Yes you are correct, generational poverty is real and does suck. But, it can be broken because I did it. I grew up in the inner-city but I listened to my middle school band director and worked my butt off, went to college as he said and here I am. Education is the ticket out, period. I have many kids in band that I have reached and they are making sacrifices and getting to be better and better players. I also have a couple of kids who I can not get through to. You can not save them all. It just will not happen. But if you can save some or the majority, you've done your job. By the way, my band no longer makes 3's and 4's and now makes 1's and 2's. We got a 2 at marching contest this year and the kids were down (me too) but we'll be back next year.