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Vox Academy seeks community enrichment funding after national success with students
Summary
Elias Hendricks of Vox Academy presented results from the program that blends music, movement and financial literacy and requested city community enrichment support for a fundraising concert and expanded school programming.
Elias Hendricks, founder of Vox Academy, told the Birmingham City Council on Aug. 12 that the program’s music‑based financial literacy curriculum has produced measurable student success and returned with a fundraising request.
Hendricks said Vox Academy works with middle‑ and high‑school students in six of eight district schools and uses a “music, money and movement” model to teach financial literacy and leadership. He described a success story: a student, Jordan Craig of Phillips, won a full scholarship to college after participating in the program and music competitions.
Hendricks said Vox Academy plans a fundraising concert in October featuring Vox Futura and other performers; proceeds would support expansion into additional Birmingham City School middle schools and buy tickets for students and parents to attend. He asked the council to consider community enrichment dollars similar to past support for a Lyric Opera concert.
Council members praised the program. Council President Pro Tem Bertie Alexander said she loved “the idea of marrying music with financial literacy.” Councilor Clark noted the program’s similarity to a family legacy program and encouraged the city’s support. Several councilors offered to connect Hendricks with district schools and voiced support for the concert and program expansion.
Hendricks said Vox Academy will provide a financial literacy certificate to participating students and committed to giving back at least $500 to each school’s music program for cohorts of 25 or more students. He said private sponsors are already interested in supporting those school‑level match payments.
The council did not take a vote on funding at the meeting; Hendricks said he had discussed the plan with school board staff and the mayor’s office and was seeking council support for community enrichment assistance and ticket subsidies for students and families.
