ION INDIE MAGAZINE September 2015, Volume 16 | Page 163

feedback. Also, a few foundation executives here in Atlanta have done more than direct funding to AMP, they have challenged me to think deeply about community impact and how AMP fits into the overall eco-system of Atlanta education, arts and nonprofits. But in the end the best mentors I have are the AMP students. It’s really quite simple: if our students are thriving I’m doing my job, if they’re not, I need to do better. All I have to do is take the time to observe and listen to our students. They always tell it like it is and sometimes that the best mentorship. KP: Anything well worth doing, is worth doing WELL. I have a mantra in business, and that is to surround myself with the BEST, for they make me look good! All kidding aside, tell me about the Co-Founder and Director of AMPlify, Aisha Bowden—who I know is also a driving force to the organization—along with the other talented staff members that contribute to the success of AMP. DR: I agree with that saying! Aisha has a rare combination of skills that makes her invaluable to AMP’s success. First of all, she is ride or die for our students. She is all about their potential and success and won’t stop at anything to see them succeed. Combine that with her 15-year career as a professional music educator in inner-cities and fantastic people skills and I’ve got a pretty darn good co-founder. The work we do is very challenging and requires artists that are both talented and special. In short, I try to surround myself with brilliant people. This keeps our standards high and our mission bold. KP: Can you please share with our readers, a few examples where AMP has impacted a young life? DR: In general I love seeing our students happy, learning to love hard work, enjoying each other’s company and performing on stages all over Atlanta. It’s amazing how far just that will take a child. They say is takes a village to raise a child and our students are surrounded by people who will do anything to support them, challenge them and give them the skills to do well. However our students are kids and they don’t always get to see the long hours our staff put in to prepare a concert, or see their parents pulling double shifts to scrape together gas money to pick them up from AMP classes. But that’s OK because they’re kids. That little bit of innocence can give them the confidence to dream and be ambitious. I love that AMP can be a part of this protective circle. Isn’t that what we want for all our children? KP: I appreciate the use of the term “underserved” when describing the youth that AMP administers to (I love that!) Can you speak on that please?