Building Bridges Through Music to host “Starry Night” senior prom in Lynn on June 14

Building Bridges Through Music will host a “Starry Night” Senior Citizens Prom on Sunday, June 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Pallet Function Room in City Hall Square, organizers said on the Lynn Lowdown.

The event, revived this year by student participants after a pandemic hiatus, is a community service project run by middle- and high-school students. “Our students are the ones who do everything. They get the donations. They assist our attendees in and out of the prom,” a Building Bridges co‑founder said on the program.

Founded in 2000 and active in Lynn for about 26 years, Building Bridges Through Music described its mission as bringing people of all ages and cultures together through music and youth outreach. The nonprofit operates an after‑school program that integrates music with STEM and runs a six‑week summer learning‑loss prevention program for children ages 5–14 supported in part by Education Comes First.

Organizers said the prom began in 2013 after students researched the idea and decided to create an event to give older adults an occasion many had missed because of economic hardship, war or social divides. Students also select a prom king and queen based on criteria they set.

Music is central to the event: past proms featured live music, and this year students arranged for a DJ whose playlist spans the 1930s to contemporary hits so multiple generations can dance together.

Admission is free for people aged 75 and older; attendees under 75 are asked to donate $15 to help fund students who cannot attend the group’s summer program. Organizers said parking is available near the function room and that the student hosts enforce a dress code — formal or semi‑formal attire, with black tie optional.

Julia Toller, communications director for Building Bridges Through Music, said spots are filling quickly and asked prospective attendees to RSVP by calling the office at 781‑479‑8327 or emailing the organization via the address provided on the program (bbtmusic.org). She said she will check guests in at the door.

Beyond the prom, the group reiterated its call for volunteers to support the after‑school program with reading, math, arts and recreation; interested volunteers were asked to call the same office number and ask for Julia or associate director Tina Baker.

The program closed with a reminder of the event details and encouragement for community members to participate. For more information or to RSVP, organizers asked listeners to call 781‑479‑8327 or visit the organization’s listed contact channels.