Rise Up: Finding Strength, Voice, and Community Through Art

As the academic year came to a close, CLaSE concluded its programming with an event that reflected the heart of its mission: creating spaces where stories, creativity, healing, and community can meet. Rise Up: Overcoming Challenges and Finding Inner Strength was more than a performance. It was a collective affirmation of resilience, belonging, and the transformative power of collaboration.

Held on April 28 at the Howard Fox Theater, the event brought together young talents from immigrant families between the ages of 9 and 17, university faculty, alumni, musicians, mentors, families, and community members in an atmosphere filled with emotion and pride. Behind every performance was a semester of preparation, encouragement, artistic mentorship, and trust.

Graduate student and CLaSE Fellow Tim Anagnostis played a central role in artistically directing the performers, helping students shape their stage presence, develop confidence in their expression, and transform vulnerability into performance. Equally essential was the unwavering commitment of Masiel Rodriquez-Vars, Director of MFEE, whose efforts extended far beyond coordination. Week after week, she organized transportation, drove students to campus, mentored them, and encouraged them every step of the way toward the stage. Together, their dedication created a space where students felt supported, valued, and empowered to share their voices with confidence.

Throughout the evening, students shared original music, songs written in Spanish, poems in Kichwa language, and personal expression that revealed not only their talent, but also the courage it takes to be seen and heard.

What made Rise Up especially meaningful was the network of partnerships that carried the project forward. The event emerged through the collaboration of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Montclair State University, the Department of Theatre and Dance at Drew University, the John J. Cali School of Music, Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE), and CLaSE working together and preparing for the last 4 months. Each partner contributed distinct expertise, care, and vision, creating a truly interdisciplinary experience where the arts became a bridge between education, mentorship, and community engagement.

The collaboration itself became a model of what universities and community organizations can accomplish together. Faculty, students, and local organizations worked side by side, not within isolated disciplines, but through a shared commitment to supporting young people and creating opportunities for expression and growth. In many ways, Rise Up demonstrated that interdisciplinarity is not simply an academic framework; it is a human practice grounded in listening, reciprocity, and collective care.

For Lisa Brenner, Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Drew University, the experience left a deep impression:
“I was so honored to be a part of the Rise Up production team. When I learned about the program, I reached out to MFEE to inquire about volunteering. The organizers at MSU and CLaSE immediately welcomed me. I was moved by the performances of the middle and high school students, especially seeing how much their confidence and self-expression grew over the course of the semester.”

She also reflected on the importance of mentorship and the role the university community played in supporting the students:
“I was struck by the mentorship the youth received from the MSU faculty, staff, and students. The public response to the event was warm and enthusiastic. Programs like Rise Up are critical to immigrant teens. They amplify youth voices, demonstrate the value of higher education, and bring communities together for learning, creativity, and celebration.”

The emotional impact of the evening extended beyond the stage. Behind every performance was a semester of preparation, relationship-building, and trust. Students discovered confidence not only in their artistic abilities, but in their own voices. Many found themselves stepping into spaces they had never imagined possible.

That same sense of transformation was deeply felt within the collaboration with the Music Therapy Program at the John J. Cali School of Music. Dr. Michael Viega reflected on how previous partnerships with Entrenadores Escolares and MFEE naturally evolved into participation in Rise Up.

One of the performers, Cristian, came weekly to campus to record his music at the David Ott Lab for Music and Health, an innovative space dedicated to exploring how digital music technologies can support human wellbeing. Music therapy students Giana Pellegrini, Monica Rodriguez, and Bella Miller also supported students Allyson and Kimberlin as they performed Reencuentro by Álvaro Torres, transforming the song into a heartfelt tribute to their home countries and personal journeys.

Reflecting on the experience, Bella Miller shared:
“Being able to participate in Rise Up was such an amazing experience. Seeing everyone’s confidence on the night of the show was truly so special.”

Giana Pellegrini added:
“Participating in this program gave me an opportunity that I’ve never had before to learn and work with young people. It was truly amazing to see how brave and talented they all are.”

Monica Rodriquez concluded:
“I loved participating in this program, it genuinely made me so happy seeing these kids gain so much confidence in such a short amount of time. I loved working with them, they were incredibly sweet and so very talented and watching them become brave in real time was magical.”

Dr. Viega described the project as “community music therapy in action,” reminding us that music is not simply performance or entertainment, but a form of healing, connection, and human dignity.

The evening left many in the audience visibly emotional. Families watched students step into the spotlight with confidence. University students discovered mentorship as a reciprocal experience. Faculty and community partners witnessed the profound impact that can emerge when institutions choose collaboration over isolation and humanity over hierarchy.

For CLaSE, Rise Up represented the culmination of an academic year dedicated to dialogue, cultural affirmation, and community-centered learning. It reminded everyone present that education is not confined to classrooms, nor transformation limited to formal curricula. Sometimes transformation happens through a song, through movement, through the courage to tell a story, or through the simple realization that one’s voice matters.

As the event concluded, what remained was not only applause, but a deep sense of gratitude: for the students who trusted the process, for the partners who believed in the vision, and for the community that gathered to celebrate resilience, creativity, and hope together.

Antonella Calarota-Ninman – Director of CLaSE