The inaugural Voice Your Dreams Project is a free arts education program, accessible to Club teens, grades 7-12, at the more than 5,000 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide.
To amplify the voices of teens from Boys & Girls Clubs via arts education, in a social justice (i.e., civil rights, women’s rights, gender rights, mental health rights, etc) themed lyrics writing contest in-tune with our young people, to encourage creative expression in lyrics and/or poetry by answering the question: “What change do you want to see in the world? What are your dreams for the future?”
The contest is supported by educational modules, artist videos and exercises, helping to guide members in the art of writing lyrics. Lessons are web-based and may be facilitated by Club leaders or teens may engage independently.
To amplify the voices of teens from Boys & Girls Clubs via arts education, in a social justice themed lyrics writing contest in-tune with our young people, to encourage creative expression in lyrics and/or poetry by answering the question: “What change do you want to see in the world? What are your dreams for the future?”
The contest is supported by educational modules, artist videos and exercises, helping to guide members in the art of writing lyrics. Lessons are web-based and may be facilitated by Club leaders or teens may engage independently.
The contest asks Boys & Girls Club teens to express their dreams for social justice across topics ranging from civil rights, women’s rights, gender rights, healthcare and mental health rights, and others. Submissions will be accepted in lyric or poetry form with 200 words or less.
There will be One (1) National Grand Prize winner, 5 National Winners and 20 Regional Winners with education grants from $1,000 to $10,000 for Clubs and individual Club Members and more. All five (5) national winners will have their lyrics professionally produced and recorded by VYDP Artists.
National Recording Artists, to be announced, will serve as ambassadors and judges to select the Finalists’ lyric winners. The top five will be professionally produced and recorded and the 20 regional winners' lyrics will be transformed into songs by MAPS songwriters.
Kevin & Michael Bacon, got their start over two decades ago. They’ve been featured by the BBC, Associated Press, Sirius XM, Paste Magazine, and performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon as well as on Ditty TV. They’ve served as judges in the American Songwriter Lyric Competition, participated in The Grand Ole Opry's 20th Anniversary Sept. 11th tribute, performed in ZZ Top – America Salutes You, and hosted Love Rocks NYC.
Platinum & Gold award winning artist – turned music executive and producer: Jay Z, Beyonce, Chris Brown, 50 Cent, Mario, Omarion, Tyrese, Monifah, and others.
Performer, speaker, pioneer in Hip Hop education, and 1st U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador, serving several U.S. Departments of State in cultural diplomacy programs.
Grammy nominated musician, writer and arranger with collaborations ranging from Daft Punk and Mike Posner to Paul Williams and the Muppets.
Singer/Songwriter: Beyonce, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Tyrese, Kelly Rowland, Joe, Tweet, and more.
Singer/Songwriter, International recording artist, Season 1 winner of NBC’s “The Voice”.
Recording artist, writer, producer and activist. Known for anthems that have become soundtracks to grassroots movements across the world including Billboard’s #1 protest song of the year, “Quiet” and John Legend's, "Stardust".
Raining Jane is Mai Bloomfield, Becky Gebhardt, Chaska Potter, and Mona Tavakoli - songwriters & recording artists with Grammy winner Jason Mraz, and music education non-profit co-founders.
Music producer, sound designer and composer.
Producer, guitarist, songwriter: toured with legendary artists Albert Lee, Denny Laine, Peter Asher as well as Stephen Kellogg. Currently working with rising artist, Whxami (producer, composer, mixer).
Grammy Nominated Producer, Musician & Songwriter: Mac Miller, Ariana Grande, Roddy Rich, Future, DJ Mustard, Jasmine Sullivan, Herbie Hancock, Timbaland, John Mayer, and others.
VOICE YOUR DREAMS PROJECT is developed in collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs by Mraz & Company and Elkinson + Sloves, Inc. with our Education Partner, MAPS (Music & Poetry Synchronized).
