PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — We continue to mark Black History Month by honoring the contributions of local African Americans.

The Afro-American Music Institute in Homewood is doing everything in its power to preserve the heritage of African American music.

“We’re an institution that’s preserving a tradition in the way that it was intended to be preserved,” said Dr. James T. Johnson, the AAMI director.

“I love being in the black community. This is needed for our children to see what’s going in the community,” said Pamela Johnson, the program director. “They can walk the streets and say there’s that music school there.”

“This institute reflects my spirit, it reflects my people, it reflects my community, it reflects my wife and mine relationship,” said Dr. Johnson.

“The beauty of this school is to see children who come here 6-years-old and to be able to see them now go on to college,” added Pamela.

“Music is one deterrent to a life of crime in the streets,” said Dr. Johnson. “We’ve had young people say that.

“Survival of AAMI has been good far as I’m concerned; all the 28 years of its struggle, which again, a good struggle,” said Pamela. “Why is it a good struggle because we’re still here existing.”

The Afro-American Music Institute will celebrate its 28th anniversary with a fundraiser on March 26 at the River’s Club.