Young people in the Central Texas juvenile justice system are learning classical guitar through a partnership with Austin Classical Guitar that blends social work with the arts and humanities. At the 2026 Dean Jack Otis Social Problem and Social Policy Lecture, the people behind the program talked about how it came together, how it helps youth feel seen and connected, and how that connection can begin to change communities.

Dr. Jack Otis, dean of the School of Social Work from 1965 to 1977, endowed the lecture series, which highlights current social problems and inspires students and faculty to develop solutions. Otis also worked on juvenile delinquency policy during the Kennedy administration.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, Kcie Driggers, clinical assistant professor and this year’s lecture organizer, welcomed Scott Matthew, executive director of Williamson County Juvenile Services; Kim Andersen, program director of the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program; and Judge Denise Hernández, presiding judge of Travis County Court at Law #6. Matthew Hinsley, executive director of Austin Classical Guitar, moderated.

Hinsley introduced the program with a brief history. Austin Classical Guitar, founded in 1990, began teaching guitar at Austin’s Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center in 2010 and now works in juvenile facilities in Travis, Williamson and Dallas counties. According to the organization, its classes are the only for-credit performing arts classes for incarcerated youth in Texas. The program drew national attention in 2015 in a PBS NewsHour report.

Instructors build a classroom where students can make mistakes and still belong. About half of their training time goes to helping students feel safe. They follow a research-based teaching methodology built around five essential elements: safety and belonging, personal responsibility, perseverance through musical challenges, performance as part of every class period, and celebration.

“When a student is treated with care and understanding, they allow themselves to be vulnerable. That’s when they can progress and improve,” said Andersen.

“It has to do with connection,” added Matthew, a 36-year juvenile probation veteran. “It’s important to have a community, to have successes.”

Judge Hernández, who runs a youth diversion program, recalled her own youth, battle-rapping in her hometown of Houston. Her mother enrolled her in a debate program with the National Hispanic Institute. She credits that program with channeling her energy into learning how to talk about issues affecting the Hispanic community and with teaching her about “holding a perspective outside of my own until I was ready to see it myself.”

Now she sees the bench as a chance to do the same for others. “I have to hold that moment in their life and see it as an opportunity to instill growth and support.”

Hernández said her court’s partnership with UT Social Work puts graduate students to work as case managers, helping the program grow from 35 participants to 150. Matthew added, “We want social workers. I want people to focus on what happened to people, not what’s wrong with them.”

Hector Aguilar, Austin Classical Guitar’s director of juvenile justice education, said his biggest goal is making sure students enjoy being in the room, because that makes it easier to come back and learn. A former student who also performed told the audience: “With Mr. Hector, I learned how to play guitar and found a hobby that helped me cope with my emotions … I graduated high school, got a job. I’m proud of myself.”