🎵 Bachata Academy Students Take the Stage 🎵
Cabarete Jazz Festival
SUMMER 2026 - This summer, the sounds of opportunity, culture, and inspiration filled the air as Bachata Academy students took the stage at the Cabarete Jazz Festival, thanks in part to a generous $7,500 grant from Positive Legacy.
The internationally acclaimed festival brings together exceptional artists from across the globe, creating a vibrant celebration of jazz, Caribbean fusion, and contemporary music. For the young musicians of Bachata Academy, the event offered much more than a performance—it was a chance to learn from professionals, showcase their talents, and experience firsthand the power of music to connect people across cultures.
Positive Legacy’s support helped provide more than 90 hours of specialized music instruction led by acclaimed guitarist Ricky Giordano, whose Dominican roots and international career made him a uniquely inspiring mentor. Through online lessons and an intensive 10-day residency at the Academy, Ricky worked closely with students and teachers, helping them strengthen their musicianship and prepare for their festival appearance.
As the largest music school in the Dominican Republic dedicated to preserving the UNESCO-recognized tradition of bachata, Bachata Academy plays a vital role in nurturing the next generation of musicians. Experiences like the Cabarete Jazz Festival expose students to new artistic possibilities while deepening their connection to their own cultural traditions.
Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool team up for Jam Cruise 22
🎵 BOB MOOG FOUNDATION 🎵
Teaching children about the science of sound
through music and technology
FEBRUARY 2026 - Positive Legacy’s recent grant helped bring Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool to our Day of Service and Community Connection in Grand Turk during Jam Cruise 22. Through interactive, hands-on workshops, local students and Jam Cruise participants explored the science of sound using theremins, synthesizers, and electronic music technology.
Students at Eliza Simons Primary School learned about vibrations, waveforms, pitch, and synthesis while discovering the history and creative possibilities of electronic music. Jam Cruise attendees also took part in immersive sessions that connected music, technology, and education through shared creative exploration.
"Together, we’re helping expand access to innovative music education and generating curiosity, creativity, and connection through sound - helping to inspire future musicians and music lovers alike."
🪸 The Power of Positivity
The Caribbean King Crab:
Our Ally Fighting Macroalgae on the Reef
DECEMBER 2025 - With support from a $13,000 grant from Positive Legacy, the Healthy Reefs for Healthy People King Crab Project is helping develop a low-cost, community-powered model for raising king crabs to support coral reef restoration.
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Juvenile crabs are raised and released onto targeted reef sites, where they naturally clear harmful macroalgae and help create healthier conditions for coral to recover.
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At the same time, local community members are receiving hands-on training in crab rearing and reef restoration; building stewardship while opening doors to future livelihood opportunities.
This work is proving that a scalable, community-driven approach to crab mariculture can restore reefs and empower the people who depend on them. And it’s all happening because of you!! Thank you! 🌊
🪸 The Power of Positivity: MARES
Mahahual Coral Restoration Project
FEBRUARY 2025 - Located on the coast of the Southern Yucatan, MARES (the Marine Resilience & Sustainability Center) are dedicated to restoring the biodiversity of the Caribbean Sea in response to an urgent need for action. Positive Legacy's grant money is helping support these efforts, and they're really making some waves!
As of May 2025, they had already transplanted 500 coral fragments — halfway to their goal of 1,000 by the end of 2025! 🪸✨
But that’s not all — they’ve also rescued colonies of endangered coral species and brought them safely into their Marine Lab, giving them the VIP treatment they deserve.
And here’s where it gets even cooler: they’ve trained 3 awesome local young people in scuba diving! Now they're able to be hands-on in the coral nursery, helping clean and care for the reefs, and joining MARES every two weeks for conservation workshops.
It's science, it's community, and it's ocean love in action.