Orchestrating successful partnerships with Sistema Tulsa

“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.” – Halford E. Luccock

The afterschool program Sistema Tulsa has been operating since 2015 with a mission “to nurture community and improve young people’s lives through the practice of music.” The program achieves its goal by offering free music education through churches and schools throughout the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. These programs embed whole child principles and positive youth development practices, using a model first established by Jose Antonio Abreu in Venezuela in 1975 to ensure all children, regardless of their ability to pay, can make and share music. The program enables students to learn music and perform in concert settings as a powerful strategy for youth empowerment.

As many parents who have looked for or engaged in paid music lessons may know, music can be a significant financial investment. To make the afterschool program work in Tulsa, education director Kelsey Rooney-Dorst engages a variety of partners. One of the most impactful partnerships has been the program’s relationship with the University of Tulsa. Through the federal work-study program, the university supports college students with paid work experiences that align with their curricular goals and leadership development, while also serving Sistema Tulsa students and the broader community as instructors and mentors.

The federal work-study program, authorized by the federal government under the Higher Education Act, helps provide funding to pay college students for work on or off campus to help cover the costs of their college education. While many students work on campus in libraries or laboratories, or as gym or teaching assistants, some also have opportunities for off-campus placements. The law requires that universities engaging in the federal work-study program use at least 7% of their funds to place students in service activities in the greater community. The impact is significant.

We asked Kelsey for a backstage look at how it works. What follows are some perspectives, in their own words, from the people and partners connected with and touched by the federal work-study program that plays such a large role in making the Sistema Tulsa music program so successful. 

Melissa Abdo - Director of Community Engagement, University of Tulsa

Placing university students with Sistema Tulsa through community-based federal work-study positions has proven to be a mutually enriching experience. Our students have the opportunity to teach and mentor young musicians, sharing their passion for music in a meaningful, hands-on way. When I attended the Sistema Tulsa concert last year, the power of this partnership was unmistakable—the joy on young performers' faces as they played for their families and community, and the pride felt by our university students as they witnessed the positive impact of their mentorship. We are eager to continue expanding these opportunities for our students to work in afterschool settings where they contribute to such valuable experiences for young people.

Haleigh Harris - Senior, Cyber Security Major, University of Tulsa/(Federal Work Study Student)

Now in my third year of teaching at Sistema Tulsa, I am so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a vibrant community of musicians, artists, and America’s future leaders. My colleagues—who are Tulsa’s most dedicated and passionate educators—have helped shape my growth in music education. Students and staff alike have taught me many skills, such as patience, empathy, time management, adaptability, leadership, creative thinking, and effective communication strategies—skills that I will carry into my career after college. It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to share my love of music with so many remarkable young musicians. Every day in the classroom, I am shown the transformative power of arts education and am consistently inspired by my students’ dedication, curiosity, and the joy of the experience of making music together.

Kinley Medina - 7th Grade, Edison Preparatory Middle School

Ms. Harris has helped me in tremendous ways. She gave me lessons and made Sistema even better. She has helped me not only with my instrument but also with jokes. She was there when my anxiety was bad. Without her, I might not be as good as I am today.

Kelsey Rooney-Dorst, MS Ed. - Director of Education, Sistema Tulsa

Since 2020, we have utilized consistent work-study students from the University of Tulsa working with our students and staff at Sistema Tulsa in the roles of Teaching Assistant and Social Innovation Assistant. It has been enlightening and heartwarming to partner with my alma mater to find creative, service-oriented opportunities for students to grow, and I believe it truly highlights how important it is that students become involved in a meaningful community experience outside of their university as a holistic part of their education and growth. The partnership that has grown between Sistema Tulsa and the University of Tulsa is special, as it is driven by the yearning for every participant to grow. Work-study students attend a fair hosted by the university each year for work-study opportunities in the community, where we meet students, discuss our mission and their goals, and find the role that will provide optimal growth and impact. The future of our society will only be made brighter by bringing our community together for the purpose of positive youth development.

The thoughtful approach yields strong results, as shown in the Sistema Tulsa Impact Report in 2024:

• 85% of youth found that coming to the program helps them to set goals for themselves and work toward them
• 94% of youth reported that Sistema Tulsa helps students feel good about themselves
• 97% of youth believe there are adults in the program who care about what they think
• 99% of youth feel Sistema Tulsa is a good place for learning

Sistema Tulsa is truly special, but across the U.S. it is one of a number of afterschool programs that bring opportunities to young people through partnerships with higher education. The National Partnership for Student Success recently released a brief, Bridging Talent and Need: How Partnerships Between Higher Education and Afterschool Programs Can Benefit Students, to highlight how mutually beneficial these partnerships can be. If your program is near any colleges or universities, consider reaching out to their work-study or community service office to explore possible partnership opportunities.