A man and a child playing a STIX branded drum set in a room with a black and white checkered wall.

MUSIC FOR EVERYONE

Restoring hope and identity through rhythm and faith.

ENROLL

WHAT IS S.T.I.X. ACADEMY?

At Standing Together In Christ (S.T.I.X.) Academy, rhythm is more than music, it’s a tool for transformation. Drumming becomes a medium for life lessons, accountability, and self-expression, evolving alongside value-based workshops that reinforce teamwork and personal growth.

We also honor the journey of veterans, offering them a path to healing and renewed purpose through brotherhood and service. By integrating their wisdom and experience into our programming, we create a space where generations uplift one another.

Our focus is on building a strong community presence, nurturing relationships, and creating spaces that inspire belonging. Through mentorship and shared purpose, we deepen our impact where encouragement and transformation matter most.

With support from local leaders, faith communities, and early donors, S.T.I.X. Academy is ready to make a lasting impact, one heart, one rhythm, one disciple at a time.

 Enroll

VISION

We restore hope and identity through rhythm, faith, and fellowship, empowering youth and honoring veterans.

MISSION

We teach drumming, mentor with purpose, and build a Christ-centered community, shaping youth with discipline and guiding veterans toward healing.

MORE THAN DRUMMING

The challenges facing today’s youth and veterans run deeper than access to activities; they are crises of identity, leadership, and hope—and they call for a restorative, faith‑driven response.

Youth Leadership Gap

  • Most youth lack access to programs that intentionally develop leadership, purpose, and initiative. 
  • Only 16% of U.S. youth engage in meaningful leadership experiences by age 25. 
  • Approximately 54% of youth (between the ages 18-24) grow up without a spiritual foundation, leaving them without identity, direction, or hope.

Veteran Isolation and Mental Health Crisis

  • Jacksonville has one of the largest veteran populations in the U.S. 
  • 77% report PTSD or depression; 25% have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year. 
  • Nationally, an estimated 17–22 veterans die by suicide every day. 
  • About 60–70% of veterans in music‑therapy studies report meaningful reductions in PTSD, depression, or distress

S.T.I.X. Academy's Response

  • A faith-driven hub where rhythm becomes a tool for restoration. 
  • Music education and intergenerational mentorship empower youth to lead, and veterans to heal through legacy-building roles. 
  • At the heart of S.T.I.X. is the belief that faith restores what the world fractures, offering identity, belonging, and purpose to every life we touch.
 LEARN MORE

TESTIMONIALS

  • A person with bright green hair and glasses playing a drum kit in a cluttered indoor room, wearing a black t-shirt and multiple bracelets.
    Y’all, it’s so much more than just a drum lesson!! Enrique is profoundly patient, so encouraging, so full of life, meeting my teen exactly where they are and making them feel completely capable. Even in this brief period, I have seen growth in my kiddo. And I can tell they see and feel the care being poured out on their behalf.
    Kim R.
    Parent of S.T.I.X. Academy Student
  • At 53 years old, as a Christian, husband, father, and after serving 25 years in the Navy, I never expected to discover a new passion. Then I found drumming. Drumming is both fun and challenging. It is structured order inviting creative chaos, and I love that balance. It has become something I didn't know I needed. I genuinely look forward to my weekly sessions because they challenge me, help me grow, and bring me joy. Drumming has reminded me that it's never too late to discover something new that excites and inspires you.
    Scott S.
    Navy Veteran S.T.I.X. Academy Student

OUR PARTNERS

STAY TUNED ON OUR SOCIALS