Murfreesboro, TN - September was a big month for the Rutherford Arts Alliance (RAA), and Executive Director Jeff Lysyczyn couldn’t be more proud of what the organization accomplished.

In a heartfelt update, Lysyczyn shared that RAA awarded its very first round of K–12 scholarships—an exciting milestone for the group. Ten students from three middle and high schools across Rutherford County received instruments and lessons, opening doors to artistic opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach.

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am,” Lysyczyn said, reflecting on the community effort that made it all possible. “From the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to our private donors, teachers, administrators, parents, guardians, and our board members—everyone stepped up to make this program a reality.”

And the momentum isn’t slowing down. RAA just received a $22,300 grant from The Christy-Houston Foundation, Inc., which will fund the next round of scholarships. Lysyczyn gave a special shoutout to board member Lucy Langworthy for her work on the grant application and to Christy-Houston President Anne C. Davis for guiding the process.

“These scholarships help our youngest creators overcome financial barriers,” Lysyczyn said. “How lucky are we to be making this kind of difference?”

But that’s not all. RAA is also launching a new initiative called The Art of Unburdening, a program designed to support dementia caregivers through creative expression. With help from board member Mai Hamric, Poetry in the Boro’s Kory Wells, and Kara Kemp of Bloom Stage, the program is funded by an Arts Build Communities grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Lysyczyn encouraged the community to keep supporting the arts—yes, even by buying those specialty license plates—and invited caregivers to sign up for the workshop at https://tinyurl.com/RAAUnburden.

From empowering young artists to supporting caregivers, RAA is proving that art isn’t just about creativity—it’s about connection, healing, and opportunity.