David W. came to a performing arts center in Richmond when he was fourteen years old, right before his birthday.
“Before I got here, my dream was to take drum lessons. I wasn’t really a bad kid. I stayed in the house and didn’t get into much trouble. I didn’t start developing as a drummer until I accepted that I wanted to be a drummer.
“I was a drummer at the church and I had a friend, Malachi, who told me about our center. I applied and got into the Summer Diploma Program...