Social Change Through Music: Year Three at Pontiac High School

At Accent Pontiac, we believe music is more than an art form — it’s a powerful tool for connection, leadership, and social change. Thanks to the continued support of Impact100 Oakland County, our Social Change Through Music: Pontiac High School program is now well into its third year, and the impact continues to grow.

Since submitting our last interim report in June 2025, Impact100 funding has helped us strengthen and expand programming for high school students across Pontiac. To date, $79,732 of grant funds have been invested directly into staffing, summer programming, transportation, events, supplies, and student experiences that deepen both musical excellence and personal growth.

Building Strong Foundations for 2025–2026

This year marked an important milestone as we renewed our partnership with Pontiac High School for the 2025–2026 school year. With an updated curriculum and program structure in place, we trained staff and teaching artists — retaining 100% of last year’s teaching team — and successfully recruited students for the new after-school cohort.

In September 2025, we officially launched Year Three of the program, serving 25 high school students to date. For the first time in the program’s history, we began the school year fully enrolled and with a waitlist — a clear sign that students and families see the value of what we offer.

Expanding Leadership and Paid Opportunities

One of our most exciting areas of growth this year has been leadership development. We expanded our paid student internship program from four students to six, giving more young people meaningful, paid leadership experience. We also introduced a leadership class and structured mentorship opportunities that allow high school students to support younger Accent Pontiac participants, strengthening our community from within.

Music Beyond the Classroom

Students have had rich opportunities to perform, travel, and explore music beyond their school walls. Over the summer and fall, students:

• Performed at a summer showcase at Goldner Walsh Home & Garden

• Participated in community performances at Kirk in the Hills’ Homecoming, the Ann Arbor Jazz Festival, Oakland University’s Honor Band, and the Green Bucket Run

• Attended college and career exploration trips including Ready Set Audition Day at Michigan State University, Woodwind Day at Oakland University, Brass Day at Wayne State University, and a professional music production studio tour

In addition, students participated in a week-long overnight music retreat in Lexington, Michigan. We also sponsored three students to attend Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and two students to participate in the Detroit Jazz Workshop — experiences that can be truly life-changing for young musicians.

Celebrating Successes — and Facing Challenges Honestly

This year brought several unexpected successes. Enrollment reached full capacity for the first time at the start of the school year, and current students have been actively recruiting their peers. These results reflect stronger outreach and deeper relationships within Pontiac Middle School, Pontiac High School, and International Technology Academy.

At the same time, we continue to navigate challenges common in after-school programming. Attendance and retention remain areas of focus as we work toward consistent daily participation. This year, we are piloting student-designed attendance incentives to address these challenges collaboratively. Space limitations at Pontiac Middle School also present hurdles, particularly when breaking into smaller groups or providing physical movement opportunities during program breaks.

Measurable Impact on Students

The impact of Social Change Through Music continues to be both measurable and deeply felt. Evaluation data from the 2024–2025 school year showed:

• 97% of high school participants demonstrated musical growth

• 95% reached musical proficiency

• 93% of students in grades 6–12 showed meaningful gains in at least one social-emotional skill

Students also exceeded national benchmarks in academic self-efficacy and social skills. College professors have noted that Accent Pontiac students often perform above the level of their peers across Oakland County — affirmation that our approach works.

Looking Ahead: Sustainability and Growth

Our sustainability plan remains strong and unchanged. With multi-year support from the Joseph Cejka and Florence Cejka Foundation, Paul M. Angell Foundation, Detroit Arts Support, and a growing base of individual and corporate donors, Accent Pontiac is building a diverse and resilient funding model.

Impact100 Oakland County’s investment has been instrumental in anchoring the first three years of this project, allowing us to build infrastructure and collect meaningful impact data. We are also planning a public campaign to launch a quasi-endowment fund around Accent Pontiac’s 10-year anniversary in 2026, further strengthening long-term sustainability.

Gratitude for Partnership

We remain on schedule with our grant agreement and deeply grateful for Impact100 Oakland County’s partnership. Together, we are creating pathways for Pontiac students to grow as musicians, leaders, and community members — using music as a catalyst for lasting social change.