Music And Youth Initiative Inc

WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF MUSIC. MUSIC HAS THE POWER TO BUILD ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS, UNLEASH CREATIVITY, AND DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. MUSIC IS THE MAGNET THAT ATTRACTS YOUTH TO A SAFE PLACE TO LEARN AND GROW, AWAY FROM THE CULTURE OF DRUGS, GANGS, AND VIOLENCE WHICH IS ALL TOO PREVALENT ON THE STREETS OF THE LOW-INCOME URBAN AREAS WE TARGET. OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOOL AND OLDER WITH AFTER-SCHOOL MUSIC EDUCATION AS WELL AS ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AIMED AT SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING JOB SKILLS, AND COLLEGE PREPARATION SUPPORT; ALL OF WHICH HELPS BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.

MUSIC AND YOUTH INITIATIVE WAS FOUNDED IN 2005 TO PARTNER WITH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING UNDER-RESOURCED URBAN COMMUNITIES. WE PROVIDE EACH PARTNER WITH MULTI-YEAR FUNDING, EQUIPMENT GRANTS, AND EXTENSIVE PROGRAM SUPPORT TO HELP THEM CREATE AND SUSTAIN A "MUSIC CLUBHOUSE", WHICH THEY INTEGRATE INTO THEIR OVERALL PROGRAM OFFERINGS. WE ALSO PROVIDE FUNDING AND PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR "CATALYST GRANTS" FOR NEW OR EXISTING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT USE MUSIC AS A VEHICLE FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE SPACE OR STAFFING REQUIRED FOR A MUSIC CLUBHOUSE. WE SUPPORT AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON TWEENS AND TEENS, DESIGNED TO BE SAFE PLACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO NOT ONLY EXPLORE THEIR MUSICAL INTERESTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY USE MUSIC AS A VEHICLE TO UNDERSTAND AND EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS, AND DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS AS THEY MOVE TOWARD ADULTHOOD. THESE PROGRAMS ARE LED BY A PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL STAFF WITH STRONG YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SKILLS WHO ARE DEDICATED TO HELPING ALL PARTICIPANTS FIND THEIR VOICE. THE PROGRAMS ARE INTENTIONALLY SELF-DIRECTED, ENCOURAGING TEENS TO PLAY THE MUSIC THEY ARE INTERESTED IN AND SUPPORTING THEIR EFFORTS TO LEARN AS MUCH MUSICALLY AS THEY DESIRE. IN ADDITION TO A WIDE ARRAY OF INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS GUITARS, DRUMS, AND KEYBOARDS AS WELL AS WITH STATE-OF-THE ART RECORDING HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TO ATTRACT TODAY'S TEENS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WRITING AND PRODUCING THEIR OWN MUSIC.