The purpose of Music Changing Lives (MCL) is to provide for at-risk youth through musical and artistic means. We want to be able to give our youth the best support and education and provide them with a safe place and environment where they are able to be comfortable in expressing themselves. We teach students the importance of staying in school and focusing on their education and their future. Our key programs include music lessons, art lessons, tutoring, mentoring, civic engagement, financial literacy and cultural experiences as incentive programs. We believe music and art are fundamental components of human culture and behavior. Many students living in the underserved communities have little or no access to the arts due to the reduction in funding. The knowledge of the arts is very important to know because it is a great means of self-expression. It also helps students in the future to understand people in a different way. There is a dire need to empower minority and low-income youth through arts education by going beyond an integrated classroom approach.