“ People should come away feeling inspired and excited by the next generation of kids coming through Rosie’s House, because they’re amazing,” said Rosie’s House CEO Becky Bell Ballard. “They are trailblazers and leaders.” We exist because there’s a problem in the system in terms of equity in access to music education. We’re trying to solve that problem. “ ” Rosie’s House has been offering that identity to kids for 25 years by eliminating barriers to high-quality music education. “We exist because there’s a problem in the system in terms of equity in access to music education. We’re trying to solve that problem,” Ballard said. Rosie’s House is about more than music. Music is the start of helping kids develop their full creative potential, and their potential as young people. Accordingly, in addition to instruction in piano, strings, guitar, winds, choir, mariachi, digital music and advanced chamber ensembles, Rosie’s House provides a range of programs outside the classroom, including mentorship, service-learning opportunities, college-readiness assistance and even healthy meals. The organization’s growth has been remarkable, even to founder Rosie Schurz. “Starting out in a tiny house with a dozen students, it was hard to imagine, even in my dreams, how the organization could reach so much growth and success,” she said. But it’s not just Rosie’s House that has been successful. Its students have gone on to achieve big things, too. Take Ivan Martinez Morales, a musician who joined the Navy after leaving Rosie’s House. After four years in intelligence surveillance, he went to ASU to study computer science and went on to receive the prestigious NASA Space Grant Scholar Award. “Ivan credits his whole trajectory as a young person to the opportunity that he had to learn music,” Ballard said. “The people at Rosie’s House — his teachers, the other staff members, the other families — helped him expand his worldview and have a vision for what his career and future could be.” Ivan’s younger sibling is now enrolled at Rosie’s House. In this way, as kids are exposed to new pathways and opportunities, Rosie’s House lifts individuals, families and communities. In the past five years, 97 percent of Rosie’s House graduating seniors have gone on to attend college, compared to 53 percent of their peers. That’s why educator Aldie Lopez is so passionate about the organization. “Rosie’s House is that opportunity for our most needy students to be able to get that music education to truly be well-rounded, develop their leadership skills and develop their other inherent abilities to be successful in life,” he said. Over a quarter century, Rosie’s House has served approximately 10,000 students between the ages of 5 and 18. Whether in that tiny house off of 17 th Avenue and Van Buren or a church downtown, the organization has created a second JANUARY 2022 | 38 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA

If you are interested in learning more about the More than Music campaign, call Becky Bell Ballard at 602.252.8475, ext. 105 . FRONTDOORS MEDIA | 39 | JANUARY 2022 home and community for kids, with its own culture of creativity, collaboration and excellence. Now, after 25 years of service, growth and dedication to and from the community, Rosie’s House is looking to put down roots. A state-of-the-art campus on Jefferson and 9 th Street will be its new, permanent home, with a formal grand opening planned for later this year. “The new campus will allow us to double the number of young people who can be a part of Rosie’s House,” Ballard said. “We initially started working on this campaign during the early days of the pandemic by talking with a small group of dedicated supporters. We are overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and shared vision for what Rosie’s House can be.” Through the More than Music campaign, Rosie’s House has already secured more than $5 million in donations and is well on its way to achieving its $6.5 million goal. That’s music to Rosie Schurz’s ears. “We finally are going to have our own home!” she said. “A young, dedicated generation has taken the school to the next level.” Indeed, the new building will offer various classroom sizes, so that solo, ensemble and group instruction can take place in appropriately sized spaces. These classrooms will also double as meeting spaces and gathering spots for families. Meanwhile, a café in the front of the building will distribute meals to children. “We’re going to do about 5,000 meals this year. Basically, any kid that walks in this building that’s under 18, can eat a meal from St. Mary’s for free,” Ballard said. Expect robust community-building activities, too, because finally the space will be their space. “We will get to grow and provide more services to the community with the time and the space. That’s really, really important,” Scott said. Located downtown, right off of light rail, the new Rosie’s House location is accessible from most of the Valley. Both its accessibility and its permanence will be key. “Symbolically, it’s really important for Rosie’s House to have a permanent home. The community of Phoenix has seen the value in having a cultural asset that is around equity,” Ballard said. “It’s around the idea that regardless of a child’s socioeconomic background, there should be a place where they can have an amazing opportunity to learn and grow and be part of a community.” It’s a community Rosie Schurz started in 1996, when she listened to the music and decided to bring that magic into children’s lives. Today, she is thrilled to see how the organization has evolved. Just ask Marvin Scott, who has known Schurz since the organization’s early years. “You can definitely see the joy in Rosie’s eyes about this place, knowing how far it’s come over all these years,” he said. Music was the muse that tied her life’s work together. “Music has continually enriched and guided me throughout my entire life,” Schurz said. “My hope for Rosie’s House is that it will be a beacon of light and hope for the next 25 years and beyond.” To learn more, go to rosieshouse.org . As one of the largest free, afterschool music programs in the country, Rosie’s House uses achievement in music as a bridge to achievement in life.