Yougstown Records was interviewed by Jacques Pugh on the “Soul of Seattle” to talk about our recent trip to the White House for the White House Civil Rights Concert. Paris explains how meeting Morgan Freeman was a touch more star trekkin than meeting president Obama, Khatsini freestyles mid interview and the whole group breaks out into songs twice. Soul of Seattle is a Seattle-focused talk/magazine radio show that delves into the heart of Seattle, it’s fascinating people, and their stories from a sustainable community and ecological perspective. Airs Sundays from 10-11am on KPTK Progressive Talk radio, AM 1090. Listen to the interview in the PRESS section of our mp3 player in the right sidebar.

In August 2009, Music National Service launched the innovative MusicianCorps – a musical Peace Corps that aims to engage youth in arts and arts learning, and serve as a prototype for a national Artists Corps as called for by President Obama.

Music National Service partnered with Seattle’s own Arts Corps, the largest nonprofit arts educator in the Seattle area. Arts Corps identified and recruited musician/producer Amos Miller, to serve as an inaugural MusicianCorps Fellow, recognizing his demonstrated and exemplary commitment to using his talent to meet community needs.

After a two-week intensive training camp and local site preparation, Amos’s fellowship was initiated at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Youngstown is a multi arts facility in the Delridge neighborhood of Seattle serving youth in high-need educational and community settings. In October 2009, alongside Youngstown program coordinator Kevin Mock, Amos and a group of eight nominated youth helped solidify the vision of Youngstown Records. Youngstown Records is a youth-driven record label and music cooperative committed to building community by empowering and amplifying the voices of the youth of Seattle. Youth develop their musical talents and leadership skills in a year-long program of artist-led workshops, studio recording, performances and training in new media.

In under a year these youth have engaged in numerous community based performances and projects including a collaboration initiated by Frye Art Museum titled I Wish I Knew Who I Was Before I Was Me. Over the course of several months, with Youngstown Records Teachers and Arts Corps Teaching Artist Roberto Ascalon, students took part in the behind-the-scenes operations of the Frye and created personal responses to the artworks in Frye collection through music, the spoken and the written word. The exhibit opened on Jan 22nd, 2010 with an engaging and emotional response from the community in attendance.

This is only the beginning for these courageous young people. Representing the diverse human geography of Seattle communities and public, private, and alternative Seattle schools, these students and their proud advocates are honored and committed to using the power of music and art in realizing the beloved community by reaching one listener at a time.

Supported by:

This prestigious opportunity has been funded by the Frye Foundation, Carlo and Eulalie Scandiuzzi, individual donors, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, the Grousemont Foundation, and with support from Arts Corps and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

I Wish I Knew Who I Was Before I Was Me is initiated by the Frye Art Museum in collaboration with Arts Corps. Curated by Arts Corps students from Youngstown Cultural Arts Center with Arts Corps’ MusicianCorps fellow Amos Miller and teaching artist Roberto Ascalon. Frye Art Museum project coordinators: Jill Rullkoetter, Laura O’Quin, and Deborah Sepulveda. Arts Corps coordinators: Tina LaPadula and Lauren Atkinson. This project is funded by the Frye Foundation and the Grousemont Foundation with support from Arts Corps.

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