About Us

We nourish our neighborhoods with the transformative power of music through

education and performance.

Roots of American Music (ROAM), founded in 1999 by *Kevin Richards, provides arts programming that connects communities through traditional American music. Our mission is to share the joy of this rich musical heritage with youth, adults, and seniors from diverse backgrounds.

Our Approach:

School and Community Engagement:

• ROAM conducts school-based residencies, workshops, and assemblies led by professional musicians. These programs foster a deeper understanding of American music and its cultural significance.

• We collaborate with community partners to bring music directly to those we serve, touching hearts through songwriting, performance skills, and engaging assemblies.

Education and Empowerment:

• ROAM educates students, disabled adults, and seniors about the roots of American music, including gospel, blues, jazz, and early rock.

• By providing an outlet for experiencing and performing this music, we empower individuals to connect with their cultural heritage.

Arts Integration in Education:

• Our programs support educators as we collaborate to incorporate music and songwriting into classrooms. This approach brings academic subjects to life, enhancing learning in reading, social studies, science, and physical education.

• Public concerts in music deserts organized by ROAM infuse everyday life with the joy of music.

Impact and Reach:

• ROAM’s diverse programs serve children and adults across various counties, including Cleveland, Greater Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit, Richland, Medina, Lake, Ashtabula, and Mahoning.

• By using traditional American music as a tool for education and personal development, ROAM enhances educational outcomes and enriches lives.

• Our teaching artists integrate literacy, history, math, science, money management, self-determination, and tolerance into music programs.

Community-Centric Approach:

• As a service-driven organization, ROAM builds strong relationships with low-income, underserved communities, and vulnerable populations especially in music deserts.

• Collaborating with community partners, we create adaptable programs that meet specific needs.

• Our work extends to schools, community centers, senior living facilities, and day centers for adults with disabilities.

ROAM’s commitment to arts-integrated programming ensures that music becomes a powerful pathway to both academic success and emotional well-being.

*Kevin Richards retired in 2021.

Our Community Impact--2022-23

Provided Music Teaching Artists for Stop the Hate: Youth Sign Out!, a program in partnership with the Maltz Museum, serving 725 middle school students in 34 middle school classes; and, 655 high school students in 41 classes.

Provided Music Teaching Artists for our program, Blues is the Backbone for the Cleveland Metro School District in grades K-3 serving 589 students in 24 classes across five elementary schools.

Provided Music Per-forming Artists to senior citizen communities and intellectually challenged residents for 113 performances.