Donations can be submitted for Colorado Gives Day right now! You can help us unlock an extra $10,000 this year! If 200 people donate any amount, we'll unlock a powerful incentive fund thanks to our generous donors.
Help us #FundTheirFuture
Your donation is an investment in the future of creativity!
At Youth on Record, we're committed to putting our money where our art is. This year, we're investing over $115,000 into our young creatives in the form of paid opportunities. When you make a donation to Youth on Record, you’re supporting paid career development and performance opportunities for the next generation of musicians and media artists in Denver.
These critical economic opportunities provide pathways to sustainable livelihood in an increasingly expensive city and support individual and community freedom.
YOR offers programming that increases the opportunities for and likelihood that young people will build the skills, networks, confidence, and strategies to become economically self-sufficient, doing work that they love, and are passionate about.
This year we offered a variety of paid opportunities for young creatives including: our paid Fellowship, Internship, and Podcasting Internship programs, performance opportunities at community events like Civic Center Eats and our annual Block Party, media coverage at community events, apprenticeship roles at the Underground Music Showcase and our Open Mic nights, and more!
Celebrating our Fellows!
We had a record turnout for our 2024 Fellowship Showcase! Thank you for supporting each of our 12 incredible Fellows! You can re-live the magic by watching videos of their powerful perfomances here! This showcase marked the culmination of an 11-month journey for our 12 amazing Fellows. These brilliant young creatives have immersed themselves in the music industry, from rocking stages at the UMS to engaging in our dynamic YOR programs, all while crafting their own unique artistic projects.
An Award-Winning, Paid Podcasting Internship!
Our YOR podcast internship graduates are officially 2x award-winning journalists! One of our youth-produced podcast segments won a Gracie Award and was recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists Colorado Pro Chapter! Click here to learn more!
In addition to these incredible paid opportunities for youth to expand their creative skillset, we offer free containers for creatives to grow and explore including Open Lab (an afterschool program for youth ages 14-20), our Middle School Summer Camp, our Monthly Open Mic, creative workshops, and more!
Free Middle School Summer Camp
"The Youth on Record Middle School Summer Camp was an amazing experience for my son that I could not have afforded. It inspired his musical curiosity and he has continued to experiment with what he learned at home! Performing gave him a huge confidence boost and has made him want to pursue other musical opportunities. One of my favorite parts of camp was the connection I felt with my son when he came home and taught me notes or chords that we could play together as a duet." - Middle School Summer Camp Parent.
We LOVE to hear stories from our families about the ways that Youth on Record instruction changes their child’s relationship with music! Our Middle School Summer Camp is a free program for rising 6th-8th graders to explore electronic beat production and live instrumentation in a thoughtful, encouraging environment!
Free After School Programs and Workshops
When you donate to Youth on Record, you’re not only #FundingTheirFuture, you’re #FundingTheir FREE MUSIC EDUCATION! How would it have changed your life to have access to free after-school music programs? How would it have changed your life to have a consistent community of likeminded peers and mentors? You can continue to support access to these programs and this community for youth ages 14-20 by supporting Youth on Record! In case you didn’t know, we offer a free afterschool program called Open Lab 3x/week for youth ages 14-20! Open Lab is for youth who are interested in exploring music production, song recording, music lessons and artist development. Our program is facilitated by local professional musicians who are committed to helping participants grow as aspiring artists. At Open Lab, we foster a supportive and inclusive community that values self-expression and creativity. Through community dialogue and mentorship, we encourage self-liberatory practices that empower young creatives to leverage their inherent skills.
Academic Success - Teaching in Denver and Aurora Public Schools
Youth on Record doesn't just teach music; it uses the transformative power of the arts to empower students from marginalized communities. We witness positive youth development through social-emotional learning in a safe and supportive environment. Youth on Record partners with schools in Denver and Aurora, where empowerment takes center stage in our classrooms. Students tackle real-world issues and social justice themes, weaving music, social studies, and performance to find their voices. Guest speakers, field trips, and collaborative projects ignite a journey of self-discovery as they explore their heritage and embrace the stories of others. Watch our students jam!
This is a HUGE feat for Youth on Record and a big impact in the creative industry - Youth on Record stands out from other orgs who aren’t paying as much or at all - this is a substantial portion of our budget and we’re making our budget values-aligned by incorporating this initiative.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Help us pay young creatives over $115,000 by making a contribution.
