The Memory Lane program celebrated 25 years of its music therapy partnership, April 23 at New City Church at the Mill. The Life Enrichment Center (LEC) and the Georgia College & State University (GCSU) Music Therapy Program fosters connections between the adults with disabilities at the Life Enrichment Center and the GCSU community to show people how much their talents can impact others.
LEC Executive Director Barbara Coleman described Memory Lane as paying tribute to past and present members in their creative expressions.
“For me it’s to be able to see our individuals shine and live out a dream for that 2–3 hours,” said Coleman. “They are musicians, performers, and everything they dreamed to be. They are equally as important as the college students, the staff. It’s really their time to shine.”
When listening to Coleman speak about the days when they started off, pride is prevalent in her voice. She has been changing the lives of everyone around her.
“I’ve watched our program start off with original groups, which was Music in Motion. I was a part of that group and I have seen it grow and grow and grow.”
Music connects communities together. Coleman expressed the community’s shared bond over music.
“It has allowed us to show that we are more alike than different,” Coleman said. “No matter what differences we have, there are always some ways we can connect, even if it is the least way we can accept.
Coleman estimates more than 600 students have come through the program over the past 25 years. Many of them stayed involved even after their internships were over.
“Kate Whipple helped to start the creative expressions program and take it to the next level,” Coleman said. “Over the years our creative expressions internal program that partners with Georgia College is staffed with former GCSU students who were doing an internship with us.
“It is clear that this connection with GCSU has become a core part of the LEC’s heartbeat. It has been a wonderful partnership with GCSU. It has brought national recognition to GCSU and our organization,” added Coleman. “We have presented at state national conferences with the partnership.”
Coleman has many memories from past performances that have stuck with her, but one in particular was Brad Williams' performance of ‘Music in Motion’ and his other signature song, John Lennon’s ‘I Can Only Imagine.’ She said the performances are deeper than music. The music holds emotions like joy, dignity, and empowerment.
“We are partnering all over the community. But it started with the seed that was planted with the creative expressions group,” said Coleman.