🎵 Creating Social Change Through Music: Accent Pontiac’s High School Program Thrives with Impact100 Support

At Accent Pontiac, we believe that music isn’t just an art form—it’s a powerful catalyst for social change. With generous support from Impact100 Oakland County, our Social Change Through Music: Pontiac High School program is not only thriving, but transforming lives, one note at a time.

Since our last update in late 2024, the program has made significant strides toward its mission of empowering Pontiac youth through music education, leadership opportunities, and real-world skill development. Here’s what we’ve been up to.

🎼 Program Highlights: Music, Mentorship & Milestones

With over $59,000 in Impact100 funds invested this year, we were able to bring to life the second half of Year 2 of our high school programming, reaching 31 students—our highest number yet.

• Three paid student teachers joined our team, stepping into leadership roles and becoming mentors to younger peers.

• Students engaged in instrumental training, music theory, production, and history, supported by expert teaching artists and program staff.

• We hosted two student showcases—one in January and one in May—and our students took part in performances across the community, from the Pontiac Holiday Extravaganza Parade to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Honors Band.

• Students also had unforgettable experiences like a field trip to Oakland University’s Wind Symphony and a 4-day guest artist workshop with Dr. Remus Webb.

🍎 More Than Music: Life Skills and Leadership

The program’s impact has extended beyond the music room:

• High school students earned ServSafe certification through a new partnership with the Pontiac School District, gaining practical skills while helping prepare food for our after-school meals.

• These same students, especially our student teachers, have emerged as role models for younger Accent Pontiac participants. Their influence has sparked a vibrant culture of mentorship that continues to grow.

💡 Challenges and Learning

While our progress has been inspiring, we’ve faced some challenges—particularly with student attendance and daily retention. Reaching 31 students was a milestone, but our goal remains to maintain a consistent daily group of 25 participants. We’re optimistic that this will improve as our current middle schoolers move into high school.

Additionally, the incredible success of our student teacher program has required us to strike a delicate balance—supporting their growth while holding them to the high standards their leadership roles demand.

📈 Funding, Sustainability & What’s Next

We’re proud to report that the momentum generated by Impact100’s investment has attracted additional funding, including:

• A $60,000 Michigan Department of Education grant supporting all after-school programs.

• A transportation grant from the Pontiac Community Foundation.

• Revenue from a June golf fundraiser to support summer programming.

Although we’ve had to revise expectations around earned revenue due to a partner’s lost federal funding, our broader sustainability plan remains strong. With multi-year grants already secured and a 10-year anniversary quasi-endowment campaign planned for 2026, we’re setting the stage for long-term impact.

🌟 The Impact So Far

The stories emerging from this program speak volumes. We recently interviewed three students heading to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp this summer with scholarships supported by Accent Pontiac. Their stories, captured in this video, are just a glimpse of how music is shaping futures and inspiring confidence, creativity, and community.

📣 Stay Connected

Want to follow our journey? Accent Pontiac shares updates about our high school program regularly on Facebook, Instagram, our website, and in our annual report and newsletters.

Together with Impact100 Oakland County, we are composing a better future for Pontiac’s youth—one student, one song, and one success story at a time.