COMMUNITY PROFILE PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTH ON RECORD THE YOUTH IS ON RECORD BY CAT EVANS CREATIVE OUTLETS, ART, EXPRESSION, AND SOUL are a few underemphasized, necessary elements of our existence that not everyone has access to. Many are unfamiliar with how to engage with those elements of themselves whatsoever, as our society does not directly cater to or encourage those extracurriculars. Founded in 2008, Denver-based Youth on Record (YOR), a small nonprofit located at 1301 W. 10th Ave., is here to change that. There is little debate regarding the impact creativity has on the youth. In their “About Us” section on youthonrecord. org, YOR immediately informs visitors that “education and art, when integrated under the right framework, are powerful tools toward liberation and equity.” The mission is bigger than a moment. According to their website, YOR offers programs that are “intended to equip young people from historically under-resourced communities with the skills needed to find success in life by advancing their academic success, increasing their economic 10 DENVER VOICE March 2022 opportunities and career skills, and strengthening their community connections and networks.” At Youth on Record, social justice and music production come hand in hand. They teach things like creative writing, alongside historical classes. All classes are integrated into programs for schools with underprivileged students. When YOR started, there were only three staff members. Today, there are about 18. YOR also offers programs outside of school. “FEMpower” is a program for femme-identifying or non-identifying people. “It has a lot to do with social justice issues, how to be heard,” said Jelie Jones, a teacher at YOR. An artist and musician herself, Jones’ work is splashed all over the Denver music scene — performing live sets with collaborators, producing beats, running an educational YouTube channel on beat making — going so far as to have performed her own TedTalk. She is a specific type of creative who has found success in her own journey through collaboration and outreach. “Open Lab” is another of the many programs Youth on Record offers. As Jones explained, “Youth can get studio sessions, first come, first served. They really learn what it’s like to be in the booth.” According to Jones, self-mastery and control are key components in production rates and ability. The program teaches students how to mix and master their songs. The program also offers guitar lessons and access to Ableton, a complex, pricey tool considered a staple software in music production. Ableton Live retails at a base price of $749 for six months. “We do Ableton live workshops, how to make your drums bounce etc.,” said Jones. YOR also allows and encourages people to collaborate while they are working on their own forms of art. “They can PHOTO COURTESY OF YOUTH ON RECORD sit anywhere in the space and be cozy while they chill, vibe and get feedback from us directly,” said Jones. “There are always activities running simultaneously.” Schools initiate the contract with Youth on Record, and then they send a teaching artist out to middle schools or high schools two to three times per week. YOR has structures focused on podcasting, as well. Podcasting is a lot of different components, and Youth on Record helps with production, release, and recording, along with mixing/mastering the podcast audio. That is one of Jones’ specialties with the organization. There is a major internship focus through Denver Public Schools. Currently, there are four interns from CU Denver that work for Youth on Record. These are paid internships, and UCD interns are given a $500 stipend per month.
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