Music, Mothers, and Moments of Connection: Four Missouri Projects Bringing People Together

Pictured here is Carl Singer with a musical instrument that he decorated.

Loneliness and isolation are often described as silent epidemics, particularly in small towns and rural communities where access to resources can be limited. Thanks to new Community Foundation of the Ozarks grants, four innovative programs are stepping forward with creative ways to bring people together—through music, history, family support, and youth empowerment.
The Miracle of Music: Carl Singer and SingerHill Music & Arts, Inc.
Carl Singer believes that music has the power to heal hearts and spark joy across generations. With a $11,640 grant, SingerHill Music & Arts will expand its Miracle of Music home concert series to nursing homes and schools in Dade and Barton counties.
For older adults, who often struggle with isolation in long-term care settings, these monthly concerts offer more than entertainment—they create shared experiences and remind residents that they are not forgotten. For students, the concerts open up opportunities for intergenerational connection, bridging the gap between young and old through the universal language of song.
Historic Porches, New Friendships: Christy Mershon and the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau
Sometimes the best way to bring people together is to bring them outside. With a $10,000 grant, Christy Mershon and the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau will host live music performances on historic porches and other accessible public venues.
These porch concerts tap into the deep history of community life—neighbors gathering on stoops and porches to swap stories, share songs, and watch the world go by. In today’s fast-paced and digitally divided world, these events reclaim that tradition, reminding residents that the simple act of gathering in familiar places can be a powerful antidote to loneliness.
Mothers Helping Mothers: Amanda Rhodes and It Takes a Village – SEMO
Motherhood can be both beautiful and isolating, especially for women raising children without a strong support system. That’s why Amanda Rhodes and her team at It Takes a Village – SEMO are launching a program supported by a $15,000 grant.
The initiative provides monthly classes, online support, and in-person social events designed to connect mothers across southeast Missouri. From parenting tips to coffee chats, the program ensures that moms don’t have to navigate the challenges of raising children alone. In doing so, it strengthens families and creates new networks of care—building resilience at the household and community level.
Empowering the Next Generation: Kim Mobley and the Aurora Youth Empowerment Project
For youth, connection often comes through play, learning, and discovery. The Aurora Youth Empowerment Project, led by Kim Mobley, has received a $14,000 grant to host literacy workshops and purchase outdoor recreational equipment.
By combining educational growth with active play, the project gives young people spaces where they can build friendships, develop confidence, and avoid the social isolation that can come with limited opportunities. A child who finds belonging on a basketball court or in a reading circle today may grow into an adult who invests in community tomorrow.
Building Belonging, One Project at a Time
Taken together, these four programs highlight how community-led creativity can address the epidemic of loneliness in very practical ways. Music concerts in nursing homes, songs on historic porches, safe spaces for mothers, and new opportunities for youth are not just activities—they are lifelines of connection.
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ investment demonstrates a simple truth: when people gather—whether in a school gym, on a front porch, in a circle of moms, or on a playground—the barriers of isolation begin to crumble. And in those moments, community is not just preserved, it is reborn.

Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.com or burtond@missouri.edu. You can also visit his website at https://engagedneighbor.com.

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