Nonprofit Spotlight: The Truth About Running a School in 2025
$100 Donors, $500K Vision & the Power of Community, Crowdfunding, and Creative Grit
Running a tuition-free arts school in 2025 takes more than vision — it takes creative courage and community grit.
This week on Soul Thursdays Live, we’re spotlighting the team behind the Jessye Norman School of the Arts – Eastside Atlanta (JNSA2) — a small but mighty nonprofit proving that art can still change lives, even in tough times.
After a season of major wins — and a few hard lessons — JNSA2 is building with honesty, transparency, and heart.
They’ve restructured their model, rallied volunteers, and are still creating magic for Atlanta’s young artists — one paintbrush, one dance step, and one $100 donor at a time.
💬 In This Episode:
🎭 How JNSA2 is keeping the arts alive for Atlanta youth
💵 Why small donors matter more than ever in 2025
🎨 The real math behind running a free arts school
🤝 How community volunteers became the heartbeat of the mission
💫 What it takes to rebuild after the “messy middle”
💡 If You’ve Ever:
Believed in the power of art to transform lives
Wondered what it takes to run a nonprofit school today
Wanted to support something meaningful in your own backyard
👉 Then this episode is for you.
📅 Thursday, [Insert Date]
🕗 8:00 PM ET
🔗 Register and Join Live: SoulThursdays.com
🎟️ Support the Mission: JNSA2.org
Featuring:
🎤 Soyini Coke – Founder, JNSA2
🎤 Thina Johnson – Board Member & Parent Advocate
🎙️ Hosted by Calvin “Creates” of COEDcommunity.com