Music and Mental Health Archives - Healthy Minds Philly®

BlazeBorn Band: AMLA Summer Music Graduates Rock and Roll

HealthyMindsPhilly interviewed BlazeBorn‘s band members after they performed at a local event. Elizabeth Melendez (15), Layla Delarosa Adrian (15), Inesanned Santiago (16), Nicolas Castillo (16), Zahir Cordero-Severino (18), Genesis Garcia Vega (15), and Daniela America Soriano Gonzalez (19) met while attending Esperanza’s AMLA Summer Music program. Although they have been playing together for just seven months, the band’s seven members feel “pretty close.” At AMLA program, music is more than just notes and lyrics-it’s a lifeline for young people seeking connection, self-expression, and personal growth. The impact of their songwriting [...]

Janine Monico2025-07-21T09:25:02-04:00July 21st, 2025|Family & Youth, Mental Health, Music and Mental Health, Self-Help|

Tango Into Community

Meredith is a renown tango performer and teacher with deep roots in Philadelphia. Her talent has taken her dancing all over the world, but now she is at home running the Philadelphia Argentinean Tango School in Fishtown. For 26 years, tango has been her anchor, providing a sense of belonging that had long eluded her. "Tango has been the first long-term consistent community that I have been part of," Meredith shares, highlighting the profound effect this dance form has had on her well-being. Her childhood was marked by loss and [...]

Janine Monico2025-07-21T09:26:14-04:00May 13th, 2025|Depression, Lived Experience, Music and Mental Health, Self-Help|

The Power of Social Tango Dancing: Community, Growth, and Calm

During summer, Philadelphia comes alive with festivals and public events, giving residents many chances to try new activities. These celebrations help people discover things that can enhance their well-being and bring global cultures into the city through music, food, art, and community gatherings. These occasions are a great time to embrace social dancing. A fun way to enhance overall well-being, social dancing offers physical, mental, and social benefits—such as increased confidence, reduced stress, and new friendships. To help Philadelphians discover how social dancing can improve health and happiness, HealthyMindsPhilly visited [...]

Janine Monico2025-07-21T09:26:22-04:00May 6th, 2025|Depression, Lived Experience, Mental Health, Music and Mental Health, Self-Help|

Diversity and Music: Alice’s Recipe for Mental Wellness

Alice, a long-time resident of Philadelphia, shares her experiences and insights about the city's diverse culture and its impact on her life. Born and raised in South Philly, Alice has spent most of her life in the city, with a brief stint in North Carolina before returning to her roots. "We're used to a melting pot of people of different nationalities," Alice explains, highlighting one of Philadelphia's most cherished attributes. This diversity is not just a demographic fact, but a lived experience that shapes the city's character. "There are cultural [...]

Janine Monico2025-07-21T09:26:00-04:00March 13th, 2025|Lived Experience, Music and Mental Health|