About Jam & Bread

Our History

In the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, many kids struggled with isolation, a gap in academic and extracurricular education, and mental health challenges. People with disabilities (12% of Wexford County) and those who live in low-income households are especially impacted by these challenges. Last year, Marla Courtney, a musician and market master, began offering volunteer opportunities to neighborhood teens. Other musicians and artisans were inspired to formalize Jam & Bread in January 2023 to provide classes and programming for Cadillac Area youth.

The Vision

Everyone, regardless of age, ability, economic status, race, or other factors, has the opportunity to pursue music, arts, and traditional crafts for personal enjoyment and enrichment of their local community.

VALUES



Security

Provide a safe, consistent space for students so they can flourish.



Mentorship

Build relationships through shared interests and skills building.



Acceptance

People of any skill level, age, or ability are valued and acknowledged.



Creativity

Everyone has interests, diverse talents, and unique perspectives that enrich us.



Collaboration

Connecting with other local stakeholders to create opportunities for young people in the spirit of community growth.

TEAM

Marla Courtney

President

I love watching the sparks ignite when I teach a workshop or work with our youth. I bring 25 years of business leadership, event planning and team management to my role as the founder of Jam & Bread.

As a musician, I want every child who wishes to learn to play an instrument to have access to music education so I founded this nonprofit to fill the void in the Cadillac Area. My main goal is to inspire our community to gather together, support each other and provide a safe place for our youth to come together to learn as well as give back.

Ellen SlaughterHawk

Vice President

I joined Jam & Bread because I believe in the necessity of the arts and providing opportunities to children to explore their creative interests without having to worry about affordability and accessibility. I am passionate about providing an equal opportunity to learn to all students. I have worked as a middle & high school in some of the most impoverished schools in the U.S. and spent three years working for a non-profit alternative education program in Oregon. Currently, I work for Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan as a middle school special ed teacher and caseload manager.

Christine Nelson

Treasurer

I joined Jam & Bread because I am passionate about giving kids opportunities to be involved in our community. I’ve raised 4 children. My 3 daughters are all very active and confident young women now. I have a son with a TBI who lives with us and will for the foreseeable future. I was heavily involved in the Cadillac Band Boosters for many years as chairperson for the annual craft show and also served 3 years as president and a year as vice president before that. Besides being caretaker for my son, I also run a business from home, Frog Foot Quilts. I am a longarm quilter and have done this for 17 years.

Instructors

Dave Dalton

Board Member & Instructor

Volunteering to help kids is important to me. I’m passionate about passing down experience and paying forward what others gave to me. I have 30+ years experience with running non-profits for youth education and the desire for kids to learn music as a social skill. My current day job is loving my wife (but that’s not really a job!).

Alex Bowers

Instructor

I am passionate about accessible, quality music education. I have a bachelor’s degree in music education and am the current orchestra director for Cadillac Area Public Schools. I love my day job with my whole soul.

Dan Wilson