We were lucky to catch up with Jim Newton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jim thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I always loved singing, learning to play the guitar and performing in folk groups but, until I had the opportunity to sing with and for hospitalized children in 1983 at Columbus Children’s Hospital (now Nationwide Children’s in Columbus, OH)., I had not found my lifetime career path. After singing with a group of children gathered in a waiting area at the hospital, I was invited by a nurse to sing for a terminally ill little boy and his mom in a room down the hall. When the nurse introduced me to “Toby” (not his real name), she said – “This is Jim, he plays the guitar and sings and is going to make you feel better.” Wow! I am looking at a little 4 year-old boy, bald from chemo, and so sad looking – sitting on his mom’s lap – she has big, dark circles under her eyes and looks so sad and tired herself. And I’m supposed to make them feel better!?! So I sang one song – at the end I got no response – no words, no hand claps – they felt as awkward as I did I suppose. Not knowing what to say myself, I just began another song – and during the middle of it the little one started smiling just a bit – not too much, just a little turn up at the corners of his mouth. So, I launched into a 3rd song – more up tempo – and all of a sudden “Toby” broke out in a huge smile that lit up his room – and his mom began to quietly cry tears of joy! And then he began to clap to the rhythm, completely off the beat but beautiful! When I finished the song, we talked for a few minutes, now that the ice was broken. When I had to leave, mom walked me to the door and said that “Toby” would likely not make it out of the hospital this time – they were losing him. As I walked into the hall, my life path became clear to me – and I have never looked back!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My experience at Columbus Children’s Hospital in March of 1983 was life-changing. As I toured the country, singing in churches and college campus ministries, I began contacting children’s hospitals and pediatric units, and asking to come and sing with their kiddos and families. The hospital Child Life Specialists became my window into a new world of discovery – how specially written and selected songs could help provide family-centered care for severely, chronically and terminally-ill children and their caregivers. The healthcare pros taught me about what kids go through during and after hospitalizations and helped me begin to identify helpful messages which could be written into songs, for live performance and recording. The original nonprofit I founded was named Celebration Shop, Inc. – later our name was changed to Hugworks – and more recently, we merged with another 501(c)(3) nonprofit to become KidLinks. Our first recording, “Friends Of The Family” (later re-released as “Best I Can Be”) received a Parents’ Choice Award for both English and Spanish versions. Our later “We Can Do” and “World Sound Song” recordings also received Parents’ Choice Awards. Some additional Awards our projects and direct services received were Family Channel Seal of Quality, American Library Association Notable Children’s Recording, Parent Council, Ltd. – Outstanding Production, Parents’ Guide Children’s Media Award, Children’s Hospice International – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Award for Outstanding Contribution, National Pediatric Nursing Assoc. – Humanitarian Award, Texas Association of School Psychologists – Children’s Assistance for Living Award, Southwestern Region of the American Music Therapy Association – Friend of Music Therapy Award, Omni Intermedia Silver Awards – Musical Visual Production & Children’s Production, and Telly Bronze Awards for Children’s Audience & Visuals With Music/Concert. Most of all, I am proud of our reaching more than 438,000 kids and caregivers over our nonprofit’s 41+ years of service!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

KidLinks’ mission is “linking specially-challenged kids to healing, hope and happiness through music and media.” We currently have 8 Therapeutic Music Entertainers (who serve kids & families in hospitals, special care centers and schools), providing healing & comfort, along with a safe, healthy and positive way for kids to connect with their emotions through music. We also have 7 Board-Certified Music Therapists (who serve kids at the Southern Methodist University JW Brown KidLinks Music Therapist-in-Residence Program and in other clinics and home settings throughout North Texas), who assess the strengths and needs of each child and create individualized treatment plans which use music to address areas of cognition, physical communication, social, emotional and behavioral challenges. In addition, our more than 200 recorded songs, plus animations, videos and other resources are available to the public 24-7, free-of-charge online at KidLinks.org.

Have you ever had to pivot?

After I discovered my new career path to serve kids and families in hospitals, special care centers and other venues, I had to transition/pivot from my previous work in providing concerts, workshops, etc. for youth and young adults in churches and college campus ministries across the country. Our nonprofit has always honored the rights of individuals and families to practice whatever religion or spirituality they choose (if any). While we do our best to have our songs and other resources embody the “law of love” present in the Gospel message, we never use overt religious language in any of our direct services and resources. Our job is to provide messages of self-esteem, diversity, friendship, encouragement, motivation, and relaxation, along with other healing messages, for children and families without regard to religion, ethnicity, gender, or social situation, etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kidlinks.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kid_links/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKidLinks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kidlinks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KidLinks

Image Credits

KidLinks