Jazz Hands for Autism: A New Approach to Employment for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum
This month’s Founder Spotlight is about Ifunanya Nweke, Founder and Executive Director of Jazz Hands for Autism.
Ifunanya is an immigrant from Nigeria who moved to the United States at age ten. According to her Mom, she has been both an artist and a teacher since childhood. She remembers summers when she would organize study competitions with her cousins where they pretended to be teachers. They taught lessons, and whoever did best on the test was crowned the Greek God or Goddess of the week.
Ifunanya also remembers teaching herself piano, making up songs to learn the periodic table in chemistry class, learning African history through dance, and using music to communicate her feelings that words alone couldn’t capture.
Clearly, arts and Education have always been intertwined in her learning and sharing of information. This is what fuels her work, and in her very informed opinion, arts and education are inextricable. She believes that art makes learning accessible to learners of all kinds and that this accessibility effect is even more pronounced for music. Music has the power to make complex subjects easier to “ingest” and “digest”; in other words, music helps learners take in and process information in ways that are unparalleled to other learning tools.
Ifunanya is an artist, educator, and facilitator of learning in ways that can reach all learners.
To learn more about Ifunanya’s entrepreneurship journey, check out the full interview below.
What is your venture? What do you do?
I run Jazz Hands For Autism, a non-profit organization that is the first of its kind: it’s a music-focused workforce development training and job placement program specifically designed for individuals on the autism spectrum. Through our programs, we help adults on the autism spectrum turn their interests and talents in music into a career.
Jazz Hands For Autism has taken the power of music and turned it into over 30 customizable digital courses, and we have worked with municipalities, schools, venues, studios, and organizations to secure almost 200 work opportunities for our musicians and help them earn over $17,000.
This is significant because individuals on the autism spectrum are the most unemployed and underemployed segment of our population. So, our work at Jazz Hands For Autism is fighting these stats, one musician at a time!
What prompted you to start your venture?
Long story short, I always knew that music had the power to build bridges. But this knowledge was realized and fortified when I met a talented musician on the autism spectrum. This musician who had challenges in other classes found ways to use music to communicate and build community with his typically developing classmates.
Music class was a place where he, collaborated with and contributed to his class, and felt successful.
Seeing this was enough for me to take action, so I did. Jazz Hands For Autism began as a concert performance platform that highlights the musical contributions of individuals on the autism spectrum. But we have since grown into a community resource and wrap-around artist development and placement program. We provide training and support that helps adults on the autism spectrum develop the technical, social, and professional skills needed to succeed in music-related jobs.
What’s unique and advantageous about being in LA for you and your venture?
The entertainment industry is big business in Los Angeles and provides hundreds of thousands of jobs annually. LA is not only the birthplace of the entertainment industry, but it is also home to many companies and individuals who are the driving force behind creative content production, and distribution. Lastly, Hollywood and its appeal influence media worldwide.
This means that the Jazz Hands Mission of helping Musicians on the autism spectrum find work is much easier in Los Angeles than in most other US Cities.
This also means that any efforts we make to break down barriers to employment for our musicians here in LA can influence the entertainment industry elsewhere in the United States and beyond.
What advice would you give to Founders who are considering applying to Grid110?
Grid110 is a game-changer for your start-up. All the knowledge you will gain and the connections you will make will impact your business for years, and even decades to come.
However, one big thing to keep in mind is that all change cannot be implemented immediately. So, as you learn during Grid110, take note of what you can implement immediately and what may require a bit more time and structure to implement.
Simply put: take your time and have grace with your progress and that of your start-up.
How has COVID-19 impacted your business?
COVID-19 changed brought the world to a stop and significantly changed the way many organizations approach their mission. Jazz Hands For Autism was not exempt from that. In response to the pandemic, we took our programs into the digital age!
For the past, almost two years, Jazz Hands Musicians Academy students have faced no disruption in their music training and promotion. Every class we offer in-person is available online. In addition to that, we added extra supports like career counseling, career coaching, and project focus meetings that assist our musicians towards their goals while acclimating to the online format.
In fact, some of the musicians we support prefer the online format. In addition, since the onset of COVID-19, the demand for our services has increased beyond the scope of Los Angeles. We have received several inquiries regarding our service offering in Massachusetts, New York, and Maryland.
Our students' experiences have inspired us to build a full-service digital learning platform for neurodivergent learners. We have already begun plans to expand our digital learning offerings. We are now in the process of standardizing our curriculum and create a library of educational and training content to meet the nationwide demand for our services tailored for neurodivergent learners.
Now, time for some more FUN questions about Ifunanya!
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be a pediatrician like my aunt.
Who is your role model?
My role model is a mix between Einstein, Oprah, Fela Kuti, Leonardo da Vinci, and Lauryn Hill. Each of these individuals is a forerunner and pioneer in their field and left a lasting impact that affects those fields to this day. That’s the type of legacy I want to leave.
If you could have a meal with anyone, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
I would like to have two meals back to back. First, I’d like to chop it up with Barack Obama to hear about his life’s story and his journey. As the first Black president in the United States, I know he’s learned and experienced things that people can never imagine, so I’d like to hear about that. I’d also like to learn about his artistic side (I recently discovered that he won a Grammy for a spoke word album. How cool is that?!)
After eating with Mr. Obama, I’d like to have dinner with Leonardo da Vinci. da Vinci was a polymath. He was an expert painter, cartographer, musician, biologist, inventor, etc etc etc. That is iconic. I also think that all people have the ability to be polymaths, so I’d love to hear from him, how he managed to bring to light and master all his different talents and interests.
What is your spirit animal?
Hummingbird. Hummingbirds represent joy, freedom, and the lightness of being. These are qualities that I value and admire. Hummingbirds are also pollinators. They are integral in the process of turning a few flowers into a forest. That’s amazing to me.
You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be?
An iridescent color that shifts based on the angle of the light. Once again, lightness of being and adaptability.
What’s currently on your playlist right now?
I have the smoothest Afrobeats playlist. Check it out on Spotify, the playlist is called: “Agege + Fanta”
Any last words?
I think the universe is a giant piano. You heard it here first.
News from Jazz Hands For Autism!
Follow us on social media!
Instagram: @jazzhandsforautism
Twitter: JH4Autism
Facebook: Jazz Hands For Autism
Follow and support Ifunanya!
Instagram: @Dr.ifunanyanweke
Twitter: @Dr_IfuNweke
Ifunanya is also an author! Purchase her book, 20 Lessons From My 20s.
About Grid110
Grid110 is an economic and community development nonprofit dedicated to creating clearer pathways to success for early-stage entrepreneurs. Our mission is to foster the most thriving, inviting & inclusive community for entrepreneurs in Los Angeles by making the entrepreneurial path more equitable, inclusive, and accessible. We provide founders with a growing community of fellow entrepreneurs, expert mentorship, and crucial resources through our no-cost, no-equity accelerator programs.
