“There comes a time when each person must lend a hand to create opportunities for others to achieve success,” said Joan Hillsman, a gospel musician and a former Washingtonian. “This is one of my missions.”

After relocating in Syracuse, N.Y., to be near her son, Quentin, who is head coach for the women’s basketball team at Syracuse University, Hillsman hit the ground running to promote the arts in the inner city and suburban communities. She became involved with the Syracuse University’s “Say Yes to Education Program” and serves on the mayor’s Arts Transitional Team.

“There is so much talent out there that needs to be developed,” she said. “Research shows that those children who have participated in music and arts score better in areas of the SAT. Music is therapeutic.”

The Syracuse Community Folk Art Center and the Department of African Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences are proud to partner with Hillsman’s Music Network as she provides lessons in piano and other music instructions to the greater Syracuse community.

To celebrate this partnership a grand opening was held recently at the center.

During her 50 years of service in the Washington area, Hillsman, often referred to as a guru and an icon in the gospel community, was an educator, performer, and an African-American music historian.

She was and still is a member of New Southern Rock Baptist Church in Northwest Washington; served in area churches; served as a clinician and held workshops in many local, national and international venues.

Hillsman retired from Washington, D. C. public school system as the supervising director of music in 1996 with 32 years of service. She moved on to Bowie State University where she served for 13 years as professor of music and director of the Bowie State University Gospel Choir.

Of all of her accolades and awards, and there many, she was most proud of the recognition by then-Mayor Marion Berry for her community service. He applauded her work with the homeless after she organized the first homeless gospel choir in D.C., a group that sang in many venues around the city to great acclaim.