Country Artist Willie Jones Visits Nashville Middle School With Help From The CMA Foundation

Jones Visited Margaret Allen Middle School as a Part of the School’s  
Black History Month Programming 

A longstanding partner of Metro Nashville Public Schools, the CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, arranged for Country artist Willie Jones to meet with students from Margaret Allen Middle School in Nashville Monday, Feb. 14 as a part of the school’s Black History Month programming.

During the visit, Jones – who is signed to Sony Music Nashville in partnership with The Penthouse – participated in a Q&A session discussing his path to Country Music, genre-blending sound and experiences within the music industry. In addition to offering students valuable insight and “gems of inspiration,” he also performed his new song, “Get Low, Get High,” a soulful lesson in navigating life’s ups and downs.

The visit comes as a result of the CMA Foundation’s effort to support CMA’s larger initiatives aimed at providing a pipeline for individuals and students to learn about and get involved in the music industry.

“We want to use our platform, resources and information as a portal for people, especially students, looking to make their way in the music business,” says Tiffany Kerns, Executive Director, CMA Foundation and CMA Vice President, Community Outreach. “By providing equitable opportunities to educate, guide and equip young people with the tools and information they need to be successful in this business, we can invest in the future of our industry and our students. Willie’s school visit is a great example of these efforts, and we are thankful for his voice, offering insight into his own path in the music industry, and sharing the life changing and healing power of music.”

“Music is a universal language that everybody speaks,” says Jones. “It’s so complex but easy to understand. I think it’s one of the most important tools that anybody (including kids) can have.”

Since its inception in 2011, the CMA Foundation has been committed to improving and sustaining music programs throughout the U.S. so all students have equitable opportunities to participate in a high-quality music education. The CMA Foundation believes music and the arts are part of a well-rounded education, investing $27 million to support these efforts over the last 10 years. During this time, the CMA Foundation has observed why music programs are not thriving, seeing first-hand the challenges educators are facing and, most importantly, the systemic issues that must be addressed in order for every child to have access to music. Committed to its vision, the CMA Foundation is working directly with school districts to identify needs, understand their challenges, build community support and develop local and national resources from partners as part of the non-profit’s systems change model.