In the second cycle of Fresh Tracks in 2023, Give a Beat joined forces with Jail Guitar Doors and Street Poets at the C.A.P.O. (Community Arts Programming and Outreach) Center. This collaborative youth program aimed to provide opportunities for participants aged 18-24 to explore music production and develop their artistic talents. The program featured four different stations: beatmaking, production, film, and creative writing. Through these stations, participants had the chance to create their own music, learn about the production process, express themselves through film, and enhance their creative writing skills. The ultimate goal of Fresh Tracks was to empower system-involved youth and individuals from under-resourced communities by offering pathways to music education and opportunities to monetize their original work.

In 2023, Give a Beat made significant strides in our youth program by extending youth class sessions and offering longer residencies at various locations. These include Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, Kirby Juvenile Camp, Roosevelt Park After School Program, Rose City Alternative High School, Central Juvenile Detention Center, John Adams Alternative High School and Dream Home Halfway House. These expansions have allowed Give a Beat to provide more in-depth and high-quality services, resulting in a continued flourishing of our impact on young people.

In addition to our existing Youth Music Production and DJing Program, we are pleased to announce that we have a new addition. Geri, a Credible Messenger, has joined our team and is serving in two facilities. She is present at Kirby, a youth juvenile camp that caters to both boys and girls units. Additionally, Geri is stationed at John Adams Alternative School, specifically at the Juvenile Day Reporting Center (JDRC). With her presence, the Credible Messenger contributes to the program by building trust and nurturing relationships with the participants. We have observed that having the Credible Messenger greatly enhances the experience of the participants. Many of them are already familiar with Geri and greet her with love and excitement.

House, Techno, Hiphop, Dub

Protest music, Chicano movement music

Jazz, blues, indigenous music

Social media

Personal Brand Creation

Networking

Music Deals

Event production

Roles of DJ and Producer

Music Theory

Music Software

History of DJ Equipment

MIDI, Drum Machine, Synthesizer, Sampler, Autotune

Healing

Reflection

Creative Expression

Building Community

We acquired four new Arts in Corrections (AIC) contracts in 2023 to expand our Prison Electronic Music Program. Since 2019, we have been operating in two California state prisons. This expansion allowed us to double our programming and impact at the California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC), California Correctional Institution (CCI), California Rehabilitation Center (CRC), and California City Correctional Facility (CAC). With these new contracts, we were able to reach a total of 240 incarcerated individuals in 2023, nearly doubling our previous reach of 140 individuals per year. We are grateful for this opportunity to expand our Prison Electronic Music Program and make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve.

In 2023, we made ongoing adjustments and enhancements to our curriculum to ensure it remained relevant to our participants. A key aspect of this involved expanding the brand and business development portion into our programs. Furthermore, we focused on using empowering language and providing support to our teachers, which in turn enhanced the educational and mental well-being of those we served. Both our Teaching Artists and Staff took advantage of opportunities to advance their own education and training, thus empowering themselves and our participants.

In 2023, Give a Beat made significant progress in our Prison Electronic Music Program. We expanded our Teaching Artist team and welcomed three new members: Esseance, Malachi, and Angela. By doing so, we aimed to provide more comprehensive and high-quality services to incarcerated individuals. Additionally, we continued to actively hire individuals from the music industry, as part of our commitment to proximity. This approach involves bringing music industry professionals closer to those who have experienced injustice. Our Theory of Change revolves around proximity, narrative transformation, undertaking uncomfortable actions, and fostering hope. These efforts have allowed us to further our mission and positively impact the lives of those affected by incarceration.

Thanks to the Reentry Through the Arts grant from the California Arts Council and other generous donors, we successfully launched the second cycle of On a New Track Reentry Mentoring Program. We are thrilled to announce that 7 out of 8 participants successfully graduated from the program in 2023. The impact from the last cycle was palpable, and we are grateful for the support that made this opportunity possible.

In 2023, Give a Beat made significant progress by hiring two graduates from our On a New Track program, Geri Meyers and Anthony McDuffie Jr., as Program Consultants. These talented individuals are now actively involved in the development of an alumni program, providing further opportunities for graduates as aspiring artists to reach the next level.

We are proud to announce that Lafonzo, one of our 2023 graduates, successfully participated in our Prison Electronic Music Program and became the first-ever graduate from the program to join On a New Track. We are extremely grateful for the support that has made this opportunity possible and look forward to the impact Lafonzo and other participants will make in their reentry journey. Read more about his journey here: Unlocking Hope: Music Not Prisons with Lafonzo