Inspiring focus and direction with beauty.

ACG’s nationally-recognized work with youth in the juvenile justice system began in 2010 with our guitar education program at the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center in Austin, Texas. Since then our services have expanded to include the Williamson County Juvenile Justice Center and the Phoenix House in Austin. These programs are the only for-credit performing arts classes available to incarcerated youth in the state of Texas, helping participants stay on track to graduate high school. More importantly, these classes offer young people in crisis an opportunity to discover new talents, work in a collaborative, supportive environment, and perform in concerts for appreciative audiences. Some of the most inspiring examples we know of the power of music to change lives have come from this work.

ACG’s Juvenile Justice programs are supported in part by grants from