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Certain moments in my life have come to form a string of events that have significantly shaped me. Growing up as an immigrant, I relied on the generosity of others to survive in this strange land. As an adult in Newark, my family and I relied on strangers to guide us in navigating this new community. In this newsletter, we share some moments forming the Keys’ identity as a community of unlikely fellow travelers, learning to rely on each other, growing in hope and joy. We are grateful that you are with us on this journey!
Jee-Hoon Krska, Executive Director
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When Stars Shine Together
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Seven years ago, we launched Keys 2 Success, believing that we can restore our cities if people from very different backgrounds could work together, giving and receiving, accepting and caring for one another as equals.
Last month, we held a concert in Summit, New Jersey, that was a little bit like a “wedding celebration” to celebrate the union of so many cultures. It was a time to celebrate dreams coming true before our eyes. We have been looking for this day when our students from Newark would sit shoulder-to-shoulder with accomplished musicians from all walks of life and claim their spotlight before the same audiences.
Everyone, from young children to grandparents, was dressed up and well-rehearsed. Steinway and Sons sponsored the concert. Our good friend and world-renowned pianist, Beatrice Long, headlined the event with moving performances of Gluck’s Blessed Spirit and Ravel’s LaValse. Wesley Liu, Keys 2 Success high-school intern who studies piano privately with Ms. Long, performed Impressões Seresteiras by Brazillian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. Our executive director, Jee-Hoon, performed Troubled Waters by Margaret Bond. But as usual, the children stole the show with their rendition of William Tell Overture and Libertango, which was arranged and performed by Beatrice with the student piano ensemble. One audience member said, “Your wonderful students did not miss a beat — literally. Very impressive that they could face a group like that and perform so well. They even kept up with Beatrice, who did not appear to slow down at all for them. Really impressive!”
Frances Burns, who taught the children in the very early days of our program, shared with the group, “Back in January 2017, Jee-Hoon had managed to get her foot in the door of South St. school. The building was old and overcrowded, and they gave her a storage closet as a classroom. Sometimes we’d have 12 + kids, 2 or 3 adult volunteers and maybe two music teachers and keyboards with headphones, all working and practicing at the same time. It was a little chaotic. But the kids stuck with it, they practiced and learned.….. and it was amazing to see how this started, evolved, and grew!”
Yes, we have all grown in love, with hope, and we will continue to shine together!
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A Summer Full of the Arts
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This past summer, Keys 2 Success not only taught piano but also provided our students with a visual art experience. The artwork shown above was created by Armani, an eleven year-old student who joined Keys 2 Success through our ACCA Creates partnership this past Summer. She is multi-talented and dreams of someday starting her own real estate business.
Armani and other students and interns worked together to produce over 40 pieces of art. Their paintings have been assembled into a movable mural that was put on display for all of their families and friends to see during our Summer performances in New Hope Village, and they are now on display in New Providence United Methodist Church!
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"[This Summer camp] gives youth a better chance to grasp certain skills that they normally would not have the resources to get. These programs help build certain talents that you can use in the future. You can take more interest in these things more than you thought and make it a full-blown career."
-- Armani, 11 years old
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Iyaan is a ten-year-old student in Newark who started learning piano with Keys 2 Success over the Summer of 2022 at New Hope Village in the Central Ward, one of the locations we had the opportunity to teach in thanks to the Piano Bus summer program, which transported instruments and staff to students "home turf." Iyaan used to live at New Hope Village and feels comfortable in that space. Iyaan now lives with a guardian since his mother recently passed away. He especially enjoyed attending classes with Keys 2 Success because his father lives near New Hope Village, and he could see his dad afterward.
Iyaan describes himself as shy, but K2S staff noticed that he had progressively gained confidence. He initially refused to perform, even in a group setting, since he was newer to playing the piano. However, after working with him one-on-one, he gained the skills and confidence to become one of the stronger players in Keys 2 Success. He also stole the show as Pumbaa in the Summer production of “The Lion King” in partnership with ACCA Creates.
Iyaan finds solace and enjoyment in music. After the unfortunate loss of his mother, Iyaan recognizes that having access to activities like music education as an emotional outlet is both important and uncommon for kids in his community. He has expressed that he knows he and his peers have potential but “don’t get opportunities for good things to happen in life because their parents might not be so wealthy…We deserve the same treatment because we’re all human.”
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Year-End Giving Has Launched!
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Our programs rely 100% on the generosity of hundreds of individual donors and foundations to pay for teaching staff, instruments, and programs like the Piano Bus. This year, we plan to raise $225,000 from individual donors. Thanks to the 43 early donors, including 33 recurring donors and 5 major donors who gave $10,000 or more, we only have 16% ($30,000) left to reach our fundraising goal! Will you join us by donating today? You can donate online or make your check to: Keys 2 Success, 1536 Springfield Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974
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