to invite you to experience the talents of Kids in A New Groove students just like Katie, Heaven, and Ava at our upcoming Holiday Concert. Stay tuned for more information about the concert, including performances by Austin-based musicians who will be announced soon! Learn more and get your early bird tickets now.

Looking for other ways to support Kids in A New Groove? Each of our students receives a practice instrument, and eventually, earns an instrument of their own thanks to the generous support of Kids in A New Groove donors. You can help make this possible by making a monetary contribution designated to KING Mentoring, or donating new or lightly used instruments. To coordinate an in-kind donation, or event opportunities for KING youth, reach out to Dorian at dorian@partnershipsforchildren.org.

Kids in A New Groove is always looking for music mentors! We aim to pair students with mentors who help them feel safe and comfortable, and women mentors are always especially welcome to apply. Learn more about becoming a KING mentor, here.