LULLABY PROJECT

In 2021 Intersection became a partner organization in the Lullaby Project, a program of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI), working with over 30 arts organizations worldwide. Lullaby pairs parents with professional artists to create and sing their own personal lullabies for their babies.

Mothers in the program share their unique voices through music as they tell their stories. Their songs connect them to partners, family members, and other mothers, helping strengthen social networks. As mothers sing their lullabies to their child, they strengthen bonds and expose children to new vocabulary, wordplay, and vivid imagery at a time when they are acquiring language.

Intersection is working with Kyshona Armstrong, Rachel Rodriguez, Rosa Rodriguez and Amyliza de Jesus and mothers at Renewal House, the Tennessee Justice Center and the Hispanic Family Foundation. Future phases will expand to diverse families and locations across Nashville. Other Lullaby programs have taken place in healthcare settings, homeless shelters, foster care, and correctional facilities, and have engaged artists with styles as diverse as Fiona Apple, Angélique Kidjo, and Joyce DiDonato.

Learn more at the Lullaby Project website.

Versión en español

Lullabies are not just for babies. The music and lyrics resonate, affecting everyone involved: parents, grandparents, musicians, and caregivers.

LULLABY PROJECT ARTISTS

Kyshona

The initial artist for the Lullaby Project is the Nashville-based singer-songwriter Kyshona Armstrong. With a degree in music therapy and over 10 years of songwriting experience, Kyshona has merged her two worlds to focus on one mission: To be a voice and a vessel for those that feel lost, forgotten, silenced and who are hurting.

As a songwriter, Kyshona has worked with adults and youth experiencing homelessness, incarceration, trauma, and isolation. Through her “Your Song” program, she helps people with or without musical experience find their voice and their own song.

She has led multiple songwriting groups through the YWCA’s Girls LEAD! program in Dayton, Ohio, the Mighty Writers program in Philadelphia, and individual 1:1 songwriting sessions with veterans through the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Learn more about Kyshona.

Rosa Rodriguez

Rosa Rodriguez is an artist, singer, songwriter, teacher and translator based in Nashville, originally from Honduras.

Rosa is a fusion of cultures. Spanish is her native language, English has always been around her through music, movies and books. She has lived almost all of her life in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. She moved to Nashville in 2016. Her love for diversity, inclusion, moral values, faith and love are often reflected in her music.

With prior experience in bands and projects where she opened for Pitbull, performed in stadiums, became the first female Honduran featured on MTV Latin America, and was a quarter finalist in Tengo Talento Mucho Talento TV Contest 2020, Rose is excited to explore creatively with new styles and genres. She is currently experimenting with Latin pop in her most recent solo project Rose Rodríguez.

Rosa does bilingual story times and songs occasionally, has worked with organizations that require multifaceted employees like the U.S. Embassy in Honduras, has performed for the U.S. Base in Kentucky, at fashion events like Bella Latina 2021 and has become a local favorite in Nashville performing frequently. Rosa has served as a judge for The Voice Plaza Mariachi for 3 seasons. She also does commercials and is talent for ads.

Rosa believes genuinely that anything is possible for him who believes.

“Love is the answer” – John Lennon

You can find Rosa at http://rosarodriguezv.com, on Spotify or iTunes, and on social media:

Rachel Rodriguez

Rachel Rodriguez is a singer, songwriter, mother and teaching artist. She grew up belting out traditional Mariachi and Country music, in her father’s band. He was her biggest influence, and always encouraged her to embrace and infuse all that she is into her music, songwriting, and teaching.

Nothing makes Rachel happier than watching families experience the joy of music together.

She is the creator and founder of Songs for My Little Amigos, a bilingual Music and Movement program dedicated to promoting language learning, building community, and celebrating culture through music. She provides services for, and collaborates with educators and organizations seeking to offer culturally diverse enrichment programs. Her mission is to create arts-filled, educational programs that build community. Her passion is partnering with, and supporting, artists and organizations that do the same. She stays busy conducting bilingual school presentations, school residencies, Educator Workshops, and Bilingual Song & Story times throughout the community.

In addition to Rachel’s roles as wife, mother, teacher, and performer, she volunteers at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Musicians on Call, and is an Alumni member of the Women’s Music Business Association.

Learn more at rachelrodriguez.com.

Amyliza de Jesus

Amyliza de Jesus is a mom, social worker, music therapist-in-training, musician, and songwriter.

While a Nashville native, it wasn't until she moved to the Midwest for college that she discovered her voice as a songwriter and honed those skills as part of the Chicago-based bands The Patterson Project and Back 40. Years later, through the Old Town School of Folk Music, she met Little Miss Ann - a Chicago kindie musician and fellow first-generation Filipina-American - who introduced her to the world of children's music. Soon after, she joined the Little Miss Ann Band (background vocals, keyboard, violin, & mandolin), and went on to collaborate with Little Miss Ann on their award-winning album, Keep On.

Currently based in Nashville, she's active in a couple of local bands - The TriStar Sisters (an Andrews Sisters tribute group), and The Bernard Sisters (another Andrews Sisters-inspired group that focuses primarily on children's music). She's also a songwriter for the Country Music Hall of Fame's Words & Music Program. Brighter Light Brigade is the name of her collaborative music projects, whose aim is to create songs and music that connect, heal, and inspire.

Learn more at www.brighterlightbrigade.com.

LULLABY PROJECT PARTNERS

Renewal House

Renewal House provides specialized addiction treatment to women and their children. They are the only long-term family residential program in Middle Tennessee that treats women and their children together. They offer evidence-based, trauma-informed programs that build positive parenting skills, family nurturing and childhood brain development. Since 1996, Renewal House has served more than 6,000 women and children through our programs.

Tennessee Justice Center

TJC advocates for Tennessee’s most vulnerable families and children, so that all Tennesseans can enjoy the dignity, security and opportunity that is every person’s right. TJC focuses relentlessly on protecting and improving the laws, policies, and programs that secure dignity and opportunity for all Tennesseans.

Hispanic Family Foundation

HFF utilizes their economic, social services, advocacy, and cultural programs to educate and strengthen Nashville's Hispanic and immigrant communities. Lullaby partners with their Little Sprouts program which provides diapers and other resources to families in need.