SPOTLIGHT ON:
EN-RICH-MENT, Canton, Ohio
EN-RICH-MENT (ENjoying the RICHness of Music, Education, Nurturing and Training) is a Canton, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 that provides music, education, training, instruments, art, dance, voice, drumline and agriculture classes free of charge to underserved urban youth ages 5 through 18 years. Yearly, EN-RICH-MENT touches the lives of over 100 youth.
EN-RICH-MENT is a safe haven for youth who live in low-income neighborhoods and come from diverse backgrounds. Programs offered provide an outlet for youth to express their needs and concerns. In their Music, Education, Nurturing, and Training (MENT) program, students are offered high-level learning opportunities through classes in music theory, history of various genres of music, and musicianship. They also receive private/group lessons and rehearse and perform in ensembles.
The core Music and Arts Education programs include:
- Weekly Saturday Classes
- Drumline (junior and varsity) and dancers
- Summer Fine Arts Camp
- EN-RICH-MENT Garden
Founder and Executive Director Betty Smith is the driving force behind this popular program. In collaboration with Beverly Bevington, Ralena Dahlheimer, and Samson C. Toe, she helped create EN-RICH-MENT in an effort to better educate and prepare our youth to be productive citizens to our society.
“We have a lot of talent out there. Kids want to do something, but some families can’t afford it. Music can change a community one note at a time. Put an instrument in a child’s hands and they won’t pick up a gun. We need to work with our children and give them positive things,” explains Betty.
SOHF Board Member Joel Owens and his wife Vicki have been promoting the work of EN-RICH-MENT for years, and organized a “Bangin” Drums 4 Music Education” day at Quaker Steak & Lube restaurant in 2017 to benefit EN-RICH-MENT. Betty and Joel have worked in Canton to revitialize neighborhoods and lives since 2003- “Betty is a FORCE! Her commitment to Canton, children, and music has led to Betty creating many community events and activities, including Canton Idol and Gospel Meets Symphony. Betty’s love of music and children is center to her work-a perfect organization for SOHF support.”
Our “Bangin’ Drums for Music Education” was a fun event! Local Todd fans joined Vicki and Joel at a local Quaker Steak & Lube; SOHF supporters provided lunch, raised several hundred dollars, and signed up several local musicians for volunteer music instruction time with Betty’s children.
How to Help!
Donations are needed for instruments, music books, instrument repair, snacks for participants and other necessary items to make the program successful. Volunteers are also needed. Please visit the EN-RICH-MENT website if you would like to help! http://en-rich-ment.org/
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