A key component of Law Rocks’ mission is to promote music education for underserved youth. In 2023, due to our increased sponsorship and fundraising, Law Rocks was able to offer a new grant at each Law Rocks show: The Music Matters grant. This grant, continuing in 2024, is given to a local nonprofit that supports youth music education in each of our U.S. tour cities. Omi Crawford, director of Law Rocks, says of the grant initiative:
“Since our 2009 founding, Law Rocks has supported hundreds of incredible nonprofits, with an emphasis on youth music education organizations. The Music Matters grant is a natural evolution of our mission and a chance to formalize our support of amazing music education nonprofits across the country.”
Today’s spotlight is on our 2025 Law Rocks Dallas Music Matters grant recipient, the Advisory Board for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. The Advisory Board provides opportunities and experiences for students and faculty in the pursuit of excellence in the arts and academics, bridging the gap between what is needed and what is provided, to ensure every student reaches their highest and best potential.
Keep reading to learn more in our spotlight interview with Lisa Lawrence Walker, Executive Director, Advisory Board for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Our 2025 Dallas Music Matters Grant Recipient: Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Advisory Board. Photo by Mike Brooks, courtesy of the Advisory Board for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
1) Can you tell us a little about the history of your nonprofit, as well as its mission and focus?
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (BTW) is a public school that works. Built in 1922 as Dallas’ first African American high school, BTW became the Arts Magnet High School in 1976, with a mission to teach a comprehensive curriculum in academics and the arts. The school’s dual emphasis on arts and academics consistently produces a stellar list of graduates -- Among those are Grammy winners Erykah Badu, Norah Jones and the late Roy Hargrove.
The Advisory Board is a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports the legendary 100-year-old Dallas Institution.
The students of Booker T. are passionate young artists with limitless potential. Though rich with talent, many have great financial need. We work behind the scenes to give students the opportunities passion cannot. We aim to close the opportunity gap to ensure every student reaches their highest and best potential.
Last year the Advisory Board administered approximately $450,000 + of scholarships, financial assistance and enrichment programs that directly benefited Booker T students and faculty.
Our mission: To advance Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and provide opportunities and experiences for students and faculty in the pursuit of excellence in the arts and academics.
We budget. We plan. We believe. So the students can CREATE.
2) What is the best example of the way you’ve seen your organization’s work make a difference?
We have the privilege to witness the impact our Community’s investment makes into our students every day. Thanks to our generous donors, students are provided the critical supplies and opportunities they need to be successful – like the beautiful new viola that the Advisory Board bought alumni Molly Martinez while she was at Booker T. Molly also was afforded a paid summer internship at the Dallas Museum of Art and travel assistance when Molly needed to visit and interview at colleges.
Molly, a first generation American citizen, was also the first in her family to graduate from high school. She went on to graduate from Harvard – And is now in law school, studying to go into the judiciary. She is intent on giving back to her community – An advocate and ambassador for little girls, with big dreams, just like her.
Molly represents everything that is right and good about Booker T – And what happens when we come together to provide students with what they desperately need and richly deserve.
“I am now an advocate for bridging the gap between lower-income communities like my own and the arts resources in Dallas. Every opportunity I have received translates to an opportunity in enhancing the lives of those in my community. My success is a prime example of what happens when our community partners with the Booker T. Advisory Board." - Molly Martinez
BOOKER T LIVE Music Fest Oct 2024 | Photo by Mike Brooks, courtesy of the Advisory Board for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
3) What are some upcoming initiatives that you are planning for?
The Advisory Board is intent on growing our resources for direct student support.
Last year, we administered approximately $426,000 in financial assistance and extraordinary learning experiences to close the opportunity gap at Booker T -- Approximately $270K funded need-based individual student grants. These grants provided resources such as MacBooks and instruments, production equipment and art supplies; dance wear and private lessons, travel assistance and tuition support for summer intensives.
In 2021-2022 we received over $328,000 in individual, need-based student grant requests.
In 2023-2024 we received over $558,000 in individual, need-based student grant requests.
This represents a 70% increase in just two years -- And this year, we were only able to fund 36% of the requests submitted due to limited funds.
It is our goal to grant as many of these critical requests as possible. We will continue to fundraise through the various channels we have historically, while looking to grow our friends and family that will partner with us.
4) What is the greatest challenge your organization faces?
Funding for the arts and education has historically been - and remains - a systemic challenge. And yet, there are countless data-driven studies that speak to the critical nature of both to our climate, culture and country as well as to the correlative success of the same.
BOOKER T LIVE Music Fest Oct 2024 | Photo by Mike Brooks, courtesy of the Advisory Board for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
5) What does the power of music mean to you?
The inimitable power of music is a both a game-changer and a life saver. We see it everyday. It is freedom. It is Voice. It has the power to come in through the backdoor of a heart and change the chemistry in a room. Music has the power to heal, challenge, reveal and reflect. We see and hear ourselves in it -- In all seasons and places in our lives.
6) How will the Music Matters grant be used?
The Music Matters grant will be used to help close the opportunity gap for Booker T. Students.
Learn more about the Advisory Board for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.