“AS A TEACHER AND AN ARTIST, AND AS SOMEONE WHO JUST GENERALLY UNDERSTANDS AND APPRECIATES THE VALUE OF WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN AND WILL DO FOR SOCIETY WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS THAT MY VOICE MUSIC AND THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE THE ORGANIZATION LIFE ARE AMAZING.  AND, I AM EXTREMELY THANKFUL FOR GETTING TO BE PART OF SUCH A WONDER COLLECTION OF FOLKS.” –MVM PROGRAMS LEADER, SANTIGIE FOFANA-DURA

Last weekend was the My Voice Music student showcase at the Mississippi Studios.  The event was a mix of performances by students from all MVM Programs around the city, volunteers, and staff.  The purpose of the event was to celebrate the amazing and important work that MVM does by doing what it does best: provide young people the opportunity to stretch themselves and express their feelings using music as the medium.

I had the honor and privilege of watching this beautiful musical showcase.  I also had the opportunity to perform live for the first time with MVM students Shayne Alcorn, Bryce Salyers, & Christian Rodriguez as well as with fellow staffers Ian Mouser, Chris Gray, and James Calkins.  It was a truly great experience and when it was all done and I finally got home and had the chance to fully reflect on what just occurred, a feeling of elation slowly welled up from the the center of my stomach and ended  as a beaming smile radiating from my face.

Prior to the show I began to receive a few text messages from eager My Voice Music students.  One message read, “Where is Mississippi Studios?”, another, “It’s at Mississippi Studios right?”, and, “I’m ready, what time are you gonna pick me up?”  These messages sum up the type of relationship building that occurs between students and staff in the world of My Voice Music.  Students are not just people who show up at programs and work on some songs and then go home.  Cultivating relationships with students beyond the designated programming (such as with this performance) is important because it emphasizes the fact that there are teachers who truly care.  Something as simple as text message reminding a student about specific dates and times of events can make a huge difference in their lives.

Next it was over to a student’s house where I met his aunt and brother who were unable to attend the show.  After saying good bye we headed to the Mississippi studios, both of us eager and excited for what was about to be a great day.  As someone who has taught in several Portland area schools, I definitely understand the need for young people around here to have more than just good role models in their lives.  In the times in which we all currently live, filled with such gross complication and abstraction, young people need role models who are willing and able to go beyond the baseline societal parameters of what it means to care.

When we arrived at the Mississippi Studios, Chris, James, and Ian were prepping the stage getting ready for the students to arrive.  The mood was light and I could sense that we were all excited for the show to begin.  Slowly but surely more and more students and their friends and family began filling up the space.  It was awesome to see all these people, many of which do not know each other that well outside of their MVM connection, interacting and mingling.  Students were walking around strumming  guitars, swinging drumsticks and practicing their rhymes.  Not before long Ian called everyone in for a huddle and we all knew that the time for the big show was now upon us.  He gave a very inspirational pep talk about performing and owning that stage.  I could see the nervousness slowly start to melt away as Ian talked about messing up and how if a mistake happens, one solution is to make the mistake again on purpose so it looks it is all part of the act.  This further emphasized everybody’s inner rock star and after a quick tour of the green room we were ready to go.

The show was scheduled for 1:30pm but just like everything else in the wild world of art culture it started a little bit late. But, when it started, it started!!  Ian lead the whole audience through simple group song to get everyone in the whole building on the same page.  Then, the first performers, Unidentified Flying Obstacles absolutely rocked the house letting everyone know that this show was gonna be powerful.  From there my memory is a blur of inspired performances after inspired performances coming from students, staff, and volunteers.  There was so much that went on that to focus too much on any one aspect or any one performer would detract from the beauty of the whole.  It was just was awesome!!!!

As a teacher and an artist and as someone who just generally understands and appreciates the value of what young people can and will do for society when given the opportunity all I can really say is that My Voice Music and the people who give the organization life are amazing.  And, I am extremely thankful for getting to be part of such a wonder collection of folks.

Peace
Santigie Fofana-Dura

Watch and listen to this live free style with Santigie, and MVM youth Shane, Bryce and co-staffer, James.