In a post-pandemic world, just over 1/3 of students report experiencing struggles with mental health; just under half report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness; 1/5 have seriously considered suicide and just under 10% have attempted it. In adults, anxiety and depression rates have increased over 25% since the pandemic. Stress, anxious feelings, anxiety and fear are not only crippling teachers, but forcing many to leave the profession.

Adding in the impact of technology and the influence of social media, to name just two more challenges, and we find our current generation of students and teachers in a most challenging and seemingly unimprovable world. However, a possible solution in attempting to address these issues already exists in most schools across the US. It has been backed by not only research, but by the participants themselves. Never has there been a more important time than right now for music education and the myriad of accompanying benefits.

On Sunday morning, August 18^th, 2024, Dr. Milt Allen will set off on a 3000+ mile journey from the Santa Monica Pier in California to the Annapolis Pier in Washington D.C. This coast-to-coast adventure will traverse through 13 states, require over 100,000 feet of climbing and encompass landscapes ranging from deserts to mountains to the great plains. Tentative completion is late October/early November. Camping, donated funds in support of the trip and the kindness of schools, friends and strangers will be the order of the day. Milt will be available evenings along the route for clinics, keynotes and chats for students, teachers and parents. Subjects include the value of sustaining music programs in schools, adolescent brain development and tips on mental wellness for youth and adults based on Crisis Incident Stress Management (CISM) practices. You can follow the adventure by clicking on the Facebook link below.

Dr. Allen’s work through TMG includes providing onsite clinics and short residencies in the US along with ongoing commitments in Rwanda, Zambia and Compton, CA. The post-pandemic business climate has put a hardship on
obtaining the funding needed to not only conJnue these commitments, but to explore new ones both in the US and abroad.

Currently, there are 2 trips to both Rwanda and Compton and 1 trip to Zambia tentatively scheduled in 2024/early 2025. Trips to Africa alone are around $3000 each, yet the cost pales in comparison to the opportunity it provides in places that have no access to additional onsite instruction, materials, and mentoring, nor the funding to do so.