The past year has been a wild and fulfilling journey for everyone at Keys 2 Success (K2S) as volunteers, staff, parents, and students came together to celebrate the end of 2021 and look back at the years' accomplishments. Leading the celebration were Jee-Hoon Krska, executive director of K2S, and Onieka Sutton, the K2S board director, who welcomed the zoom attendees with their welcoming spirits and inspiring words.
Ms. Krska took a moment to reflect on all the things K2S accomplished in 2021 and explained where the celebration got its name. She said that K2S planted seeds that have blossomed during quarantine as the world has slowly shifted back to normalcy. During the celebration, we heard from two people - Amanda Harberg and Ashley Molina - who were the "seeds" that blossomed.
Amanda Harberg is an award-winning Juilliard-trained composer and pianist, Fulbright Scholar, and Pulitzer Prize nominee who has joined our team as our Artistic Advisor. "Music education is fundamental to the development of every young person, as it connects students to something meaningful," said Ms. Harberg.
Ashley Molina is a Junior at the Academy of Information Technology. She joined Keys 2 Success last April via the pen pal program at her high school. She shared a beautiful (and slightly heartbreaking) story of being motivated to help Keys 2 Success students not share her musical journey.
Charlene Burgess, the K2S Director of Curriculum, and Lydia Alvarez, a K2S parent and Board member, wrapped up the meeting by sharing their journeys into Keys 2 Success and how music is not merely an "extra" curricular. Instead, music is a critical aspect of children's ability to grow socially, emotionally, and intellectually.
With that came the end of the zoom celebration, and if 2021 showed us anything, it was that no matter the obstacle, whether it's quarantine or remote learning, Keys 2 Success is continuing to bloom as the years continue to flow!
Written by Emely Duraes, K2S high school intern
