BSOMA Blessings

The Billingsley School of Music & Arts, Inc. is officially a tax deductible 501(c)(3) organization!

             









The journey started on Tuesday, October 2nd 2012. 

I left everything comfortable and familiar for a road much less traveled through rough terrain. Since making that decision there have been some really hard days, but the amazing days definitely outweigh the bad. 

On Friday, March 22nd I received yet another rainbow! BSOMA's official acceptance letter from the IRS. We obtained our 501(c)(3) status in less than 6 months.

A small portion of the Dream Team. Pictured From Left To Right: Front Row: Paulita Todhunter, Menia Buckner, David Billingsley, Pamela Rollins, Ginger Commodore; Back Row: Susan Campion, Gary Hines, Juneau Armstrong-Hill, Nakeisha Ferguson, Lonte Hill, Steven Daniels Jr., Pete Rhodes

The Dream Team
Three days after receiving our 501(c)(3) acceptance letter we assembled a team of arts & community all-stars to help guide, enhance and refine the BSOMA vision and plan for the community.

The Dream Team consisted of 20 of the top artists, educators, and community activists from all across the metro. 

The intelligence, synergy and creativity in the room was beyond amazing! And the BSOMA Board of Directors were also on hand giving their insight as well.

The Dream Team Roster

Judge LaJune Lange
Judge. 4th Judicial District Court. Adjunct Professor. Civic Education. Lecturer

Dr. Kathy Thomsen

Associate Professor of Music & Fine Arts. Dalcroze Eurhythmics. President of Dalcroze Society of America.

VJ Smith

Mad Dads. Community Activist. Youth & Community Outreach. Trailblazer. Pioneer. 

Ginger Commodore

World Touring Jazz Artist. Educator. Actor. Singer. Clinician. Moore By Four. Sounds of Blackness. 

Paulita Todhunter

Diversity Director. Beauty Consultant. Youth Advocate.

Brandon Commodore

World Touring Drummer. Mint Condition. The BoomBox Music Company. Producer. 

Ronie George

Visual Arts. Educator. Angel. Motivator. Kid-Magnet. Visual Creator. 

Lonte Hill

Nonprofit Expert. Entrepreneur. Choreographer. Brilliant.

Steven Daniels

Musician Extraordinaire. Shiloh Baptist Church. Songwriter. Producer

Juneau Hill-Armstrong

Director. Clinical Supervisor. Early Childhood Mental Health. Professional Development Training.

Marcus Armstrong

Executive Director of Imani Youth & Family Services. Mental Health. Youth & Family. Public Policy Advocate.

Pamela Rollins

Visionary. Businesswoman. Dreamer. Writer. Playwright.

Lauren Miller

Art. Social Justice. Education. Youth Work.

Tyaira Hayden

Marketing. Branding. Youth Leadership.

Menia Buckner

Dance. Youth Motivator. Community Activist. 

Hope Ledeboer

Young Life Twin Cities Director. Theological Seminary. Youth Mentorship.

Jovianni Davis, a talented young pianist and former student of Mr. Billingsley

It Takes A Village

This has been a very productive week for The Billingsley School of Music & Arts (BSOMA). We have made great strides since beginning the nonprofit in October 2012.

Here are the cool things that we have been able to accomplish so far:

• Completed Business Plan
• Completed & Submitted 501(c)3 Application to the IRS
• Received Our 1st Donation of $100!
• Completed A Successful Photo & Video Shoot
• Over 200 Likes on Facebook
• Developed Important Relationships With Prominent Community Figures & Politicians
• Successful BSOMA Branding
• BSOMA T-Shirts Made & Distributed
• Completed Board of Directors 

This is only the beginning, but we are off to a great start. 
Continue to keep us in your thoughts!

Photo & Video Shoot

On Friday, January 25th we shot a video at The Ritz Theater in NE Minneapolis. Over 50 people came together from across the metro for one cause: Arts Access For Under Served Youth! We had an AMAZING time, everyone had so much fun! And the kids had the opportunity to participate in a professional Video & Photo Shoot for the first time. They enjoyed seeing the behind the scenes work that takes place when shooting a video and taking photos. 

It took a great concerted effort to pull this video & photo shoot together. The venue had to be booked, videographers and photographers had to be scheduled, the taping had to align with all of the student's and parents' schedules as well. What I realized was that it truly takes a village to raise a child.

So thank you to the village of people who came together to make this dream a reality!

Here is the village I'm talking about:

Ronie George - An AMAZING art teacher who changes the lives' of her students everyday.

Lonte Hill - A passionate, dedicated, and talented dance teacher, businessman, philanthropist.

Kenneth Caldwell - Art exudes from him and students have no choice but to develop a love for it.

Melissa Briggs - A highly talented actress and extremely engaging theater educator.

Brandon Commodore - My brother and best friend who has been there through thick and thin.

Courtland Pickens - A passionate, loving and caring person with a heart for inner-city youth.

Senator Amy Klobuchar - A brilliant mind who is willing to help and support all people.

Susan Campion - A brilliant board member that oozes ideas, connections, and creative innovations.

Gary Hines - Founder of The Grammy-Award Winning Sounds of Blackness & Community Activist.

T. Mychael Rambo - Amazing community leader, arts advocate, and highly accomplished Actor.

Amy Oksnevad - A sweet-spirited dance teacher that truly loves and breathes the art of dance.

Malcom & Sarah Schaus - Parents of current students who have been so supportive on this journey.

Marie Chante - Amazing spoken word artist who has a huge heart for the arts & underserved youth.

Corey Stampley - A student and friend that I have had the opportunity to mentor.

Yanni Davis - Another student that I have had the opportunity to mentor.

Justin Blair - Photographer Extraordinaire that really brought the BSOMA vision to life and fruition.

Carl Martin - Extremely talented Videographer with an amazing drive, and work ethic for excellence.

Tyaira Hayden - A young ambitious entrepreneur that is excelling at creating her own path and brand.

Thank you to each and every person involved!

Our 1st Thank You!
BSOMA would like to extend our 1st Official Thank You to Lucy Newcomb for donating $100.00! Lucy, your contribution is going toward a GREAT cause! Thank you for being the first to make a contribution. You will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

BSOMA Meets With Amy Klobuchar's Office
I had the honor of visiting with the great people at Amy Klobuchar's office this week. I went in with an expectation and they far succeeded anything I could have ever dreamt of! Thank you so much to Senator Amy Klobuchar and staff for going above and beyond the call of duty! We are partnering together to bring arts access to underserved youth. Be on the lookout for some really great things with this new partnership!

2013...The Biggest Year Yet!

I'm REALLY excited about this new year! Why? Because I'm doing what I love and following the path that I know is right for me. 2013 is the year that The Billingsley School of Music & Arts (BSOMA) officially launches! I've been working really hard to make this dream a reality and it's coming faster than I could have imagined. When the stars align, everything just works, fits, and makes sense. That's how I feel right now. Don't get me wrong, there already have been many ups and downs, but the progress and progression towards Arts access for ALL students is right around the corner.

UPDATES

• I have officially completed all State & Federal Paperwork! We will be a certified 501(c)(3) in less than 6 months.
• The Board of Directors has been assembled and they are all awesome visionaries and leaders who have a passion for Arts access for disadvantaged Youth.  The Board consists of professors, doctors, world renown musicians, business entrepreneurs, and highly skilled and experienced educators.
• Look for an official BSOMA launch in the spring! 
• My Trip to Baltimore was AMAZING! I learned so much and made some awesome new friends, advisors, and consultants.

Christmas Came Early! BSOMA T-Shirts! More Info Soon!

What I'm Reading...

All of these books are wonderful and cover everything from board governance, to management, leadership, and fundraising for nonprofits. I highly recommend them all. 

Built to Last by Jim Collins

Boards That Make a Difference by John Carver

Good To Great by Jim Collins

The Wild Woman's Guide to Fundraising 

by Mazarine Treys

My Personal Life...

In retrospect 2012 was a great year. Learned a lot, experienced a lot, and played a ton of music. Everything that happened last year has prepared me for this moment. I've been blessed to travel to different parts of the country and share the gift of music with others. 

TWIGS Band Class Grades 5-8

Baltimore, MD | TWIGS 

Baltimore was an amazing experience! I visited the Baltimore School for the Arts. This is the high school Jada Pinkett Smith and Tupac Shakur attended while growing up. They have an after-school arts program called TWIGS. 

I met with the Executive Director of TWIGS, Georgia King and she was amazing! We took a tour of the school then visited various classes. I was able to observe a band full of kids from different schools in Baltimore, a top-notch dance class, musicianship classes, and also view their drama facilities. We talked a great deal and I came away with so much information. I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity. What else was cool was that this is the only program like this in the USA. Over 500 students audition every year for 300 spots available. THERE IS A HUGE NEED.

Christmas Concert With Robert Robinson & Sara Renner. A lot of Minnesota's Most Talented Musicians. Honored To Be In The Number.

The Billingsley School of Music & Art (BSOMA) | Access Changes Lives
Well, there you have it! Every time I look at the logo it excites me and encourages me to continue to reach for the dream. Whatever your dream is, go get it! My brain has been going 90mph. So many things to accomplish; but I'm taking it one day at a time.

The Board of Directors
Things are going extremely well! I have assembled a board of directors filled with amazing doctors, professors, business leaders, extraordinary educators, and even Grammy Award Winning artists!!! I've also met with the people at SCORE and strengthened my business model even more. Progress is being made and I couldn't be happier.

Next Post
My next post will be interesting and fun! Make sure you check back for the next update.

100 Hours!

Did You Know?
It takes 100 hours to complete a business plan? I was working on my business plan the other day and thought to myself, "Wow, this is a lot of work and it's taking me a long time to get done!" I turned to our trusty friend Google to make sure I wasn't moving at a tortoise's pace! And low and behold I learned that a business plan takes a minimum of 100 hours to complete. I was comforted, knowing that I had completed four sections and had only five more to finish. It will all equal out to about 100 hours.

Right on schedule! YES!

Cool Things Are Happening
I'm in the process of becoming a certified nonprofit corporation with 501(c)3 status!!! The Foundation Group is a really awesome company partnering with me to make this happen. I highly recommend them! I'm also assembling my Board Members for the organization. A name? I've been wrestling with this but, the unveiling of the name and logo will be in my next blog entry. So be on the lookout! And lastly, once I finish my business plan (by the end of this week) I will be meeting with my friends at SCORE to refine it and it make stronger. My vision grows stronger everyday I work on my business plan.

Sharing The Wealth
As you can see I'm trying to give you all the information and resources you need to pursue a business venture similar to mine.  I'm blessed to be a blessing to someone else. The need is too great.

Sweats & Hoodies
My lifestyle has changed for the better. I wake up every morning, workout, throw on sweats and head down to the community room to plug away at my vision. Everyday I'm getting closer to the fruition of the dream.

Life Updates...

Robert Robinson: Sold Out!

I had an amazing weekend with the Pavarotti of Gospel Music, Robert Robinson. We performed at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester, MN to a sold out crowd of over 1,000 people.

My Performance Schedule...
A lot of you have been asking about my performance schedule and when you can see and hear me play. I'm constantly performing, and you can find out where I'm playing by following Robert Robinson's Schedule.

Confirmation!

As I work and do research for my after-school program today, I stumbled across an article that further supports the dire need for my after-school program. MN Schools are failing to provide all of the required arts.

• Only 28% of elementary schools in MN offer all of the required arts. (Arts, Drama, Music, & Dance)
• Less than 50% of all middle & high schools in MN offer all of the required arts.
• Research shows that students involved in the arts do better in math, science, and reading. 

"I think it's really important that our state and our school districts realize that they need to fund and support the arts just as strongly as they fund math and reading," said Kris Holsen, an elementary art and theater teacher in Brooklyn Park and president-elect of the Arts Educators of Minnesota.

Please Read...
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/11/education/study-minnesota-school-arts-mandates/

Doors Flinging Open!

Really cool things happening this way! Connections and networking opportunities have presented themselves in so many ways. When you are on a faith walk and on the right track, there will be signs to let you know that you are on the right track.

Good News or Bad News First? Let's start with the bad news.
So my trip to New Orleans, LA didn't happen. The program I wanted to go observe didn't want to see me...  : (

Sad? Yep. BUT they offered to answer any questions I might have via email. So, that's sweet. They also put me on to another really cool after-school program that I will probably go visit. http://www.littlekidsrock.org/index.html

I'm prepared to experience some amazing highs, but also some difficult lows on this journey. In the end it will all work out for the good.
                                                  
Now For The Cool Stuff...
I'm blessed to be the pianist for Robert Robinson http://robertrobinsonmusic.com he performs all over the place and I get to go with him. It's amazing. Period. I'll post performance dates soon, for now check out his website and you can find where we'll be next. Anyhow, we played a gig for an amazing organization here called Urban Ventures http://www.urbanventures.org.

I met the coolest man on planet earth at this gig. His name is Art Erickson, he is the Founder of Urban Ventures and wants to meet, talk, and help me with my program!!!

FYI...
This is the 1st of many meetings I will be having like this in the next few weeks. Cool? Yep.

Here is Art with the children from Urban Ventures!

Lastly...

I've made great strides lately towards making my dream a reality. I've started working out and eating healthier foods, I've also been screwing down a lot of the nuts & bolts of my Vision/Business Plan. Take a look...

Thanks Again...
As always, thanks for taking time out of your busy day to check out my blog! It is much appreciated. The blog has been up for a little more than a week and has already received over 500 views.