Jami Duffy

Executive Director | Co-manager of UMS LLC She/Her/Hers
jami duffy

Jami Duffy is a locally and nationally recognized thought leader and innovator in company culture, creative youth development, the global impact of artmaking, public policy advocacy, music ecosystems, and inclusive leadership. She is the longtime Executive Director of Youth on Record, a leading Creative Youth Development nonprofit organization in Colorado, and the first female Co-Manager of the Underground Music Showcase, Denver’s Largest Music Festival.

Jami joined Youth on Record as Executive Director in 2009 and has since provided the strategic vision and fundraising expertise that has led to consistent growth and national brand recognition for the organization. She spearheaded a $2M capital campaign to build YOR’s state-of-the-art Youth Media Studio in west Denver, and has grown the organization by 2,000+% during her tenure. Her strategic vision and “maverick” nonprofit leadership is pushing the boundaries for what’s possible in the sector.  Most recently, Youth on Record purchased the Underground Music Showcase as a mission-aligned investment, and is currently incubating a music and entertainment company for social good.

Jami’s community and artistic work extends to her role as co-founder of a local advocacy organization, All in Denver, her appointment as a member of Denver’s Cultural Affairs Commission, and her work as a studio visual artist. In 2021 she was named one of Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 winners, and under her leadership, Youth on Record has twice been named one of the best places to work in Colorado. 

Jami is a locally and nationally recognized thought leader and innovator in social justice education and engaging at-risk youth. 

Jami has participated on panels before the National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Labor, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and the Music Policy Forum, among others, and is on a journey to advance equity in arts, music, education and workplaces. She was born and raised in Colorado, is a Political Science and Journalism Studies graduate of the University of Denver, and a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in Nicaragua from 2004-2006. 

Email: Jami@youthonrecord.org 

 

Current and Past Boards

In the past five years, Jami has served on the following boards:

  • All in Denver Co-Founder & Co-Chair, 2016 - present
  • Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs 
  • Youth on Record Ex-Officio Board Member, Nov 2009 - present
  • Levitt Pavilion Denver Board of Directors, 2014-2016

 

Community Involvement | Volunteer | Philanthropic Work 

  • March 2020 - Facilitated a 6-week course around Inner Life work for the Young Professionals of Non Profits
  • June 2020 - How to Value, Honor, Engage-with and Defend the Lives of Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color: A Statement from Youth on Record - Jami led this conversation and put out this statement on behalf of the organization 
  • World Music Development’s Dulctettera virtual festival - Jami spoke about how YOR has pivoted during COVID, and how YOR is continuing to serve the youth in our community
  • Jami sat on a panel discussion, along with a former youth, for Denver Startup Week, “Learnings From Music, Theatre and Comedy: Storytelling that radically and responsibly disrupts business and usual 
  • Civil Unrest Preparedness - Jami led the YOR team to put together a civil unrest plan for the organization and shared this process and plan with the larger community. She hosted a one-hour zoom call for leaders in the nonprofit sector, which included leaders both locally and nationally. 
  • 2020 Music Policy Forum Intensive - an international conference, Jami spoke on a panel to talk about “How can we reimagine (and build!) a more just and equitable music community?” 
  • Denver's Public Art Policy Committee, 2017-present
  • Hadley Library Public Art Selection Committee, 2019
  • National Western Complex Public Art Selection Committee, 2019-2020
  • Music Policy Forum Advisory Committee
  • All in Denver Arts & Culture Committee Chair, 2019-present
  • Back to School Night School Board Candidate Forum Planning Committee, August - October 2019
  • Denver's Mayoralpalooza Candidate Forum Planning Committee, February - June 2019

In the News 

 

For speaking engagements, email speakers@youthonrecord.org