YMC Urban Oasis Independent Artist Program

Access to tech and creative industry employment

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Research shows that the arts have a positive impact across physical, mental, and public health. However, education budget cuts have ended many art and music programs. When youth do not have creative outlets, they may be more prone to be involved in delinquent activities. Having the opportunity and the means to be around a creative environment can have a positive impact. Low-income youth living in marginalized communities are especially in need of after-school programs because they often lack safe parks, sports teams, clubs, and other enriching opportunities that are more accessible in other communities. Additionally, even though Los Angeles supports a multibillion-dollar arts industry, these opportunities are not as open to less affluent and connected people of color. The music industry is an area that can be a vehicle for entrepreneurship. With access to industry experts and learning some marketing skills, young people can create, produce, market, and sell their own music.

YMC will provide the Urban Oasis Independent Artist (UOIA) program to 2 cohorts of up to 30 youth at the YMC Urban Oasis Youth Center (UOYC), located in South Central LA. Each cohort will meet for 2 hrs. per week for 6 months. The program will follow YMC’s proven core elements of the Hero’s Journey woven into creating, recording, mixing, production, and marketing of their own music projects. The UOIA program will use in-house expertise as well as partner with industry experts to cover program material. YMC will rent state of the art studio space for recording, mixing, etc. from long-time partner Street Poets. During the sessions, youth will also learn practical skills to assist them in running their own business or in the workforce. All youth participants will be taught business etiquette, time management, basic money management, and other skills and gain real practice by being expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner during all class sessions. Each youth that completes their music project and has successfully mastered the professional skills taught in the class will be given a $500 budget to market their project. Our in-house experienced artist will assist them with creating and executing a marketing plan that includes using technology to transition themselves into a successful business including financing, organizing, networking, and economics. A music showcase event will be held at the end of each cohort.

Los Angeles youth living in marginalized communities will gain new insights into music career opportunities and entrepreneurship. They will feel supported in whatever their choices may be and have the sense of accomplishment and empowerment of taking a project from beginning to completion. These gains will better equip them to maneuver within their communities and in their lives.

To make this project more sustainable, YMC will demonstrate success for program youth through the following goals and objectives:
Goal 1: LA youth who reside in marginalized communities will have the knowledge and skills to create and produce their own music.
OBJ 1.1: Up to 60 youth who reside in South central LA and other underserved communities will be enrolled in the UOIA program over a one-year program period.
Obj. 1.2: 80% youth will demonstrate an understanding learn song writing, mixing, and production.
Obj.1.3 80% of youth will complete a music project.
Goal 2: UOIA program youth will learn marketing strategies to generate revenue as an independent artist/entrepreneur.
80% of youth who complete a music project will create a marketing plan.
75% of youth will successfully implement their marketing plan.