In January, 2020, My Voice Music and our Founder and Executive Director, Ian Mouser became one of three recipients of The Lewis Prize for Music Accelerator Award which includes a $500,000 contribution to the organization. The Accelerator Award provides multi-year support to enable leaders and organizations to make sustained progress toward ambitious community change initiatives that align with The Lewis Prize for Music’s values and vision.
The Lewis Prize believes that music in the lives of young people is a catalytic force to drive positive change in our society and is committed in investing in leaders who are advancing positive change for young people through music.
With the Prize comes a $500,000 seed investment in My Voice Music. The Lewis Prize for Music, along with the continued support of foundations, businesses and individuals, will allow My Voice Music to embark on three major initiatives.
WHAT: MVM will build a new state-of-the-art Recording Studio and Music Center in East Portland.
WHY: East Portland has the most kids, from the most diverse backgrounds, with the least amount of resources provided in the city. MVM will move existing programs to East Portland and collaborate with community leaders and organizations to provide songwriting, recording, and performance groups, mentorship, and job opportunities to youth ages 8 – 24.
WHAT: MVM will pilot and support programs at mental health treatment facilities, juvenile justice facilities, migrant detention centers, and residential programs for survivors of trauma throughout the state.
WHY: MVM has designed programs that help youth in residential treatment programs to find and share their voice through songwriting and recording. Over the next three years we will expand this program across the state of Oregon. This initiative stands to have a critical impact on Oregon’s youth in crisis.
WHAT: The Lewis Prize will allow MVM to edit, design and publish a “Manualfesto” which will be available to teaching artists and organizations state-wide, and eventually nationally and internationally.
WHY: Over the past ten years, we have developed, evaluated and refined a model for our Outreach Program. Publication and distribution of our “Manualfesto” has the potential to exponentially increase our impact over time.
JOIN WITH THE LEWIS PRIZE FOR MUSIC
AND INVEST IN MVM AT THIS CRITICAL AND EXCITING MOMENT.
Or contact us to learn how you, your business or your foundation can help make our big idea a reality.