Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenya Mighty.
Hi Kenya , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Nest Music is my baby.
My relationship with music started long before Nest Music existed. Music became an important outlet for me when I was younger. It gave me somewhere to put my emotions, somewhere to be creative, and a way to connect with people. As I got older, I began thinking about how different childhood can be when a young person has access to music, creativity, supportive adults, and a place where they feel heard.
I also started thinking about the children growing up around me in the Bronx.
There are talented, curious, highly capable children everywhere, but talent doesn’t always come with opportunity. Sometimes a child simply needs someone to recognize what is already inside of them. Sometimes they need a safe place to go after school. Sometimes they need an adult who will listen instead of immediately telling them what to do.
That became the heart of Nest Music.
I wanted to create a place where children could explore music and other forms of creativity while also learning practical skills that could help them navigate the real world. Over time, that vision expanded beyond musical instruments. Today, Nest Music incorporates music education, computer programming, financial literacy, homework support, creative activities, and youth development for children primarily ages 5-12.
Our goal is to cultivate autonomy in children of all backgrounds. We want children to understand that they can create, build, communicate, lead, solve problems, and make decisions. We want them to know that their voice has value.
Nest Music has been serving the Bronx community for more than a decade, and our current home on Holland Avenue has become much more than a building. It has become a place where children, families, and staff develop meaningful relationships.
A lot of people see an after-school program and think about childcare. I see something much bigger.
I see a place where a child can discover that they are a musician. Or a programmer. Or an entrepreneur. Or a leader. Or simply a person who has something valuable to contribute.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey to get here has absolutely not been smooth.
Running a community-based organization means constantly balancing the mission with the realities of operating a business. There are funding challenges, staffing challenges, facility challenges, administrative requirements, and the everyday responsibility of making sure children are safe and families can depend on you.
There have been times when I had to learn something because there was simply no one else to figure it out for me. I’ve had to become comfortable asking questions, advocating for the organization, learning systems, finding resources, and continuing forward when things weren’t moving as quickly as I wanted them to.
But every challenge has taught me something.
It has also reinforced why I started Nest Music in the first place.
I don’t want Nest Music to simply exist. I want it to become a permanent part of the Bronx community.
My long-term vision is to establish a permanent home for Nest Music where children and young adults can experience music, technology, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, recording, programming, live performance, and mentorship under one roof.
I want to build something that can outlive me.
Something that a child can walk into at five years old and still find value in years later.
Something that helps turn children into highly capable adults.
That’s the Nest.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am one of the founders and director of Nest Music Conservatory, a community-based youth program in the Bronx that works primarily with children ages 5-12.
At the simplest level, we provide after-school and summer programming. But I don’t think “childcare” fully describes what we do.
We use music, tech, creativity, financial literacy, and meaningful relationships to help children develop confidence, independence, and practical life skills.
A child might come to Nest Music for music lessons and end up learning how to play an instrument, write a song, build something with code, understand how money works, speak in front of a group, help lead an activity, or discover that they are capable of something they didn’t know they could do.
That is really what I specialize in: creating environments where children can discover their own capabilities.
I’m particularly proud of the relationships we have built with children and families over the years. Some of the people who work with us today were once children in our programs. That means a lot to me because it shows that Nest Music can become part of someone’s life rather than simply being a place they attend for a few hours.
I am also proud that we have continued building in the Northeast Bronx and serving families in our own community. I believe children shouldn’t always have to leave their neighbourhood to find meaningful opportunities.
What sets Nest Music apart is the way we look at the whole child.
We don’t want to simply keep children occupied until their parents get off work. We want them to feel welcomed, supported, challenged, heard, and capable.
We also give children opportunities to have a voice in the environment around them. We encourage leadership, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and the ability to move between being a leader and being a follower.
And we take relationships seriously.
One of the phrases that has become important to us is that we want to be more than friends. We are the Nest Music Family. That doesn’t mean lowering professional boundaries. It means creating a community where children know that the adults around them genuinely care about their development and well-being.
Ultimately, what I am most proud of is not a particular class, instrument, or program.
It’s seeing a child become more confident.
Hearing a child say, “I did it.”
Watching a child who once needed constant direction begin taking initiative.
It’s seeing children who came through our doors years ago grow into young people who can contribute back to the community.
That is the work I am proudest of.
Nest Music is not just about teaching children music.
It’s about helping children discover that they have something inside of them worth developing and giving them a place to develop it.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have learned that networking is not simply about meeting important people. It is about building genuine relationships.
My advice is to be willing to tell people what you are building and why it matters to you.
You never know who is listening.
Some of the relationships that have helped me along the way started with a simple conversation. I wasn’t necessarily looking for someone to give me something. I was sharing an idea, asking a question, or explaining a problem I was trying to solve.
I also believe that mentorship doesn’t always come from one person.
You can learn different things from different people. One person may teach you business. Another may teach you leadership. Someone else may introduce you to a resource or a new way of thinking. Sometimes you even learn from people who show you what you don’t want to become.
I’ve also learned that you have to bring something to the relationship.
Don’t approach every person thinking, “What can you do for me?”
Ask yourself, “What can I contribute?”
Be reliable. Follow through. Respect people’s time. Ask thoughtful questions. And when someone opens a door for you, remember to acknowledge them.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to start before everything is perfect.
Nest Music has taught me that sometimes you have to build the plane while you’re flying it. You learn, adjust, make mistakes, fix things, and keep moving.
If you believe strongly enough in what you’re building, keep showing up.
Eventually, people begin to see the vision too.
Pricing:
- Full Week: $699/month
- 3 Days Per Week: $499/month
- Up to 2 Days Per Week: $399/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nestmusicinc.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nestmusicinc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NestMusicInc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nest-music-conservatory-inc/posts/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nestmusicinc
