IN THE NEWS: AMP Berea Awarded $15K for Music & Wellness Partnership

AMP Berea (formerly First Friday Berea)—a Levitt Music Series grantee since 2017—has been awarded a $15,000 Cross-Sector Impact Grant from South Arts to launch a new music and wellness project that tackles the issue of social isolation in aging communities.

The proposed “Music & Meaning: Intergenerational Connection Through Live Music” initiative builds upon the success of AMP Berea’s Levitt BLOC Berea Music Series to empower older adults as leaders and organizers who will co-design 10 neighborhood concerts and block parties across Berea. The project is organized in partnership with Berea Home Village—a volunteer-based nonprofit supporting at-home independent living for Bereans ages 50 and up—as part of the Cross-Sector Grant’s goal to support collaborations between arts organizations and health or human services partners.

As part of the Music & Meaning initiative, each Levitt BLOC Berea concert will feature wellness activities. In an article for the Richmond Register, Berea Home Village Executive Katie Heckman says the initiative will help “build lasting social networks, disrupt aging, and create the kind of connected neighborhoods where everyone can thrive as they age.”

“Research shows that live music has the unique power to combat social isolation,” said AMP Berea Director Ali Blair. “It triggers positive memories, reduces anxiety, creates emotional connections across generations, and improves cognitive function among older adults. Anyone can participate regardless of current abilities. We’re using music to create the environment for meaningful exchanges between people who might not otherwise cross paths.”