Be a jazz hero — Help us bring the rehabiliative power of music to young men and women at Rikers.
Leader
Alina Bloomgarden
Location
Rikers Island Queens Abutment Bronx, NY 11370
Music On The Inside (MOTI) just launched a 6-week songwriting and performance workshop for young men at Rikers Island and we’ve been invited to bring our music and mentorship program to all four facilities for young people. We’re launching this crowd-funding campaign to raise $6,000 to support an additional MOTI program at Rosie’s, the facility for women at Rikers.
Top Musicians are ‘Playing it Forward.’ MOTI was inspired by Louis Armstrong who had a musical mentor when he was incarcerated as a young man. His mentor, Peter Davis, led a boys band which changed the course of Armstrong’s life. Mentorship is a part of any musicians life and MOTI’s Artistic Advisor, Wynton Marsalis, many other leading jazz musicians share our concerns and want to participate as MOTI mentors and teachers.
1. Complete the fundraising compaign.
2. Train our teaching artists and mentors.
3. Bring top jazz musicians to teach and inspire youth at Rikers.
4. Create a CD of the original songs written by incarcerated youth.
3. Assess the results of MOTI's first 6-week songwriting workshop at one of the facilities for young men at Rikers.
4. Plan a second series at Rikers Island.
The US incarcerates more young people than any other country in the world with high financial and social costs to all of us.
All young people deserve a chance and the adolescent brain is still developing. Music is one of the most powerful neurobiological tools we have to change our mood, mindset, and behavior. The aim of Music on the Inside, Inc. (MOTI) is to reduce recidivism and financial and social costs by offering these young people the chance for new goals and hope through music education, creative development and mentorships with seasoned musicians.
