After growing up in 20 foster homes, St. Louis woman brings music to kids who've had a rough start [news.stlpublicradio.org]

Alicia Doktor 10/16/1712:00 PM

Melanie Barrier went into the Florida foster care system as a newborn. She lived in 20 foster homes before she was adopted at age 10.

Stability existed in only one realm: music. As a child traveling from family to family, Barrier took along her beloved songs of the 1970s.

As an adult, Barrier, 55, is using music to change the lives of foster and adopted children. Her organization, Music That Reclaims, serves kids here and across the country, taking them to concerts and musical theater complete with backstage tours, something Barrier remembers from her own childhood.

“You’re exposed to these people who are famous and you’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh, there’s a life out there after foster care.’”

[For more on this story by Nancy Fowler, go to http://news.stlpublicradio.org...rough-start#stream/0]

Photo: Melanie Barrier was adopted at age 10 by a Columbia, Missouri, couple, after living in 20 different foster homes. CREDIT CAROLINA HIDALGO| ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO

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Robert OlcottMember

I'm certain that my mother's tenure at U of R/Eastman School of Music, was also a 'Resilience building factor' for me ...., as well as her violin, trombone, piano, and hand bell playing, church choir, summer open air opera concerts she took my sister and I to... (Might this be a formal Resilience point ? ? --My ACE score was 6, but my last 'Resilience score' was 10-without considering this factor).

10/16/174:35 PM

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