Leadership
Music education, artist development, senior engagement, and community partnership — led with a practical focus on creating opportunity and connecting generations.
Executive Director
Frank F. Poindexter leads Student Music Project’s work at the intersection of music education, artist development, senior engagement, and community partnership.
Building on the longstanding jam-session tradition at Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club, Frank has helped expand the organization into a broader intergenerational nonprofit serving emerging musicians and older adults throughout Boston.
His leadership includes the Student Music Project Jam Sessions, music education and career-development programs, the Senior Music & Lunch Project, Senior Shield digital-safety education, and emerging community initiatives.
With experience spanning nonprofit leadership, entrepreneurship, hospitality, technology, and creative programming, Frank is focused on building sustainable partnerships that use music and education to create opportunity, reduce social isolation, and strengthen communities.
Program Director, Music Seminars
Jordan Poindexter is a Boston-based educator, creative professional, and community program leader who serves as Program Director for the Student Music Project Music Seminars. With a multidisciplinary background spanning occupational therapy, behavior therapy, education, and the arts, Jordan brings a people-centered approach to creating educational experiences that are engaging, accessible, and rooted in community.
In her role with Student Music Project, Jordan helps develop and coordinate music education and career-development seminars that connect young people and emerging musicians with working artists, educators, mentors, and music-industry professionals. The seminars combine interactive learning, live musical demonstrations, mentorship, career exploration, and opportunities to experience music within an authentic performance environment.
Jordan is particularly passionate about expanding access to music education beyond the traditional classroom. She believes music is not simply something to hear, but something people should be able to experience, understand, participate in, and share — supporting Student Music Project’s goal of creating meaningful pathways for young musicians to develop their skills, explore careers in music, and deepen their connection to Boston’s musical culture.
She is also helping expand educational and daytime programming connected to Wally’s Cafe, creating opportunities to celebrate local musicians, introduce participants to the history and culture of jazz, and connect the next generation of musicians with Boston’s longstanding live-music community.
Leadership Focus
Creating performance, mentorship, educational, and career-development opportunities for emerging musicians.
Developing accessible programs that bring music, meals, education, and social connection directly into senior communities.
Building relationships with housing organizations, schools, government agencies, nonprofits, artists, funders, and community partners.
Background & Credentials
A practical, cross-sector background informs Frank’s leadership of the organization’s programming and partnerships.
More than 20 years of cross-sector experience spanning music, education, technology, business, and public service. Leadership responsibilities include strategic planning, nonprofit operations, program development, grant writing and fundraising, budgeting, partnership building, event production, and marketing and communications — with working relationships across government agencies, nonprofits, schools, senior-service providers, housing communities, and funders.
Entrepreneurship programs through Boston University and Roxbury Community College; the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Babson College; the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) program; and training in graphic design, web development, and digital technology.
Hands-on digital skills including WordPress, Elementor Pro, HTML/CSS/JavaScript, website development, digital strategy, graphic design, social media, and video production.
Student Music Project partners with housing organizations, schools, agencies, funders, and artists across Boston.
