BRPM Appoints new executive director

Welcome Vicky Ajene as BRPM’s new Executive Director! Armed with a degree in Fashion Design from Lasell University and a background in instrumental music from Boston Arts Academy, Vicky is an advocate for arts education as a catalyst for increased critical thinking, empathy, and personal growth. With over seven years of experience in nonprofit leadership, including roles at St. Stephen's Youth Programs and College for Social Innovation, Vicky has honed her expertise in program planning, facilitation, and relationship management, and strongly believes that an organization's most valuable assets are its people. She considers herself a lifelong learner as reflected through her certification in Social Impact Management and Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, and her participation in numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings, all in pursuit of a more equitable world. Beyond her professional role, Vicky embraces her identity as an artist, pouring her creativity into illustration, writing, and philosophical conversations.

A LETTER FROM VICKY:

Greetings!

I'm Vicky Ajene, and I'm thrilled to introduce myself as the new Executive Director of Boston Raising Powerful Musicians (BRPM). BRPM’s mission is all about empowerment—helping girls, women, and gender-expansive individuals find confidence and community through the magic of music education and performance—and through this interview process with the board, youth, and community members, I have seen that up close and personal.

My journey leading up to this point has been quite an adventure! I hold a degree in Fashion Design from Lasell University, and have a background in instrumental music from Boston Arts Academy. Growing up, I’ve always been immersed in the Boston arts sector, which has made me a strong advocate for arts education in my career. In my experience, art and music is much deeper than putting brush to canvas or lyrics to song; it's a key to unlocking critical thinking, empathy, and personal growth in humans–especially young humans.

Over the past seven years, I've been fortunate to dive into nonprofit leadership roles, including stints at St. Stephen's Youth Programs and College for Social Innovation. These experiences have allowed me to build resilience and hone skills in program planning, facilitation, and building meaningful relationships. Through this work, I've come to believe that the most valuable assets an organization has are its people, and I'm excited to work with this incredible community at BRPM.

I am stepping into some large shoes to fill, and I hope that you all will walk with me on this journey. It is evident how much love and dedication it took to build an organization with such soul, and it’s my goal to preserve that while we grow and stretch in new ways. Each of you are an integral part of this legacy, and I look forward to learning from your stories, experiences, and collective knowledge as we build this next chapter. 

I'm looking forward to this exciting journey ahead with BRPM, and getting to know each of you along the way!

With Respect and Gratitude,

Vicky Ajene