A question that I find myself asking internally a lot is, “Who were the people that made Kenny…Kenny?”. I find that this question is one that I will be asking for the rest of my life. As I reflect though, there are a few that ring constant and that says something. Of the committee, stands Doreen Murray and Virginia Makkers. They say, “it takes a village to raise a child” and well, I feel privileged to have had these two living in my village. I met Mrs. Murray and Mrs. Makkers as a 5th grader at the Robert L. Ford School in the chorus class. I was the kid in the back of the class pretending like I did not want to sing my heart out. That changed quickly after they noticed me adlibbing in the back as a “joke”.  Not only did they bring me to the front of the class to sing the solo of “Oh Happy Day” by Edwin Hawkins, but they also set the foundation for my self-confidence in my ability to perform at a young age. I’ve worked with Doreen and Virginia ever since. They have been constantly positive influences in my life since the age of 10 years old. With them, I learned the impact of giving back to the community you grew up in and the importance of being a positive influence to anyone you encounter. Building Bridges Through Music, nurtured my spirit for music, while also, supporting my academic goals. It is my honor to be on the Board of this organization and help give back to “the kid in the back of the class pretending like [he/she] does not want to sing [his/her] heart out”.

Kenneth Adinkra - Alumni - Board Member