The School is a founding member of the Knoxville Area Mentoring Initiative (KAMI), a coalition of youth- mentoring organizations. These organizations work to improve the lives of young people in economically hard-hit areas. KAMI organizations benefit from U.S. Department of Justice funding support in areas most affected by America’s opioid crisis, which includes East Tennessee. Along with this financial support comes a mandate to provide information and awareness opportunities for KAMI mentors and staffs.

One such event took place in July in our building, entitled, “The Scope of the Opioid Problem.” Jessica Stanley of the Metro Drug Coalition and Lieutenant Josh Shaffer of the Knoxville Police Department shared the podium and delivered an impactful and informative presentation on the opioid epidemic and its influence on youth in areas served by the Joy of Music School and others.

“We received training and information ranging from what to do in the event of an overdose to a description of the illegal drug trade doing so much damage Tennessee,” says Executive Director Frank Graffeo. JoMS Development and Marketing Manager Hannah Lozano, who has extensive training in social work, adds, “Jessica and Lt. Shaffer showed us just how hard we need to fight back to protect the young people we serve. And music mentoring is our chosen way among many.”