The Roots of Music (TROM) is a New Orleans-based nonprofit offering free, year-round programs for students ages 3-18. We are able to serve hundreds of students annually, in large part, thanks to private donations big and small. Our comprehensive programming is split into three different branches. Sprouts of Music is an early music education program for ages 3-8, with instruction in music theory, singing, and movement. The Marching Crusaders serves students 9-14. This after-school program provides hot meals, transportation, music classes, academic support, and mentorship. Students in this program have the opportunity to perform at parades, festivals around New Orleans, and gigs across the country and world! Lastly, our Roots Studio Academy is an audio engineering and studio production program for students 15-18. This 10 month intensive is designed to prepare high schoolers for a career in the music industry. In all three programs, music is offered as a pathway to more positive, productive, and self-reliant lives. TROM aims to use the transformative power of music to aid in violence prevention across Orleans Parish by keeping students occupied at the most vulnerable times of day.