Callie Mescher-FitzGerald, 38, wants people to feel belonging and acceptance. She believes music therapy can help develop coping skills, emotional regulation, empathy and positive self-talk.

Mescher-FitzGerald is a board-certified music therapist and the founder of Mindful Musicians, a curriculum offered at her business Centrally Rooted, which she established in 2021.

A native of Cascade, Iowa, she earned an undergrad degree in music education and vocal performance from Clarke University. Her master’s from Colorado State University is in music therapy, with certification in neurologic music therapy.

“I’ve always been fascinated by what motivates people and why, and human behavior — that sort of thing,” she said “So combining my two loves of music and psychology was an absolute dream come true, especially to be able to do it in a neurologic way, because that brings some credibility more so to the profession.”

Centrally Rooted was launched at a time, she says, people were struggling with isolation and mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to open it at 2230 Central Ave. in Dubuque’s north end was intentional.

“We wanted to impact an area of town that was lower income and needed some sort of resources within walking distance,” she noted.

It opened with a scholarship fund in place to help cover costs of classes for people who couldn’t afford them otherwise.

Jill Klinebriel, chair, communications manager and Mindful Musicians teacher, said Mescher-FitzGerald earned nonprofit status for the business within a year of opening to increase the number of people she could serve.

“Callie is an effective, empathetic and strong leader,” Klinebriel said. “She exemplifies the work ethic she expects from others while also seeing each team member as a human being who experiences challenges as well as triumphs. Callie holds weekly team meetings to check in with the team, not only with relation to the business, but to check in with them personally. Callie is a great delegator who easily assigns meaningful work to every team member, giving them a sense of autonomy and achievement.”

Exploration labs are free and open to the public. (Those age 11 and younger must be accompanied by an adult).

“Those are a Montessori approach, play-based learning. One room is art and the other area is music,” she said.

Mindful Musicians is an eight-week program for ages 0 to 6, with a caregiver.

“I’ve taken my music therapy education and written a program so that we are positively impacting brain health of kids from the littlest age,” Mescher-FitzGerald said. “Even my newborn could attend these classes.”

About 120 students per week take private music lessons, which are structured around self-esteem and emotional well-being.

Classes also are offered in the evening, as well as programming and presentations.

“I’m the only board certified music therapist on staff right now. We’re hoping that will change in the next year,” Mescher-FitzGerald said.

She also offers ongoing outreach programs to youth in Dubuque Montessori School, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dubuque, Young-Uns Preschool & Child Care Center, Key West Early Learning Center, Parents as Teachers and MOPS. Yoga classes also are hosted for Hills & Dales.

Mescher-FitzGerald is an active volunteer in the community, as well. Twice per month, she leads music therapy workshops at the partial hospitalization program at MercyOne. She donates time to free community outdoor yoga in the summer to provide music with B-1 yoga and supports several outdoor community events.

Last year, she started the Pianos on Parade fundraiser that provided music to the public and benefited Centrally Rooted’s scholarship families.

“People really need to know that they are enough, just as they are and you are exactly where you’re supposed to be on your path,” she said. “I think that once we all start questioning that within ourselves, that’s when we start to get into trouble. And so my goal is to create a community where we’re supporting people through their life in creative ways, but that it’s also very applicable to their non-creative life, just their everyday life.”

Mescher-FitzGerald said her business would never have come together without support from her husband, Kyle.

“None of this would have happened without him. He’s the one who heard my vision when it just lived in my head and made sure it was brought to life,” she noted.

They have a 6-year-old daughter, Ruby, and newborn daughter, Selah.