Unlocking the Economics of Decency: How Anthropos Arts Achieves Remarkable Success Through Music Education
Photo Credit to Miles Peacock
My oldest daughter, Christa Marie, and I recently attended the annual concert presented by Anthropos Arts, in downtown Austin. We have made this trip several times over the years. Always leaving impressed by the talent development and accomplishments of these young people.
As I continue to explore “the Economics of Decency” as a sound business model, this group, although a non-profit, stood out for its stellar achievements that any business would aspire to.
“Anthropos Arts was founded to address a need in Austin for high-quality music education for low-income students.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect low-income youth with professional musicians, cultivating confidence, integrity, and life skills through musical instruction and mentorship. Our students get free instruction and mentoring from some of the best artists in the country, performance opportunities at Austin’s seminal venues and events, and exposure to a wide range of music as both audience and performer.”
Anthropos Arts began at two Austin High Schools, Travis, and Reagan High School, with 2 workshops and 15 students getting free music lessons. Since that beginning, they have gone on to provide over 18,000 music lessons to low-income students, over 100 incredible workshops in Title I schools with world-class and Grammy-winning artists, over 150 public student performances, and collaborations with world-renowned artists. All of this has come at a $0 cost to the students, families, schools, or districts that are served.
IMPACT STATEMENT, from Anthropos Arts
100% of our students are low-income and have little or no access to live music, no exposure to significant music genres, and no opportunity to receive high-quality, individualized music instruction.
Through our programs, students improve their grades and become leaders in their school music programs.
100% of our senior students graduate from high school – and for 5 of the last 6 years, all of them have also gone to college.
Our music selections are intentionally diverse. Students learn everything from Jazz, Latin, Indian, Arabic, Hip Hop, Romanian Gypsy, Rock, Funk, and other genres from all across the globe.
From Anthropos Arts website: anthroposarts.org
“Over the past 12 years, in schools with alarmingly low graduation rates, 100% of our senior students have graduated from high school, with more than 80% continuing to college on scholarship! “
If most businesses had this kind of result from their clients, they would be top performers. If most businesses treated their people with the same dedication to development, they probably would. Thirty-plus years of working with organizations around the world have taught us a pretty simple dynamic: when your people feel they are as valuable to you as your customers, they give you their best. This principle is the core of the Economics of Decency.
Have a great week,
Fundamental of the Week #4: GIVE UP THE NEED TO BE RIGHT
Keep your ego, personal agenda, and judgments out of the way of doing what’s best for the team or client. Don’t let your need to “be right” interfere with hearing others and seeing other possibilities.
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