Since 2014, Give a Beat has served as a catalyst for social change by bridging the dance music community with youth and families impacted by mass incarceration. This crowdfunding campaign will raise money for our new initiative to create a viable entrepreneur mentorship program that will provide people leaving prison with ample opportunities for creative economic self-sufficiency so that can positively contribute to their communities and get a new start on life.
Our campaign launched last week in conjunction with our presence at West Coast Weekender. We will also be at Movement Festival, Memorial Day Weekend (May 28th - May 30th), hosting
a bar near the Opportunity Detroit stage and a vendor booth as well.
Background on the Issues:
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, 700,000 people are released from prisons every year and face an array of obstacles such as job discrimination, job scarcity, large debt accrued during incarceration, and disqualification from college, housing and food assistance. This coupled with the stats that almost 68% of individuals are rearrested within 3 years of their release and just about 77% within 5 years, the options are few and far between. For this reason, Give a Beat is developing an Entrepreneur Mentorship Program so that these individuals have a meaningful way to gain employment and positively contribute to their communities.
Background on Give a Beat:
Give a Beat works to harness the power of the dance music community towards actionable solutions that address the issues of youth and families impacted by incarceration. We are a community of music lovers, musicians, artists, activists, promoters and entrepreneurs who create tangible opportunities for impact in vulnerable communities around the United States. Music is our inspiration, mode of communication, and conduit for change.
In addition to our new initiative that seeks to start an Entrepreneur Mentorship Program, Give a Beat has other programs that use the power of music to heal from trauma caused by the impact of mass incarceration on at-risk communities. For the past year, Give a Beat has held numerous DJ workshops for youth in collaboration with several organizations including A Place Called Home, Boys and Girls Club, and Girls Rock Detroit and is working on expanding this successful program across the United States. In addition, Give a Beat has been working to form broad coalitions with various nonprofit organizations that are pushing for criminal justice reform. Lastly, Give a Beat has been actively engaged in educating the dance music community on the issues of mass incarceration through publishing interviews, blog and social media posts, and putting together events and panels in an effort to broaden the dialogue and get more people engaged and active on the issue.
On a New Track’s featured sponsor is DJ Times. Other sponsors include Subpac, Liaison Artists, Green Galactic, and Fusicology. Promotional partners include Electronic Music Alliance (EMA), Culture Vulture, Dax Presents, and ElectronicaLife.com, Universal Rhythm, and GL&M Productions. Artist Champions include: The Crystal Method, Chuck Daniels, Nappy G, Lisbona Sisters, Marissa Guzman, and Sandra Izsadore.
Please help us spread the word about our campaign through social media. The more that people know about the devastating impacts of mass incarceration, the greater our chances are of building a better future for those that need it the most.
FOLLOW US
Twitter @igiveabeat | Facebook.com/giveabeat |
Instagram #giveabeat
Blog www.giveabeat.tumblr.com website www.giveabeat.org
RSVP and share our FB events: On a New Track | “I Give a Beat” Bar
Sample posts:
Give a Beat believes the values of the dance music community can be a driving force in enacting social change. Compassion, love, unity, and diversity are all essential elements of “On A New Track: A Music-Powered Campaign” which will fund an entrepreneur mentorship program to give individuals being released from prison opportunities to receive guidance from successful music industry pros. Please support Give a Beat and donate today:
www.startsomegood.com/onanewtrack
Support @igiveabeat re-entry program to help people get #onanewtrack after prison! Learn more here: bit.ly/igiveabeat
REWARDS
Donors who contribute at the $125 level Collector's Dream will receive:
Donors who give $1000 or more can receive their very own Traktor S2 Controller:
