This week’s Hometown Hero is Meredith Richard, the executive director of Musical Empowerment at UNC. One of Carolina’s student organizations, Musical Empowerment serves children in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school district who do not otherwise have access to music lessons.

“We pair college student volunteers with children from under-served communities for free one-on-one music lessons. We also provide instruments to students enrolled in our program and we’re really about building relationships between our students and teachers. So it’s a great opportunity for children in the community to work with college students who are mentors and role models for them, and also a wonderful way for college students to volunteer, be role models, and learn how to grow and be an empathetic mentors and role models.”

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