SOUNDING FROM THE HEARTLANDS:
A Think Tank Centering Appalachian, Black Belt Southern, Borderlands, and Indigenous Music-Based Creative Youth Development Efforts
The Lewis Prize wanted to create a space to learn about the various ways that rural music-based CYD was taking place. Fundamental questions in the inception of this project included: what do programs look like, what are their specific needs, and how do we consider their shapes and work in relationship to the urban programs with which we were all more familiar?
From these questions, two efforts were born. First, in early 2021, at the front end of this process, we hosted a virtual gathering with exclusively rural programs and state arts agencies with rural networks to connect us to these programs. On this call, we heard about some of the contours of rural CYD in ways that facilitated our outreach and increased awarding of rural CYD programs. This call and other relationship mapping connected us to leaders. Secondly, we decided to build a think tank space. We wanted to create a space where we could learn about the various ways that rural music-based CYD was taking place. We also wanted to create a space that could build networks and alliances across programs in various regions.
The Lewis Prize for Music hosted its first five-part think-tank gathering with the following participating organizations:
D’DAT and the Build a Band Program (Diné Nation/Farmington, New Mexico),
Eastlake Expression Engine (Chattanooga, TN),
Griot Arts (Clarksdale, MS),
MeowCares (Montgomery, AL)
Revival of Cultural Arts - ROCA (Brownsville, TX).
Discussions centered on how these programs are a focal point in their communities as facilitators and amplifiers of youth leadership and voice. This report invites you to learn about each organization’s work and journey. Tools and practices within their process have laid fertile ground for positive impact in the lives of young people, families, collaborative partners, and their community at large. Each organization received a $25,000 grant, and their leaders (youth and adult staff) received honorariums to participate in the think tank.
“We invite you to sit with the practices, thoughts and questions of these five organizations. We invite you to join in our humble listening to these intergenerational sharings. Finally, we invite you to consider how you might support these and other entities, persons and organizations doing the work of supporting youth and, indeed, the future/forthcoming of these communities.” - Arielle Julia Brown (Contributing Author & Knowledge and Strategy Associate, The Lewis Prize for Music)
