Led by professional teaching artists, students engage in chorus, instrumental music, theater, musical theater, and other arts experiences. Throughout the year, students take part in over 30 live performances across Mount Vernon and the greater New York City area, taking the stage at community venues, public parks, iconic transit hubs, and landmark stages like the United Nations for distinguished guests, civic leaders, and the broader public.

At the heart of The Lab is Sing for Hope’s signature Global Goals Arts Curriculum, an innovative educational platform grounded in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through music, theater, visual art, dance, and creative writing, students explore urgent global topics including health, equality, sustainability, and peace, using the arts to drive positive awareness, creative problem-solving, and civic action in their communities.

Participation in The Lab equips students with artistic, intellectual, and social-emotional skills that extend far beyond the stage:

• Confidence & Expression: Building poise through public speaking, storytelling, and stage presence.

• Collaboration & Leadership: Strengthening teamwork, active listening, empathy, and creative problem-solving.

• Discipline & Focus: Cultivating dedication, receptivity to feedback, and resilience.

These experiences yield tangible, real-world impact. Sing for Hope Lab students have demonstrated approximately 25% lower chronic absenteeism and a 2.5-point academic gain compared to non-participating peers, alongside stronger overall academic achievement.

Whether a student dreams of a career in the arts or simply wants an encouraging space to create, connect, and grow, the Sing for Hope Lab empowers them to discover their strengths and share their unique voice.

At Amani, our students do not simply experience the arts, they are the artists, the performers, and the changemakers. New York City is their stage.