Meet Candy, a Settlement Home volunteer who visits our campus weekly to work with residents on songwriting and music performance. Candy shared with us about her passion for getting to know the young adults in our care so that they are inspired to make soulful music.

SH: Tell us a little about you.

CC: I am a mom to 2 great boys, wife to a great man, have been singing and writing songs for over a decade all over the country and LOVE living in the beautiful ATX! I love working with and mentoring young people- sharing the gift of expressing themselves through music!

 

SH: What brought you to The Settlement Home?

CC: I was fortunate enough to meet and partner with my talented friend Ash Almonte with Hopefully Sow to bring my music project to the great gals here at The Settlement Home!
 SH: Why is volunteering important to you?

CC: I believe everyone has a voice. Being able to (song)write about what you’re passionate about is powerful! I love working with this age group because they are all in the middle of “finding their voice.” I love seeing them bring that voice to life in a song!

 

SH: What’s your favorite part of being a volunteer?

CC: Seeing a young woman finish a song. The pride they have when they have created something that will be their own forever is priceless. They amaze me- I learn so much more from them than they learn from me.
SH: How would you describe your role as a volunteer at The Home?

CC: I am just a gal who does music for a living and gets to comes to come out and share the few tidbits I know with them (and pretty much act like a fool so they can make fun of me.)
SH: What do music days look like?

CC: I have loved helping the girls learn how to make a SOULFul INSPIRation Music Project Concert happen from start to finish! The format involves weekly mentoring that includes journaling, songwriting, voice/performance techniques and guitar instruction. Then we work toward performing their original material in front of a live audience for a show!

 

SH: What advice do you have for other volunteers?

CC: Show the girls you care. They are amazing. Ask them about who they are. I love hearing about their lives and how beautiful and resilient they are.

 

SH: What is your favorite quote?

CC: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”-Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

 

SH: What inspires you?

CC: Authentic everyday people who are honest and shamelessly, boldly, and JOYfully step out in Faith to make this world better than they found it!  The people who aren’t given an award to- but do it anyway.