TRENTON CHILDRENS CHORUS
Making Music, Making Friends, Making a Difference
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
In a city with a 33% drop out rate, Trenton Children's Chorus (TCC) demonstrates that teaching children and youth to make music transfers the essential tools for success in academic, social and workplace endeavors. The most tangible impact of participation in TCC is the fact that 100% of choristers who stay with the program through high school, graduate and go on to college. From music education and performance opportunities, to academic support, leadership training, mentoring, summer camp placement, and college scholarships, TCC leverages the transformative power of music to help children reach their full potential.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Trenton Children's Chorus
TCC is an after-school program that provides exceptional choral music education and performance opportunities for 140 young people in grades K-12 from Trenton and the surrounding communities, as well as academic support, SAT prep, assistance with college application, and summer camp scholarships.
Trenton Youth Drum Circle
One Friday evening per month, about 35 homeless children at HomeFront host a few dozen TCC youth for dinner and drumming in their home-away-from-home at the shelter. TCC’s partnership with HomeFront uses the ancient art of drumming to bring kids together, to build relationships, and build community while cutting across lines that can divide people.
Youth Employment Training
Rehearsal Assistants (RAs) are employed high school aged choristers who assist after school during choir rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For many, being an RA serves as the chorister’s first paying job. The experience often sets the stage for future employment opportunities as candidates go through an application and interview process prior to acceptance. TCC conducts employment interviews and extensive RA training where expectations are explained, and on-going assessment is provided.
Satellite Programs
TCC operates two satellite choirs inside Trenton schools to provide choral music education in schools that lack vocal music training. Current programs are located at International Charter School of Trenton, Sprout U School of the Arts, and Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County (serving 4 locations).
The Learning Academy
The Learning Academy supports the well-being of the entire child through intensive academic support for TCC choristers from 3rd through 12th grades. It provides parent/child workshops and important academic services including, SAT/ACT prep, college application and financial aid assistance, as well as mentoring for college-bound freshman. The Listening Lab program offers resources to children with auditory learning needs and focus challenges. The goals of the Academy are: to foster effective learning and studying skills, organization and task management capabilities, an attitude of persistence; and to gain grade level math and literacy proficiency. The Learning Academy is offered after school on Wednesdays after school and currently serves children at Sprout U School of the Arts and Trenton Music Makers.
Where we work
Awards
New Jersey Non-Profit Excellence Award 2008
New Jersey Center for Non-Profits
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of graduates enrolled in higher learning, university, or technical/vocational training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Trenton Children's Chorus
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
In a city with a 33% drop out rate, for 29 years 100% of choristers who stay with TCC through high school, graduate and go on to college. In FY2018 5 seniors will graduate and go on to college.
Number of children who have access to education
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Trenton Children's Chorus
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of students who receive scholarship funds and/or tuition assistance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Trenton Children's Chorus
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
TCC provided more than $30,000 in scholarships for college tuition and music education.
Hours of tutoring administered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Trenton Children's Chorus
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
TCC provides intensive academic support services totaling over 90 hours of tutoring to dozens of choristers each year.
Number of youth who demonstrate that they have developed a strong sense of self
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Trenton Children's Chorus
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2017, TCC began measuring intended youth outcomes using pre- and post-surveys. Results indicated that 85% of choristers agreed that choir helped develop a strong sense of self.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Intended Youth Outcomes
TCC offers participants the life-changing experience of reaching new heights of achievement through the disciplines of rehearsal and performance. Our program is designed to help participants:
• Appreciate the value of self-discipline and commitment to a goal, understanding success requires great personal investment.
• Broaden their outlook on life, believing a wide range of possibilities are available to them.
• Recognize the importance of community, valuing the support and friendship they receive from
others and actively contributing talents and friendship to the group.
• Build skills that promote future success and happiness, from personal presentation to college readiness to lifelong musical participation.
• Enhance self-esteem, allowing success in Chorus inspire them to set ambitious goals for themselves.
• Embrace the transformative joy of music, discovering the happiness and satisfaction that come from working with others to create something beautiful.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Goal #1: Establish the Trenton Children's Chorus as a prominent member of the community and a leader in musicianship
Strategies
1. Cultivate collaborative community partnerships
2. Engage parents and alumni as valuable resources to strengthen and support TCC
3. Raise the level of musical artistry
Goal # 2: Drive programmatic excellence through an increased focus on best practices, standards of excellence, and assessment methodology
Strategies
1. Refine TCC's learning goals for academic, personal and musical growth
2. Expand access to existing TCC programs
3. Expand program offerings to increase educational opportunities and attract more youth
4. Continue to professionalize TCC staff training, development and assessment
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
• Passionate and committed staff members
• Revitalized board
• Development director with 20 years of experience
• New strategic plan
• Compelling mission
• Significant support from funders setting the foundation for the deepening of impact and expansion of reach
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Board
Twelve members deeply engaged in committee work, fundraising and personal giving. 100% of the Board contributes financially to TCC.
Staff
TCC has transitioned to a seasoned and professional staff, including an Artistic Director, Executive Director, Director of Development, Operations Manager, Choir Manager, Financial Manager, Choir Directors, Small Ensemble Director, Learning Academy Director, and Accompanists. The professionalization process has resulted in a more efficient organization with improved sustainability.
What's Next?
A deeper experience for the 100+ children participating in the core after-school program that includes high-value performances, ongoing educational support, and the very best in choral music education, and collaborative performances with area adult and youth choirs.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
TRENTON CHILDRENS CHORUS
Board of directorsas of 11/02/2021
Ms. Althea Williams
Business Manager, Merrill Lynch
Term: 2021 - 2024
Esq. Christina Orsini Broderick
Counsel to the Attorney General New Jersey Office of the Attorney General
Term: 2021 - 2024
Rob Connor
Christina Seix Academy
Nora Schultz
Align Partners, Inc.
Maureen Llort
Retired Director of Development, Trenton Children's Chorus
Tanice Fitzpatrick
Architectural Design Consultant
Bill Wakefield
Retired Engineering and Construction Consultant
Althea Williams
Business Manager, Merrill Lynch
Katherine Harmon
Financial Coordinator, Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students, Princeton University
Carol Wehrheim
Freelance Writer and Editor
Samaad Robinson Werner
School Administrator, Trenton
Nina Putnam
Sandy Choute
VP; Segment Analyst, Merrill Lynch
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Not applicable -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/02/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.