New Song Community Learning Center

In 1991, New Song Community Learning Center opened its doors to address the educational dilemma of children and youth living in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of west Baltimore City, Maryland.  Although a community rich in cultural history, it faces the problems of many urban neighborhoods: high unemployment; low family income; a seriously deteriorated housing stock; the scores on standardized tests by students among the lowest in Baltimore city.  The Learning Center is an outreach program of New Song Community Church.  Starting with a half-day pre-school program serving about 40 students, the educational program has expanded to full day classes in grades up to high school level.  In 2001 New Song moved into a 28,000 square foot facility which it financed and caused to be built.  The building has modern classrooms, multi-purpose rooms for sports and events and a full service cafeteria and rooftop greenhouse.  In 2002, at the initiative of the Virtu Foundation and with the Foundation’s financial support, New Song began a string music teaching program.  This program has expanded and is now part of New Song’s larger arts program which includes graphic arts, chorus, dance and string music teaching.  Directed by Alexis Schultz, the string program now provides an access to music performance for dozens of children aged seven to ten.  The Virtu Foundation is committed to continue its support of the New Song Strings Program by providing both funds and instruments.