Lift Up Voices Inc

AT LIFT UP VOICES FOUNDATION, OUR MISSION IS TO GIVE A VOICE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT. WE BELIEVE THAT CREATIVITY IS A GIFT THAT CAN LEAD TO IMMENSE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE. THROUGH COMMUNITY INITIATIVES AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, LIFT UP VOICES FOUNDATION WORKS TO ADDRESS INADEQUACIES IN SOCIETAL SYSTEMS AND RAISE THE PROFILE OF EFFECTED INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES. WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC AND THE ARTS THAT ALLOW THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD LONG AFTER EACH EXPERIENCE.

DURING 2021, LIFT UP VOICES, INC. ACQUIRED THE RIGHTS TO THE HISTORICAL FILM DEPICTING THE EXPERIENCES OF ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICAN PIONEERS FORGING THE TRAIL FOR THOUSANDS OF PIONEERS TO FOLLOW. THE FILM BECAME A MECHANISM FOR THOUSANDS TO LEARN ABOUT THE DIVERSE HISTORY OF BLACK PIONEERS AND TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF MONUMENTS IN THE "THIS IS THE PLACE" PUBLIC PARK AT THE MOUTH OF EMIGRATION CANYON IN SALT LAKE CITY UTAH.

DURING 2021, LUV THROUGH ITS OUTREACH PROGRAM CALLED THE GHANA PROJECT WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS INADEQUACIES SOCIETAL SYSTEMS AND RAISE THE PROFILE OF EFFECTED YOUTH IN GHANA THROUGH MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AND TRAINING WORKSHOPS IN SCHOOLS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. YOUTH PARTICIPANTS NOT ONLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WATCH INSPIRING PERFORMANCES WITH MUSICIANS, ACTORS, AND ARTISTS BUT ALSO WORK WITH THESE ARTISTS AND TRY NEW INSTRUMENTS, SHOWCASE SINGING AND DANCE MOVES, AND EVEN RECORD NEW MUSIC.

LIFT UP VOICES ACKNOWLEDGES THE INJUSTICES THAT HAVE PLAGUED AFRICAN-AMERICANS FOR GENERATIONS. IT IS OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE AN OUTLET FOR THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD. THE L.U.V INNER CITY INITIATIVE WILL SEE FURTHER RESOURCES FOCUSED UPON THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY. THROUGH OUR WORK WE HAVE COME TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF NEGATIVE PORTRAYALS OF BLACK AND BROWN MEN IN ENTERTAINMENT, THUS LEADING TO IMPLICIT BIAS AMONGST THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THESE BIASES PERPETUATE RACIAL INJUSTICES. LIFT UP VOICES WILL PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN SHIFTING THE PARADIGM OF CONTENT CREATION PERTAINING TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS. BY CHANGING THE NARRATIVE, WE CHANGE THE VIEW. OUR FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR MORE POSITIVE PORTRAYALS OF OUR BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN MUSIC AND FILM. THE L.U.V INNER CITY INITIATIVE WILL FORM A MENTOR PROGRAM, COMPRISING OF INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS THAT WORK IN THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ENTERTAINMENT. THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM WILL RECEIVE HANDS-ON TRAINING IN ALL FACETS OF SONG AND MOVIE CREATION AS THEY CONTRIBUTE TO RESHAPING THE NEGATIVE STIGMAS ATTACHED TO COLOR. THROUGH SONG LYRICS, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND STORYTELLING, THE YOUTH OF TODAY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THEIR VOICE IN TELLING THEIR AUTHENTIC STORY.