Project 440 Team

Youth Advocacy Council Perspectives on a New School Year

Project 440’s Youth Advocacy Council (YAC) is starting this new school year with new members and fresh ideas! In addition, we are thrilled to welcome Melissa Wright who will be co-leading YAC with Teaching Artist, Samantha Apgar. A few of the members took the time to share their thoughts on YAC’s vision and how they hope to continue affecting positive change in our community using their passion for music. 

What are some of the goals YAC is hoping to achieve this school year? 

Maria Karakousis: Our overall aim is to apply training in leadership and advocacy to carry out the Project 440 mission of fostering equity and positive community change through the transformative power of music. We look forward to again working with organization officials, professional musicians, and other Philadelphia students passionate about using music to achieve the goals they envision for their communities. A very exciting goal for us this year is to greatly broaden the scope of our Music in Color audience! In its first year, this virtual series created and hosted by YAC members introduced Philadelphia youth to professional musicians of minority backgrounds who have advanced social change through their careers in classical music. YAC is now ready to take advantage of the virtual setting of Music in Color to reach a national audience that includes Project 440 alumni across the country. We hope to further increase interest and participation in our sessions through more diverse representation of music genres among our panelists.

What events are you planning in connection to your Music in Color series? 

Ronnell Williams: This year we are going into how artists were affected through the pandemic. We are very excited to get started. :)

How would you like to see Project 440 better serve Philadelphia youth? 

Patricia Harden: I would like to see Project 440 better serve Philadelphia youth by reaching out to the more underdeveloped areas of the city, for example the northern areas of Philly. It's a harsher place to be in and doesn't receive much attraction to and/or from organizations. Project 440 has done, and is still doing, a lot of great things, and I feel like it can extend to outside the comfort zone of the city and maybe in the suburbs and outskirts of our big city.

What are you most excited about this school year?

Rajveer Chaudhury: I am most excited about planning the Music in Color events for this year. This is my first year in YAC, and I am grateful to be able to help plan these events for our community in the coming year. I am also very excited about achieving musical growth this year in the program by helping plan these events, making new connections, and learning more about music specifically. Finally, I am most excited about growing as a leader and advocate in YAC this year. 


Board of Directors Transitions to New Structure, Electing Mary Javian and Megan Speight as Co-Chairs

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As we grow and evolve here at Project 440, our leadership structures grow and evolve with us. This month, the Project 440 Board of Directors has transitioned to a Co-Chair structure. Mary Javian and Megan Speight have been elected as the first Board Co-Chairs.

“We are blessed at Project 440 to have such an inspirational Board for our organization,” said Executive Director and Founder Joseph Conyers. “Tad LeVan has valiantly led Project 440 as Chair for nearly six years, and we are very grateful for his steadfast leadership over those years. There are certainly some very large shoes to fill!”

LeVan began in his role as Board chair in May 2015, after being drawn to the organization’s unique approach to using music as a tool for change. He will remain on the Board as Javian and Speight begin their roles as Co-Chairs.

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“I am truly honored to have had the opportunity to be Board chair during this period of growth and development for Project 440,” LeVan stated. “Over the past six years, Project 440’s programming, student opportunities, and, most importantly, its positive and lasting impact on Philadelphia and the larger community has increased exponentially. It has been exciting to play a small part in such a great organization that effectuates real change. I am thrilled to transition Board leadership to Mary and Megan – who I know will do a fantastic job taking Project 440 to the next level – and I look forward to remaining with the organization as a Board member, legal counsel, and all-around supporter!”

Mary Javian is the Chair of Career Studies at the Curtis Institute of Music. She has performed as a double bassist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, served as principal bass of the IRIS Orchestra and has recorded with the Philadelphia and IRIS orchestras, the Tanglewood Music Center, Network for New Music, Dolce Suono Ensemble, and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music. Javian has served on the Project 440 Board of Directors since November 2014.

“As a long-time Board member I am honored to move into the Co-Chair role of this unique and important organization,” shared Javian. “It is urgent that we equip young people with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Project 440's curriculum is a rare model that promotes equity, access and innovation.”

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In her role at Curtis, Javian has created a dynamic social entrepreneurship curriculum that develops the entrepreneurial and advocacy skills that 21st-century musicians need. Her project-based classes help students create community partnerships that sustain both artistic and social value.

“Mary is a well-known force nationally for both her musical and community engagement endeavors through music. Her leadership as a co-chair will be invaluable,” Conyers said. “Equally as invaluable as Mary Javian’s work is the work of Megan Speight, whose time with the organization has spanned nearly two years and who very quickly took on the role of Marketing Chair for the organization,” says Conyers. “Her guidance has been integral to the many successes in the messaging of our important work — locally, nationally, and internationally.”

Megan Speight joined the Project 440 Board of Directors in April 2019 and began her work with the Marketing Committee, promoting Project 440’s mission to folks around the country, and beyond.

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Speight said, “As a native to the Philadelphia area and a previous classically trained musician, it is my honor to lead this organization as the Co-Chair of the Board with Mary. The impact Project 440 makes locally and nationally in support of equity, inclusion, and upskilling on students is imperative to their success in their future. I look forward to seeing this organization grow and further it's reach in supporting upcoming generations and their drive to ignite change in their communities."

An experienced public relations and communications professional, Speight is the Public Relations Coordinator at the Project Management Institute. She has worked in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors including organizations such as Comcast, The Franklin Institute and the National Constitution Center. In her current role as Public Relations Manager at Maternity Care Coalition, Speight focuses her efforts on media relations, developing and implementing public relations plans, supporting the Fund Development and program staff with events, and co-manages all of the organizations’ social media platforms.

“In their roles as Co-Chairs, we have perfect ‘harmony’ in leadership, stewardship, innovation, motivation, and service, and we are so happy to have them lead Project 440 through this most important time in our organization's history,” said Conyers.

Congratulations to our new Board Co-Chairs, and thank you for your work on behalf of Project 440!

A Letter From Joseph Conyers to Project 440 Students and More

The following letter was posted on social media on June 2nd as a response to #BlackOutTuesday, a social media movement aimed to bring light to the events plaguing our nation. The letter is Joseph's response to a discussion he had with Project 440 students and alumni.

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Dear Students:

I spoke with some of you recently about all that’s been going on in our world. It’s overwhelming; it’s frightening. It's sad.

I also mentioned I’ve never been a fan of using social media to make “statements.”  Those platforms can be such caustic and combative environments; I choose to stay out of the noise. My "statements," instead, are lived daily; action is how I respond to adversity. That said, I'm not blind to what’s going on in our country; I’m also not surprised by it. It's why I write to you now.

As a black man, I’ve had my share of experiences that have upset me and a few that have scared me a bit, too. Our world is far from perfect, and while that’s no excuse for injustice, it’s been the dark reality in this country for hundreds of years. It’s why the heinous and untimely deaths of our black brothers and sisters hurt so much.

When faced with challenges - there are many ways one might respond. One might feel anger. One might feel rage. One might want to crawl up into a ball and cry, and that’s okay. I’m certainly not going to tell you how you should feel or how you should react - that’s personal. We all grieve in different ways. 

While you may not have seen me protesting in the streets, I've been actively protesting for years. The sign I carry is the color of my skin, and my message to the world has been my advocacy for you.

We want the world to be perfect. It isn’t.  We want the world to be full of love; sometimes all we might see is hate.

But, stand firm.

To my black students, don’t be discouraged. Walk with your heads held high.  Our ancestors survived the insurvivable, and their blood runs through our veins. Our lives do matter. Let your light shine as a daily reminder to all.

Let music be your inspiration.  Bring your authentic selves to the concert hall - unabashedly. Music belongs to all of us. Music making is a celebration of our individual and shared experiences in the world. You have a place on that stage. Claim your spot; own it.

Practice boldly (and often 😉). Lead by example. Use your art to tell your story. Stand up for what is right; don’t settle. You can’t make others love you, but you can inspire them with how you love others. Don’t rewrite the narrative, write your own books. Provide pathways for those who can’t forge a path of their own. Advocate for each other. 

Be a good person.

When feeling powerless to make change in the world, start by sowing your own seeds of goodness for the future. You can make a difference.

Love hard; play hard; and know that y’all make me proud every day.

Love,
Mr. Conyers

Project 440 Board Spotlight: Yumi Kendall

Meet Yumi Kendall, the Assistant Principal Cello of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Project 440’s newest Board member! Our interview highlights here career in music and how she learned of Project 440.

Q: How did you get involved with Project 440, and what drew you to this organization?

I'd like to think I've been involved with Project 440 since its beginning days! I've been friends with Joseph Conyers since 1999 when we met at Verbier the summer before we entered Curtis. Since hearing about the origins of the organization and seeing its evolution over the years, becoming a Board member felt like an inevitability! 

Q: What inspired you to give to Project 440 as a donor and as a working Board member?

Making official what was already happening felt so natural. I've enjoyed serving Project 440 in unofficial ways (playing at salon events, serving on a committee), and now being a part of the inner Project 440 family solidifies my commitment. Most of all, it's exciting to be a part of the ever-changing arts landscape and to work with such a vibrant, dynamic Board and staff!

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Q: What drove you to pursue a career in music?

Some careers evolve from a smooth trajectory, and some are sparked by realizations or sudden inspirations. Mine was a combination of both. The trajectory aspect: I've been playing cello since I was five years old, and my (American) family has had deep involvement in music since before I was born. Being surrounded by musicians, many of them professional, showed me what a fulfilling life one can have as a musician. The spark of decision -- to "go into" music -- came in my senior year of high school, right after taking the SATs and realizing that while my friends  were applying to traditional colleges, I really should be applying to music conservatories. It was an important decision point and just felt right. Of course, life has many turns, and in 2016, in my 12th season in the Philadelphia Orchestra, I took the opportunity (and challenge) to go to grad school at the University of Pennsylvania for a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology. It changed my life! The intersections of music and the science of well-being (positive psychology) has opened up exciting doors: a new community of people and professions, and ideas, studies, and questions that extend to organizational well-being as well, which resonate with my love of my own Philadelphia Orchestra as well as Project 440 and other important organizations I care about. Life is full of opportunity!

Q: What are some of your interests/hobbies that you do in your free time?

Wait, what's free time? 

Actually, all kidding aside, at the moment, I'm in social distancing mode due to the pandemic as I think we all are. I'm working on several projects for the Virtual Philadelphia Orchestra, and that's taking a lot of mental space in a great way. In the meantime, I'm staying sane by enjoying spending time with my family, learning new recipes, and getting ready for some big personal life changes (baby due in October!).

Q: Why do you think our work is important?

Project 440 is not just important, it is necessary. It is necessary because of its focus on service, on giving back to one's community. At its core, Project 440 believes it's not just enough to be a member of society; Project 440 says our world now needs all of us to give of ourselves in whatever ways we can, and to think of ourselves and act as ambassadors of a cause, a reason d'etre. Thus, Project440 is especially essential for young people, in whom the organization strives to cultivates a sense of purpose by giving to the world around us. I'm proud and honored to be a part of Project 440!


Staff Spotlight: Hilary Dow Ward

Meet Hilary Dow Ward, Project 440’s new Managing Director! Our interview highlights how she got involved with Project 440 and all of the work she does.

Q: How did you get involved with Project 440, and what drew you to this organization?

My first interaction with Project 440 was through the College Fair for Musicians in 2019.  I heard about the conference in the summer of 2019 through Najib Wong and PMAY. He suggested that it would be a great way to advertise the University programs I work with.  I signed up and came as an exhibitor. While there I had a great conversation with Joseph Conyers and several board members and became very interested in the possibility of working with the organization. The rest, as they say, is history.

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Q: What is your personal connection with music?

I have spent a lot of time in higher education both as a student and as an educator, and at the bottom of my pile of degrees is the degree that I consider to have been the most difficult and most rewarding to earn, a degree in music performance. I attended a state school of music and had the tremendous opportunity to study both voice and piano performance. The choice to study music in college was a no brainer. When asked what I would be when I grew up, my young self anticipated that I would study piano performance and teach at the college level. It's amazing, I did it! Though, I can't ever credit my love of music without giving tremendous nod to my exposure to music through my K-12 music teachers. I wouldn't be who I am without having had excellent teachers and pedagogy during my formative years, and especially high school. I have a lot of love and tremendous respect for high quality K-12 classroom music educators. I'm also proud to say I've been one! 

Q: What motivates you in your personal work and research?

I am highly motivated by the opportunity to make a difference in the life of another young person, another musician, other human beings. I love to problem solve, to troubleshoot, and to explore the best possible way to make things happen, whatever it be. When considering research topics, I'm always curious about devising research questions that best solve the problems and needs of others. I always ask,"how will this impact others for years to come?" and, "how can I best use my available resources to serve others?" 

 

Q: What are some of your interests/hobbies that you do in your free time?

In another life I think I want to be an architect or an interior designer. I didn't have the foresight to get a degree in architecture, I was too busy practicing the piano. But I did also have a career in design. I went down that path working with a furniture designer that sells to the trade one summer in between masters degree programs. I loved it. It was also a great place to creatively problem solve. I would be remiss if I didn't also mention that I have a child.  So, now, free time is usually completely consumed by him, which is perfectly okay with me! He's amazing! 

 

Q: If you could give any advice to your high school self with regards to college applications and career choices, what would it be?

This is funny because I started looking at music school programs over 20 years ago. Times sure have changed. And, as it turned out, I went to the school for undergrad that was perfect for me. I loved every minute of it, mostly.  It was the right size of school and university, had the right kind of offerings for what I wanted to study and was within close proximity to my family, which was important for me. What I will say to students in 2020 is this... Do not bite off more than you can chew, even if you are growing as a person and think you can manage it.  Don't over schedule yourself, I've seen this happen with so many of my college students! Your schedule in your first semesters are crucial to your success over the span of 4 or 5 years in undergrad. Don't go to a school you can't afford. It doesn't matter what brand name it is, the expense in this day and age may cripple you forever. Don't go to a school just because your high school friends are going there.  You will make more friends, sometimes not knowing anyone will be the greatest part of your undergraduate experience.


Staff Spotlight: Andy Sabol

Meet Andy Sabol, Project 440’s Interim Managing Director! Our interview highlights how and why he got involved with and how he’s grown alongside Project 440.

Q: How did you get involved with Project 440, and what drew you to this organization?

I took lessons to double on flute with Susanna Loewy, Project 440 Program Director and Lead Teaching Artist, while studying Music at Kutztown University, and began working at her music festival the summer of 2018. Susanna introduced me to an internship opportunity last year at Project 440 to gain more experience in an administrative role. I also began working on my masters in Arts Administration at Drexel University, so it presented an opportunity to apply the knowledge I gained from my education. Most importantly, however, I was a music student with interests outside of performing and I found a true connection to Project 440’s mission and vision.

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Q: You wear many hats outside Project 440. Can you elaborate on the other work you pursue?

In addition to Project 440, I am the Assistant Director of the Pikes Falls Chamber Music Festival in Vermont. While my main focus now lies in my administrative work, I regularly perform as a sax player and audio engineer for PJB, a funk band in Bethelem, PA, teach a saxophone studio of grade-school students, and am the Lead Editor for an up-and-coming eSports Organization!

Q: What motivates you to work in the various roles and fields in and out of music?

I never was interested in just one area/field and struggled to decide on what to pursue in my career.
I wanted to find a way to balance all of my interests while still making a meaningful impact. Administration and teaching are the two roles that allow me to translate my experience to any field while helping a group of people grow and develop.

Q: You started as an Intern and are now the Interim Managing Director. What are some of the key things you’ve learned during your time with Project 440?

Transitioning into the Interim role presents its own challenges and learning curves. There of course are the basic administrative/operational tasks and challenges that I picked up as I went along. The most important lessons I’ve learned, however, is the value of prioritization and communication.

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Welcoming Mason to the Project 440 Team!

Mason is an intern from the Bloomberg Arts Internship Program and will be spending the next 7 weeks working with Project 440!

Mason is an intern from the Bloomberg Arts Internship Program and will be spending the next 7 weeks working with Project 440!

Q: How did you find out about this internship?

A: During the school year, my art teacher brought me a flyer for the Bloomberg Arts Internship and I signed up that very night. When I was assigned to Project 440, I did a little digging through the website to learn more about the organization. Needless to say, I was very excited to start working here.

Q: What is your relationship with music? What does music mean to you?

A: Music has always been a part of my life. I started singing straight out of the womb and I haven’t stopped since. I play guitar and bass and started a band called Mystic Prize with my friend Willem about a year ago. Since then, we’ve released a few singles, an EP, and full length album and we are still working hard at creating more. I think I get my musical inclination from my dad, who played trombone for the better half of his adolescence.

Music, to me, is the ultimate form of self-expression. Anyone can make music. It has so many different forms, evokes many different emotions, and can be very tangible. If you have something to say, an instrument can give you the words to say it. There are so many messages that can be expressed universally through a simple instrumental, just the thought of it is empowering. Music can break language barriers. Whenever I am feeling something strongly but can’t find the words, I pick up my guitar and sing whatever falls out of my mouth. It doesn’t even feel like I’m thinking, I’m just doing. It is liberating. They don’t have to be the right words, but they are the truth, and having that honesty with myself is something magical that I only find through music.

Q: Describe yourself in 3 words.

A: Oof, this is difficult, I have so many words. I guess I’d say that I am goofy, creative, and friendly (and for my boss, super hardworking!).

Q: Do you actually like long walks on the beach?

A: Eh. I’d prefer a nice hike in the woods followed by a cooling swim in a lake!

Q: What do you hope to gain from interning at Project 440?

A: I hope the professional environment will improve my self-motivation and organization. There are a lot of things to get done throughout the work day, and taking them one step at a time in an organized manner is very important. Just within my first week here, I can already feel myself getting better with time management and organization. Every task I complete feels like I am contributing to something bigger than myself, which definitely makes me feel more motivated to do the work.

 

Teaching Artist Spotlight: Emily Cooley

Meet Emily Cooley, a local composer and Teaching Artist (TA) for Instruments for Success! Read about how she got involved with Project 440 and what she has taken away from being a TA.

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Q: How did you get involved with Project 440, and what drew you to this organization? 

I first heard about Project 440 when I was a student at Curtis. I think the organization has a very unique role in Philly’s music scene - I love that Project 440 builds connections between young musicians and the larger community. 

Q: What is your favorite part of being a Teaching Artist (TA)?

I like hearing about students’ interests and goals. There are so many different paths our students want to explore, both in college and beyond. It’s inspiring to meet students who have very specific goals, but I also relate to those who aren’t quite sure what they want to do, because that was me in high school.


Q: Like most of the Project 440 staff, you wear many hats outside of your work as a TA. Can you speak about what other projects/ensembles/organizations you are involved with outside of Project 440?

I’m a freelance composer, and I teach a lot of private composition and piano students in the Philly area. I also help run a concert series in New York called Kettle Corn New Music. 

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Q: You are a working professional, but is there anything that you learned while being a TA for Instruments for Success?   

Where you go to college doesn’t determine your future success! I don’t think I ever got that message when I was in high school.

Q: If you could give any advice to your high school self with regards to college applications and career choices, what would it be?

Probably to leave my options open and always take time to reflect on both my past choices and potential future interests. That’s something I’m trying to do now as well.

 

Project 440 Teaching Artist Spotlight: Nozomi Imamura

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Meet Project 440 Teaching Artist, Nozomi Imamura! Our interview highlights how and why he got involved with this organization, as well as an in-depth understanding of how he practices what he preaches to the next generation of social entrepreneurs.

Q: How did you get involved with Project 440, and what drew you to this organization?

I first started working as a teaching artist during Project 440’s summer music program at Philadelphia International Music Festival. And now I co-teach one of the curriculums called Doing Good. To be completely honest, Joseph Conyers is one of my biggest inspirations as a musician, educator, and fitness enthusiast, and I wanted to have opportunities to work with him.

Q: What is your favorite part of being a Teaching Artist?

Being able to connect, mentor, and inspire people to open up their potential through music.

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Q: Like most of the Project 440 staff, you wear many hats outside of your work as a Teaching Artist. Can you speak about what other projects/ensembles/organizations you are involved with outside of Project 440?

I am a Community Artist Fellow from the Curtis Institute of Music, and through the fellowship program I work as a band director at South Philadelphia High School and work closely with the Project HOME. I am also a regular substitute member for regional orchestras around Philadelphia.

Q: You have also worked in Japan as a performer; do you see a need for programs that Project 440 offer in Japanese society as well?

I have only performed in Japan for a few times, but seeing how community based projects and interactive performances are becoming more and more common and needed, I think it would be great to have curriculums that Project 440 offers in Japan.

Q: If you could give any advice to your high school self with regards to college applications and career choices, what would it be?

Be yourself and don’t try to fit in. When you find something you can be passionate about, take risks and pursue it!

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Music Made Me

By Megan A. Speight, Project 440 Marketing Committee Chair

 “Did you practice?”

My mother always asked me this retched question about 5 minutes into the car ride on the way to my violin lessons. My response was usually the same, going through the motions of looking into her rearview mirror and mumbling something unrecognizable before continuing to eat my snack. Her response was always one of disappointment but at the end of the day, she knew deep down I loved the instrument and the relationship I had with it.

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I started taking violin lessons at the age of 4 following the Suzuki method. However, my love for music didn't start there. My mother played all types of music for me while she was pregnant and I took a Mommy and Me music class that started when I was about 6 months old. My mother played piano growing up and was adamant that my brother and I also played instruments.

Playing the violin gave me opportunities and confidence that I may not have so easily obtained without it. I never had the opportunity to have stage fright because starting at 5 years old I played concerts for family which later evolved to recitals that featured my violin teacher’s other students. I participated in Suzuki play-ins at the Franklin Institute for years and was one of hundreds of students contributing to filling the halls of the historic museum. Most importantly, at my Grandmother’s orchestration, I began playing at church. In front of the entire congregation. My brother and I were members of our youth choir, but let’s be real, my real talent was playing the violin. I was able to captivate audiences through my voice personified through my instrument. I was small, but my sound and presence were mighty. Seeing a need for another youth activity, the Church Orchestra was formed with my brother and I as founding members. Being in church orchestra allowed me to strengthen my leadership skills, teaching other musicians how to read music and leading my small violin section. To this day, many of my family members and older Church members recognize me as “the girl with the violin” and some even ask if I still play. Unfortunately, I decided to take a break from playing once I graduated High school. Springside School was where I started playing and Springside School was where I had my final recital at my Senior Assembly. One day I plan to pick my old buddy back up, but for now, we are continuing to take some time apart.

While I no longer consider myself a musician, music is what has made me the woman I am today. Through music, I was able to make connections with people, practice new skills and through music, I feel at home. Growing up, my Grandmother not only ensured I was utilizing and showcasing my leadership and musicianship skills at church and beyond, but she also ensured I knew the importance of giving back. Not just to those who helped me get to where I am, but also to my direct and extended community. Growing up I participated in many days of service and participated in a reading program that directly contributed to my mother’s alma mater, Francis D. Pastorius Elementary School. I also have fond memories of riding to D’Ambrosios’s bakery to pick-up rolls that were included in platters that my Grandmother served to the homeless through our church. Ironically, I can still remember how amazing they smelled and how delicious they tasted coming fresh out of the over. My grandmother was also a founding member of our church scholarship committee and also preached the importance of an excellent education. Both my grandparents preached this to me while I was in their care and my parents were living proof of it and set the example for my brother and I on a daily basis. This commitment to service is what spurred my interest and later commitment to serving my community.

After graduating from George Mason University, I moved back to Philadelphia to pursue my Masters at Drexel University. While I was physically home, I felt as though something was missing from my life. Going to work and hanging out with friends only occupies so much of your time and as a millennial, I grew up with a booked calendar of extra-curricular activities. I knew I needed to use my time wisely. I was reminded of my commitment to service and made it a priority once I had finished Grad school and was settled in a job to find an organization that was a mutually good fit for me give back to my community through. After a great deal of research, I was connected to Project 440 through the Young Involved Philadelphia Board Prep Program. With my talents and passion for the arts and supporting my community, I knew that board service was a natural next step in my commitment to giving back. Project 440’s mission, to engage, educate and inspire young musicians, providing them with the career and life skills they need to develop into tomorrow's civic-minded, entrepreneurial leaders, has and will continue to have a seismic impact on students. Many young musicians need support from organizations offering programs such as the ones at Project 440 to feel encouraged to continue with their passion or have a community to know that they can use their current passions to help evolve them into incredible human beings. I am proud to help continue the legacy and impact that music has on students through my service work with Project 440. I hope that more individuals in my generation step-up to keep music in schools or return them to schools and ensure organizations like Project 440 have the longevity to support and encourage student musicians and students interested in music for generations to come.

More About Megan:

Megan A. Speight is an experienced public relations and communications professional with over 6 years’ experience in the industry. She has worked in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors working for organizations such as Comcast, The Franklin Institute and the National Constitution Center. In her current role as Public Relations Manager at Maternity Care Coalition, Ms. Speight focuses her efforts on media relations, developing and implementing public relations plans, supporting the Fund Development and program staff with events, and co-manages all of the organizations’ social media platforms. Most notably, Ms. Speight has worked on the PA Safe Sleep campaign, a multi-media campaign promoting safe sleep practices for families with newborns, where she manages social media ads, purchased over $150,000 in SEPTA ads, developed a radio PSA, and managed the production of a hospital waiting room video.

Ms. Speight is a native of Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, but currently resides in Philadelphia. She is a graduate of Springside School, obtained her B.A. in Communications from George Mason University and her M.S. in Public Communication from Drexel University. She is the Deputy Director of Public Relations for WIM Global, a Blogger for the Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Chair of the Marketing Advisory Committee for Project 440 and a member of the Junior League of Philadelphia.

 

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