Music Connects Social Change, Education, and Soul through IVLP
Music connects every person. Whether you you like to go to symphonies, play a little guitar on the side with your buddies, listen to music while you work or go to the gym, or even if you just like to perform lip sync battles in your car to the radio, we all have our own connection with music.
What does that have to do with the World Affairs Council?
If you are unfamiliar with the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, we are a non-profit organization and one facet of our global efforts is partnering with the U.S. State Department to facilitate the premier professional exchange program, the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). This program aims to bring over 102 international professionals to the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region in 2023. Already, over 55+ Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky political figures, businesses, non-profits, and community members have met with mid-to-high level international professionals.
Last week, July 2-6th, a multi-regional delegation from Finland, Haiti, Mozambique, Mauritius, Venezuela, Panama, and the Palestinian Territories met with Musicologie Anderson, Queen City Music Studio, activist dance company, Pones Inc., and the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library to learn about Promoting Social Change Through Music.
These international delegates discussed musical education for students both through private lessons and in the education system. During their visit to Queen City Music Studio, they talked to owner, Jim Yost, at length about the ways to engage students with developmental disabilities with music education in private lessons. The importance of musical education, not just for those who wish to become talented musicians, but for students of all ages and abilities was something that every delegate found important.
During their visit with Kim Popa, Executive Director of Pones Inc., delegates explored the ability to use music and dance as a tool for social justice. Mark Bertenyi, from Finland, was so inspired by the work Pones Inc. does to engage the community on social issues through dance that he has since reached out to her to collaborate internationally. The hopes for the outcome of this project would be for Finnish music students to record tracks to be used in Pones Inc. performances in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Music in, and of itself, is an experience for global exchange and citizen diplomacy. As Mark Bertenyi said, “We have the technology now in a way we did not before.” No matter where you go, music changes lives.
We are so grateful to everyone who participated in this IVLP program to make it happen.
