We Are An ARTS CATALYST
OUR LETTER TO THE PARKLAND, FLA COMMUNITY
Throughout history the Arts have been a powerful catalyst for change.
A powerful catalyst for healing.
A powerful catalyst for galvanizing, for rising above, for speaking truth to power, for breaking through, for breaking free.
The Arts have inspired, deepened, awakened, emboldened and connected individuals and communities.
The Arts have changed the world through gentle, productive, peaceful, evocative, ground breaking expression.
We are an ARTS CATALYST.
We are moved to connect with and offer our powerful work to your community, the Parkland Community, in the wake of the horrible tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
We were directed to your organization by the Palm Beach Philanthropy Tank, as we looked to help the students and community affected by this tragedy to tell their stories through music.
We see you’ve already begun this mission through your partnership with MSD Shine and Stoneman Douglas Victims’ Fund and the benefit you’ve recently hosted to raise funds and awareness for those affected so profoundly. Their song is beautiful and powerful and no doubt continues to make an extraordinary impact on those who listen and on those who the organization’s proceeds help in your community.
We’d like to help you further this mission of healing through the Arts.
Our expertise of nearly 20 years is in facilitating the Songwriting and Recording process for young people. We’d like to offer to work with your students and community to create an album of your stories for healing, connection and change in our world…
We are an organization dedicated to bringing about change and transformation through the power of creative expression.
For nearly 2 decades, we’ve been mobilizing young people to share their voices and share their stories. We’ve had the honor of helping these courageous young people turn their experiences, feelings and insights into creative works of Art, powerful testaments of authenticity and positive vehicles for impacting those who listen.
Since 1999, Music Ascension has specialized in giving voice to young people through our Songwriting & Recording program. We’ve facilitated and produced thousands of songs and nearly 100 albums written entirely by our youth. Our team of Teaching Artists, Music Producers, Music Educators and Songwriters bring seasoned professional experience, their own unique artistry, passion, compassion and humanity to this work in equal measure. With great sensitivity and respect for each student, our staff helps to draw out and facilitate the songwriting process, transforming their stories and experiences into lyrics and melodies, rhythms and rhymes. The act of infusing their stories with these creative elements can breathe life into what is so often indescribable within them and around them.
These original creations become safe containers for their experiences. These very tangible creations can serve as guide posts and markers of their inner strengths and hard fought wisdom. They can also serve as a beacon for others who share similar stories, lighting a path toward community and healing.
We’ve worked with far too many young people who’ve lost loved ones to gun violence. We’ve worked with far too many young people who have had no other way to cope with their loss other than to respond with violence in kind. We’ve witnessed how the power of giving voice to their anger, their grief, their rage, their inner knowing, their wisdom, their reality through creative avenues has transformed them. Transformed their experiences. Transformed those around them. And indeed saved their lives.
We believe in this work. We have witnessed its impact in thousands of young people.
We believe in our young people. We are witnessing the rising tide of their leadership.
We believe that the transformative power of connecting to one another through our stories can affect change and healing in our world.