I want people to value and embrace the positive power of music.  There is a clear need for music, especially among at-risk youth in schools with little funding and high crime rates.  Unfortunately, when school funding is cut, music programs suffer in order to preserve the basic subjects.  There is a direct correlation between problems created by at-risk youth and the lack of music in their lives.  Research shows that students who are exposed to music have less violent tendencies, higher self-confidence, and greater motivation to do well in school.  An example is the Harlem Strings Program in New York.  Programs like this are essential to changing the course of society as we know it.

    I currently teach in a multi-cultural school district with at-risk upper elementary students.  As a teacher in this district, I am tirelessly working to persuade school board members to keep music as a subject in the core curriculum, despite budget cuts.  I also volunteer with the Artfarm Project - an after-school program developing students' interests in the fine arts.  This program was designed to keep students off the streets and away from violence after school.  I have also spoken to the Michigan State Board of Education, raising awareness of the importance of school music programs in the prevention of youth violence.  I work with Michigan senators and representatives developing funding alternatives for these valuable music programs.  I am conducting an independent study with the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District focusing on the correlation between a lack of music programs and teen violence.  The otucome of this study will affect the survival of music programs in many schools.  Finally, I designed a personal website highlighting my involvement with VH1 Save the Music and the National Association for Music Educators.  It also provides links to websites regarding how to obtain funding for music programs and music program development.

    As Miss Michigan 2003, I will take my independent research project to the state level.  I will work with Intermediate School Districts throughout the state to encourage them to conduct similar research.  Together, we will prove the importance of keeping music programs in the schools at every level.  I will also use my title to gain more access to the Michigan State Board of Education.  There is always funding available, and we need to work together to find it.  I will also develop corporate partnerships to gain funding for extra-curriculuar music programs for at-risk youth.  The Comcast and VH1 Save the Music partnership in Detroit was responsible for over $100,000 in musical instruments donated to inner city music programs.  This is just one example of the limitless possibilities for corporate funding that I will explore.  I look forward to facing these challenges as Miss Michigan 2003.