ABA & GLP | Innovation Field Notes
My Voice Music (MVM) is a recording studio and creative youth development program in Portland, Oregon, USA. Dedicated to “amplifying young voices and igniting self-discovery through music,” MVM works with youth ages 9–24 with a history of trauma. Their recording studio is a transformative space where participants create original music, foster strong relationships, and imagine new futures. The organization was founded in 2008 by Ian Mouser and currently reaches 1,500 of Portland’s youth, many of whom are homeless or reside in residential treatment facilities, juvenile detention centers, or foster care.
Inspired by a talent show project in a residential treatment home, MVM has become a program built on the artistic process as a natural catalyst for self-renewal and change. In their core studio program and satellite activities, MVM provides the means for youth to express themselves, connect with others, and lead and grow as a community. The organization offers several camps and classes where their beneficiaries undergo goal-oriented processes to work with their peers to compose, perform, and record music. Through this path, MVM provides opportunities for their participants to “be seen for their best selves rather than for their challenges”. The program illustrates the capacity of music to create a positive impact in the lives of young people, by facilitating an environment where every contribution is appreciated and given space to thrive.
Learn More Here: My Voice Music
Authored by GLP 2022 Cohort members
Alfonso Hernandez (Guatemala), Rebecca Kim (United States), Jenny O’Connor-Madsen (Ireland), Evangelos Saklaras (Greece).
