Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Morrison. They and their team shared their story with us below:
In Faith Morrison’s junior year of high school, she searched for a way to provide community service to her area. As a private piano teacher throughout high school, she found the topic of music to be one she was both passionate about and wished to continue in. With this interest in mind, she sought a way how she give her community and those who could not normally afford private, one-on-one musical instruction; however, there was a lack of any program that did just this. In result, she decided to start her on. It started small, as it was only her and her mother, Paige Morrison, who were involved, and Faith contacted the public schools in her area as well as the local board of education to figure out a way how she could make her mission come to life. With permission from the board, schools, and music teacher of a local elementary school in Savannah, she began to give weekly, private lessons to a handful of kids who had been chosen because of their interest in learning piano. These lessons were volunteer-based, and neither Faith nor Paige received compensation for them, beginning the journey of what DUETkids would soon become. After a while of lessons for these kids, Faith wished to impact even more children in the area, which is where this non-profit organization was born. After applying for a 501-c, starting a website, and hiring teachers and a board for the organization, DUETkids was finally official and able to impact not only a few kids but the entire community of Savannah. Now, DUETkids provide no-cost music education, instruments, and digital music creation for at-risk, underserved, and low-income students. Through partnerships cultivated and solidified within the public-school systems and local, historical community, emergency shelters, and after-school programs for at-risk populations. Multiple studies prove that music helps heal trauma, creates new brain synapses and connections. By engaging high school student teachers with elementary students, our Student Teaching Students Initiative, DUET Kids, trains community volunteers and provides multiple opportunities in learning and pedagogy for Pre-K through College-age students.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
DUETkids has encountered many difficulties as the only organization in the country with our service model of going to the children, where they live, in school or after school, and in camp environments. With the goal of giving private, free musical lessons for underserved and at-risk populations, the mission of DUET is completely unique. Financing and marketing for the organization has been one of greatest difficulties, but the volunteers and board of DUET have dedicated themselves to raising awareness of the program as well as funds. The most difficult has definitely been the financials, as paying the teachers and buying keyboards for the kids is a key component for the organization to thrive and continue impacting the lives of at-risk kids. Bringing awareness of the program is vital to raise funds for this organization to thrive. Hopefully the more the more our community and others learn about the mission of DUETkids, the more support we can find.
As you know, we’re big fans of DUETKids. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
DUETkids is unique program that’s goal is to provide education and enjoyment of music to those who are not privileged enough to be able to afford private musical instruction. Our service is mostly to the younger community, such as kids and teenagers. We have not only worked in at-risk schools but also in collaboration with other organizations, such as Safe Shelter of Savannah and Urban Hope of Savannah, the JEA of Savannah, and most recently The Hitch Village Project. Our goal is to give kids the gift of music and instruments. One of our partner companies is Tommy Holland’s The Little Star Foundation, who works with us to provide instruments to the kids we work with so they can continue their musical education outside of DUETkids’ lessons.
What’s next?
Immediate goals are getting the Hitch Village Project staffed and funded, then our next one is the local JEA who has approached us, and another church community wants us to duplicate the Hitch Village Project in their neighborhood, which served the Yamacraw Village Housing Project. Next year Kelli Horton is creating a program specifically for the new Tharros House that serves sex trafficking victims ages 11-18, and soon we hope to have the Greenbriar Center for Children’s emergency shelter’s program complete. Our goal is to expand in the future, not only in Savannah and surrounding areas but throughout the country. As the only organization with a mission like ours, we hope to be able to provide musical education to any kid in the United States who otherwise could not. This in mind, it will take time, but our organization is dedicated to expanding so we can reach our goal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://duetkids.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duetkids/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duetkidsorg/?paipv=0&eav=Afa4_rrs23tl7NqvneM7BWEGLODKGCQkoid4qCeUFg1v9EWk_-F9bZsLkq_FjfjbS6k&_rdr
Image Credits
Bunny Ware
Grace Morrison
Faith Morrison
