Meet Emily, AmeriCorps Vista

Emily Stephenson is an active AmeriCorps VISTA member sponsored by the Minnesota Literacy Council to serve at Hopewell Music. Emily is Hopewell’s first Literacy VISTA, helping reduce achievement gaps by building Hopewell Music’s capacity to serve under-resourced students in North Minneapolis.

​Originally from Madison, WI, Emily recently moved to Minneapolis after graduating with a B.A. in both music and French from St. Olaf College in May 2018. As a Literacy VISTA at Hopewell Music, Emily has been researching the relationship between music education and literacy, and has worked alongside Founder & Program Director Ellie Fregni to develop innovative programs and events for the Northside community.​

Emily's principle instrument is the french horn, and she is currently a proud member of the Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dakota Valley Symphony. Her musical artistry allows her a detailed and personal view of music education, and she has already found creative ways to pair music and literacy within our North Minneapolis community. 

One of the first projects that Emily took on at Hopewell Music was to partner with the Webber Park Library to host free community sing-alongs to popular children's movies. With two events left in the series, the project has already been a terrific success with Northside families and has raised awareness for both music education and literacy. 

Looking forward, Emily is focused on another impactful project for North Minneapolis youth. Her vision is to create a youth center for neighborhood kids that offers a safe space to socialize, seek mentorship and homework help, and casually explore musical opportunities right in their own neighborhood. Emily plans to host the youth center at Hopewell Music and to include music recording and beat making equipment, harmoniously coupling technology literacy and music.

If you're interested in getting involved with Emily's efforts as Hopewell Music's Literacy VISTA, you can reach her by email at emily@hopewellmusic.com. You can also make a huge difference for North Minneapolis students by donating and volunteering!