Finding Solutions: Nonprofit helps students impacted by Hurricane Helene
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - MelodiousOne Educational Institute (MEI) is a non-profit that cultivates academic excellence and artistic brilliance through an immersive, arts-integrated learning model.
They recently received a 50k match grant from the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund to families impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Now until July 11, they provide tutoring, help heal trauma through music, drama and visual arts while also providing family workshops, instrumental loans and educational supplies through their summer program.
Registration is still available for the summer.
Thanks to the grant, they are able to provide these services for free.
Founder Shea Burns created MEI not only to teach kids and give them a valuable education, but she also wants to nurture the whole student, teaching lessons they can use outside of the classroom.
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“They get a chance to not only get the personalized education, but they spend some time in music, do our new course stories of a nation, and then they get to spend some time with our culinary arts teacher, making food art, and eating some delicious food after they make it,” said Burns.
Burns is no stranger when it comes to music.
“I have ADHD, I’m dyslexic, and had a lot of issues growing up, but when I was younger, my mom put me in piano lessons at the age of 3 because she realized I was a little different. That taught me some discipline, gave me better posture, it taught me how to focus more on harder tasks,” said Burns.
Skylar Byrd didn’t originally come to this week’s Young Winds workshop to learn the trombone.
“With me, I have good muscle strength and I have good breaths, so she put those two good things together and told me this was right for me. At first, I was like I don’t want to play the trombone, but then I tried it out, and I was like I like the sound it’s making,” said Byrd.
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Sanmaurii Dickerson is one of the kids participating in MEI’s summer program.
“I have been learning social studies, and sometimes Mrs. Shea will pull me in the room for math equations. I have been learning a lot here,” said Dickerson.
For Byrd, she’s ready to take what she’s learned outside of the classroom.
“I like it and I’m getting benefits from it, so when somebody needs me at the church, just know I’m ready,” said Byrd.
MEI is still looking to raise around 20k more, so they can receive the full amount.
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