I founded BeHASSTic in 2020 with a simple mission: to provide free music lessons to students whose classes had been canceled because of the pandemic. A musician myself, I knew how important music is for learning, creativity, and well-being, and I wanted to use one of my passions to make a difference. Today, our focus has expanded to include all the humanities, arts, social sciences, and technology (HASST). Our team of 120+ volunteers from 60 schools across 13 states offers free programming to disadvantaged students, puts on community performances at senior centers across the U.S., and has partnered with established organizations such as the Carver Foundation and Girls Who Code to bring our services to the students who need them most. When we expanded our focus from music to include other subjects, we chose to include the humanities, arts, social sciences, and technology (HASST) because these fields are essential to a well-rounded education. First, we observed that while there has been an effort to make STEM opportunities more accessible in recent years, there was a deficit of HASST opportunities for many students, especially those from historically marginalized groups and low-income backgrounds. Second, we recognized that HASST subjects provide timeless skills that are necessary for everyone. By exploring the humanities and social sciences, students gain an understanding of human behavior and community dynamics, experience and appreciate diverse perspectives, and gain the ability to navigate complex situations and think of innovative solutions. The arts foster creativity and self-expression, and technology is a critical medium for expression in an increasingly digital world. Third, HASST subjects are growing increasingly valuable as the world moves towards greater levels of automation and AI. As machines take over simple or computational tasks, the value of creativity, innovation, and outside-the-box thinking will only continue to increase. As technology continues to increase the diversity and interconnectedness of the world, it will be important for students to truly become global citizens who are able to collaborate with people who have different values, cultures, and backgrounds. At BeHASSTic, we believe that education is not just about acquiring knowledge, but about empowering individuals to take responsibility and become leaders. That’s why collaboration and teamwork is such a big part of our culture and our programs. All of our classes are conversation-based. Students take part and engage in each lesson, both with the teacher and the other students, developing strong communication and interpersonal skills. Many of our students become BeHASSTic volunteers after taking classes, eager to share their passion and knowledge with other students. Volunteers keep in constant communication, working together on team projects, and helping to train and mentor less-experienced volunteers. Every volunteer attends a weekly meeting with their team leader, where they receive feedback on their participation, brainstorm ways to expand their department, and improve and optimize day-to-day operations. Many volunteers become leaders, moving up and taking on more responsibility within the organization. In fact, since BeHASSTic’s inception, over 25 of our volunteers have become team leaders, program managers, or department directors. By offering our students and volunteers these opportunities for growth, we hope to inspire and equip them with the necessary skills to become positive change-makers and leaders in their own communities now and in the future. One of our biggest goals at BeHASSTic is to make our programs free and accessible to everyone, especially students from underserved populations who might not have the chance to explore HASST subjects on their own. That’s why we have reached out to local organizations with a strong presence in underserved populations, creating awareness about our free programs and offering to come on-site regularly and teach students about HASST subjects. So far, we have partnered with The Carver Foundation and MoCA - Westport, who provide educational and cultural programs to low-income children and families in Connecticut. Our teams visit the Carver Center every week and MoCA once a week in the summer, teaching about a diverse set of HASST topics, from music, to languages, to coding, tailoring each of our programs to each specific age group, ranging from grades K-12. Each activity is interactive, in hopes that it will spark a continued curiosity in each topic we cover. I encourage you to explore our website for more information about our programs, resources, workshops, and events. If you have any questions or feedback, do not hesitate to reach out through social media or contact us at info@behasstic.org. We are excited to hear from you and look forward to seeing you in our classes. Together, we can shape a world where every individual is empowered to be an active and engaged citizen, creating positive change in their communities.