Light In

The group practices most Sundays at Bluffton Community Center.

But playing drums is just part of the equation for the students. They are involved in other programs offered by COIN and learning from other experiences.

“We took them to the African American Civil Rights Museum in Atlanta,” Bush said. “The parents have been very supportive, and they go on trips with us.”

One of those parents, Connie Whitehead, has high praise for Bush and for COIN. She has three sons, 9-year-old twins Camden and Kendall and 14-year-old Dominic, who play in the drumline.

“I just want to acknowledge how much work L.J. and Keith are doing,” she said. “The time they spend – it’s just their passion.”

Whitehead said beyond the fun, the meetings for parents are extremely helpful.

“We have gotten information about scholarships and how to get ready for college,” she said. “It has lifted a burden for us, about how to get three boys through college. It has been eye-opening.”

Bush said that getting information to parents is a big part of what COIN does.

“We try to get families the information they need to help them be successful,” he said.

The organization offers personal development and coaching programs, seeking to help young people elevate themselves. The philosophy, as posted on the COIN website, states: “We believe an essential component of COIN is cognitive restructuring. It is used to counter negative perceptions based on a history disconnection from the constantly changing Lowcountry.”

The goal is to “Break the generation of social and economic poverty cycle by finding sustained career opportunities for 100% of COIN students each year.”

Alandria Kennedy, 17, a senior at Hilton Head Island High School, said being part of the drumline and COIN has been beneficial to her in various ways, including helping her build confidence.

“I wrote a song and performed it for the first time at the Black Lives Matter program at school,” she said.

Cross said his long-range goal is to someday have a fine arts school that offers summer clinics and a camp.

“It will be a place where kids can come and learn and have fun with their friends,” he said. “They can be part of a community that is doing positive things.

In line with that dream is to grow the drumline.

“We hope to grow to so many that we have to go buy more drums,” Bush said. “Our target is 25 If we get to where we need more instruments, that would b a good problem to have.”

Drumline is open to anyone between about age 5 to 18, he said, and free to join.

For more information, visit changingourimagenow.org.