As a Board member, watching the growth and expansion of Plugged In as an organization, as well as the development of our students, has been most rewarding. The staff and instructors are nothing short of amazing! In addition, being in a Plugged In band myself allowed me to perform some of my favorite songs on stage with other musicians, fulfilling a "bucket list" item :-)
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I went into a store to get a Halloween costume. I was wearing a Plugged In shirt. The young man who greeted me at the door noticed my shirt. He told me that he had been a Plugged In student when he was younger, and about the impact it had on his confidence and his life.
It’s these kinds of “mission moments” that remind me about the important work we do.
My son, Ryan, has been a member of Plugged in for over 10 years and still loves it. He is now in two bands, is volunteering as a mutual mentor with the goal of one day being a Plugged In employee, and has both drum and guitar private lessons. Plugged In has allowed Ryan to feel like an active member of the community. He has been able to gain a sense of self-worth and he has wonderful self-esteem. He is a confident, kind and reliable man of many talents and abilites and is special because of them not in spite of them. as Ryan says, "Music is my Life and so is Plugged In".
Plugged In provided my daughter the first place where she felt comfortable and confident to explore learning about music and performing. The program not only helped her find herself as a musician, but as a person. The environment and community are unique unlike any other music program.
My kids thrived at Plugged In! They found a play to play music, make friends, and give back to the community. The atmosphere is non-competitive and inclusive. No student is ever turned away. So grateful for the many sessions and opportunities my kids had here! ❤️
This program was incredible for my son! It's where he found his tribe and developed his confidence as a musician. The non-competitive environment is an incredibly refreshing change from the pressure cooker that high school is these days. The teachers are wonderful, and Sandra, Tom, and Dan have created the most amazing culture of love and acceptance that permeates the whole program. When you join Plugged In you become part of a family. Not only do you learn to be a wonderful musician and work well with other musicians, but you learn how to be a good person in the world and a good community member. Best thing I ever did as a parent was to sign my son up! Can't recommend this program highly enough!
I've been part of the Plugged In board for the last five years and I've never seen an organization so focused on inclusion and empathy. Every single thing this community does is centered around making sure everyone is welcome, heard and appreciated. Using the power of music and group dynamics in a band, Plugged In develops these same behaviors of kindness in each of the kids in the program. Oh and the rock music is great!
Plugged In is magical. For the last ten years I have watched it transform young musicians. Time and time again it has provided a stage that allows its students to express themselves the way they are with full support from the entire Plugged In community. And along the way we created amazing musicians, raised money for other nonprofits, and had a good time doing it. It has changed my family’s life in so many ways and helped my son become the person and musician he is today.
Rock on!!!
Plugged In provided both our children with a fantastic opportunity to learn and perform music with other kids in a supportive environment. Tom's technical knowledge and kindness helped launch our teen son into his own sound recording business. Sandra worked overtime to make sure our daughter was in a band she liked. Those two are some of the most big hearted people we've ever met - and the program is awesome!
My son participated in Plugged In's band program, and I also have had the good fortune to work with Sandra and Tom in other town events and projects. This is an organization based on kindness, tolerance, acceptance, and helping kids at a vulnerable age to find their own voice and place as they grow into the world. The kids learn cooperation, self-expression, and empathy along with their music. The Plugged In staff are good musicians, to be sure, but they are also GOOD PEOPLE - music is their mechanism for a much broader and more important mission.
Plugged in is one of the best decisions we made for our autistic son . Ryan wanted for years to be in his own band and when we found plugged in it was a dream come through . It’s a family there , Sandra, Tom , Dan , and all the teachers Ryan has had there are terrific! The best , loving to no end . Ryan’s favorite thing to do every week ❤️
Plugged in is amazing! They help so many young kids find community in a productive way that teaches them how to give back to those who need help and push outside their comfort zones in the process.
Our son has been in PluggedIn for since 2018 and our daughter has been in the program since 2020. We absolutely love the program, and would highly recommend it to anyone. Two specific reasons for our love which are (a) my kids learn to learn music in a band, which is a great way to learn and (b) PluggedIn has a terrific social mission and does a lot for the communities.
Very warm and welcoming program, making kids and people of all backgrounds feel included and supported, and is a safe space for teens who may be struggling in school or with peers. Creative programming encourages leadership skills and engagement with the local and global community.
Sandra and Tom have created an amazing inclusive organization providing music and band lessons, but even more, finding a place for kids who might not fit into typical clubs or groups. Stellar organization!
Pluggedin is heart and soul and rock and roll. Everyone is included whether they can afford it or not, everyone can play, whether they already know how or not, everyone belongs, even if they don’t belong anywhere else. Kids can explore different instruments and learn to play in an organic way. Brilliant!
Plugged In Band Program provides a loving home for all of their students which nurtures not only their musical creativity, but also their emotional development. No one is turned away from Plugged In and many students are provided financial assistance to attend. Many/most of the instructors are former students who graduated from high school, then attended a music college such as Berklee College of Music in Boston, or the New England Conservatory, and then return back to this amazing program to teach the new crop of students. The founders, Sandra Rizkallah and Tom Pugh, along with the amazing director, Dan Croft, have created a space that allows kids to thrive. So many students and former students will come to tears when speaking of how much Plugged In has impacted their lives in a positive way. Tom, Sandra and the staff support each student where they are in their lives and lift them up to soar to heights they never imagined they would achieve. A student may start out saying they could never play in front of a crowd only to find themselves some months later singing their hearts out from a mic on a stage. The students also learn to give back...at the end of each session the students choose a different nonprofit to raise money for and the money raised at end-of-session concert goes directly to that chosen nonprofit. I cannot say enough for Plugged In! It is a space filled with love and care and kindness!