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Hello everyong! In January, we at Keys 2 Success took a moment to reflect. Our dedicated staff celebrated this past year's achievements and quickly dove headfirst into preparations for the new year - learning new music and making new partnerships. Simultaneously, we've been investing in the growth of our Urban Fellows, guiding them through college essays and pre-college applications, and all the while deepening our connection and concern for one-another. I hope you feel the warmth and joy as you read this newsletter!
Jee-Hoon Krska, Executive Director
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Keys 2 Success at
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
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We are starting 2024 with a bang! Our students have been invited to perform in a prelude concert before the New Jersey Symphony performance of the famous Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. As members of the El Sistema New Jersey Alliance, operating under the fiscal sponsorship of the NJ Symphony, we will be sharing the performance with the Paterson Music Project and the Sister Cities Choir. If you're in the Newark area, please come to support us! We'll be playing "Longing" from William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony, Libertango by Astor Piazzola, and the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing. Hope to see you soon!
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A Student's Story
Written by Yemisi Ogunderu
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I’m eight years old, running through a field. I chase my friend until we both need to sit beneath a tree and catch our breath. She then walks to a nearby bush and picks up a yellow trumpet flower, the national flower of Nigeria. She puts the flower between her upper lip and nose, and we laugh. At night, I return home with drooping eyelids to the smell of Fufu and Egusi made by my mother. I eat, and she tucks me into bed. I pray before falling asleep, asking God to make sure things never change.
I wake up in the United States. What was once a beautiful flower is now wilted. My life had turned upside down. Each day I would wake up with nothing to look forward to in or out of school. Several years went by, and I felt more lost each day, like falling into a hole with no one to save me. I felt alone and invisible in a big, crowded world with tall buildings and blazing light.
One day in high school, I found a friend named Dara who introduced me to the piano. As we walked home together, I was fascinated by all the wonderful stories Dara told me, such as going to concerts. In the middle of the road, I reached for my phone to call my dad and beg him to let me go to the piano class. But I hesitated, what if he wouldn’t let me go somewhere he doesn’t know much about? “Come on! Just call him!” Dara encouraged me. This call turned my life upside down, but this time, it landed with the right side up.
Piano gave me access to a new and exciting world with many unfamiliar people and opportunities. This different world, however, soon became majestic, just like my past life in Nigeria. My life which was stuck in such a narrow path suddenly opened up to so many new possibilities. I got chances to travel, perform, speak in front of hundreds of people, make new friends, and learn more about the American Dream. Meeting Dara also taught me a very important lesson: who I spend time with determines which opportunities are available to me, because friends help each other discover new interests, find new programs to participate in, and dream big dreams.
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Yemisi Ogunderu is one of Keys 2 Success Urban Fellows. She is a sophomore at North Star Academy Lincoln Park. She teaches at three of our teaching sites every week while balancing two college-level classes at school. Her hard work ethic goes beyond her role as an Urban Fellow. She is a straight-A student with a GPA of 4.33/4.0. She has dedicated her time to applying for various pre-college summer programs. This is one of her many outstanding essays.
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Can you believe it's nearly March already? Time flies! Let's pause for a moment to reflect and applaud one of the most fantastic achievements of the past year - our Winter Concert!
The concert was a resounding success, with the hall brimming with students, families, and supporters. It was a heartwarming sight to see everyone come together to celebrate our accomplishments. A special shoutout goes to our Urban Fellows, who spearheaded a wreath fundraiser with the helping hand of our friends at the New Providence United Methodist Church. Together, we managed to raise over $4000 from our generous community!
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A special wreath was awarded to Mrs. Ajayi, Darasimi Ajayi's mother, for donating over $1,000 in her yearly donations.
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I wake up every morning knowing
I am in a battlefield. Everything seems to be working against Newark, but I maintain hope.
I work towards my dreams
for a brighter future.
- Darasimi Ajayi, 10th Grade
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If you have been with us for a while, you will know that Pennington Court is the heart of our program, anchoring our efforts in the community. Just a short distance away lies Hyatt Court, another public housing site. Many families share ties between the two communities. In fact, one of our very first students, Onya, recently moved from Pennington Court to Hyatt Court to live with her godfather's family.
This January, we were thrilled to receive an invitation to teach at the Center of Hope at Hyatt Court! By extending our classes to Hyatt Court, we not only strengthen our connection with current students like Onya but also open doors to a whole new community of young students. This expansion allows us to broaden our impact and reach, enriching the lives of even more aspiring musicians in our area.
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....and the result is in!
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Thanks to the incredible support from each and every one of you, we not only reached but surpassed our fundraising goal, amassing a grand total of over $192,000. This places us in a solid position as we stride confidently into the promising year that lies ahead in 2024. Your unwavering support fuels our progress, and we couldn't be more grateful!
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