Our President
Michelle Golden
President of Books, Brushes & Bands for Education
Growing up in a creative household, I had the luxury to learn to make all kinds of things, attend live concerts and theater performances, take piano lessons, and be nurtured to become a creative person. Through the generosity of grandparents, there was always access to books, drawing paper, crayons, and paints. I attended college as a science major and then, changed majors to the fine arts in my first semester at Purdue University, West Lafayette focusing on the studio arts of painting, drawing and print making. I was a first generation graduate in my family with my bachelor of arts degree in 1986.
As a mother, it was important for me to provide my two sons the benefit of a strong fine arts education, particularly so that they could learn to play a band instrument of their choice. In 1998, after enrolling my oldest son into my elementary school, I was informed that there had not been an elementary band program in the School City of Hammond for over 35 years which remains the same today.
Within a year’s time, my husband and I chose to remain in Hammond, forgo having a third child, and started Books, Brushes & Bands for Education (BBB4E) in 1999. We officially incorporated in 2000, and received the IRS approval as a public charity in 2004.
As a child, my family struggled with money. Always. Our stay-at-home mother provided emotional stability while my father held numerous jobs with often no benefits and unreliable transportation for us.
I lived through that, but didn’t know what I was missing as a child. My parents couldn’t afford or transport me to music or art lessons. I rode my bike to a library branch.
Going to the library, drawing, painting, writing, and sewing kept me occupied and focused. My mother and grandmother encouraged my creativity, sparked my imagination, and believed in me. However, as a young mother, I desired a more structured fine arts education for my sons. I knew it was important to provide that for their peers because there would be shared experiences and memories made to last a lifetime for other families too.
BBB4E began as a nugget at Kenwood Elementary School with a school-wide themed bookmaking and writing project for 300 students. Later, a pilot band program followed for 16 kids.
Today, we have an extensive resume with a variety of projects, initiatives, and several ongoing after school music programs which began in 2003, now serving kids ages 5-18. Our reputation speaks for itself. Excellent, high quality, fine arts education accessible to students from any zip code and of any socio-economic background.
Relationships are key to learning, living, and thriving. Technology continues to serve the masses through a flat screen, however, there is no substitute for human interaction. Opportunities to develop creative self-expression, especially for the underserved, are waning with speed.
For those of us that are financially able, it is our duty and responsibility to ensure accessibility of a fine arts education for every child who has the desire to explore, experience, and study. We, as a collective, will be better for it.
BBB4E is a true community organization. It serves Northwest Indiana and is funded through tuition-based fees, private individuals, corporate sponsors, foundations, local, state, and federal grants as well as in-kind gifts. Without this combination of support, we would cease to exist.
Your gift matters to the students in our current program and for those yet to come.