Give a Beat was founded on the belief that everyone deserves a second chance - love and forgiveness. This is why our initiatives are geared towards helping individuals and communities impacted by incarceration. In Baltimore, entrepreneur Chris Wilson is trying to make a difference by helping former inmates get jobs. His story is the perfect example of the need for - as well as the possibilities behind - second chances. Read his story.
Showing posts with label become a change-maker. Show all posts
Our online auction Music for Music closed last night. Thank you so much to all of the generous donors American Music & Sound, Audio-Technica, C.A.Y.A Smokehouse Grill, Crew Love, Cyberoptix TieLab, Electric Forest, Golf Clap, Ibiza Love Child, Jenn Xerri, Mi Casa Holiday, NDATL Muzik, Paxahau, React Presents, Roland, Sampled Detroit, Sennheiser, Sonos, SoundCloud, SubPac, Unfuck the World, Wantickets, Whet Travel, participants and promoters that made the auction a success! Through your support we were able to raise close to $5,000, a portion of which will go towards the construction of a Notes for Notes’ after-school music studio at a Detroit Boys & Girls Club location! Stay tuned for more updates.
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Electronic Music Alliance (EMA) is a 501(c)(3) public charity, non-profit organization, and global membership alliance uniting the electronic music industry and community to be the “Sound of Change;” cultivating, collaborating, and celebrating social responsibility, environmental stewardship, community building, and volunteerism. The initiative was started by our friends Janine Johnson, Ken Jordan (The Crystal Method) and Monica Salazar back in 2009 and aims to (1) educate and empower our dance music community by setting and implementing standards for social, ethical, and environmental responsibilities; and (2) advocate for and safeguard the rights of the electronic dance music culture. Learn more about EMA and how you can join the alliance on their Facebook Page and website.
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March 26, 2014
Started as a clothing company, Lovevol wanted to join the fundraising movement in order to give back while selling a cool product. Lovevol, love spelled forward and backward and meeting in the middle represents the idea of loving and accepting all things with an open heart and mind. This idea of love being endless and all encompassing made the founders want to not only sell clothing with a bold logo to embody charitable giving, but take the stories that spread like wildfire over social media and bring them together in a place of good news. Lovevol wants to take the stories from the charities they are connected with and share them, so not only are people buying a product to support a cause, they see exactly what the cause is doing so that people will feel more connected to where they are donating. Take a peek at their beautiful collection and start spreading the love. Lovevol.
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March 19, 2014
Notes for Notes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
dedicated to providing youth with FREE access to musical instruments,
instruction and recording studio environments so that music may become a
profoundly positive influence in their lives. They build, equip and staff
after-school recording studios called MusicBoxes: positive, safe, and inspiring
recording studio environments that offer youth the opportunity to explore,
create and record music for FREE.
The MusicBoxes are drop-in studios offering free instruction
and access to guitars, basses, drums, keyboards/synths, DJ turntables, computer
workstations with music creation software and a full recording studio.
MusicBoxes are located at Boys and Girls Clubs in Santa Barbara, CA;
Nashville, TN; Santa Monica, CA; and coming soon to Ventura, CA and Detroit,
MI. Please visit the Musicbox
location page to find the MusicBox closest to you.
Notes for Notes was founded on the core belief that music is
the universal language of humankind, and has the power to transcend virtually
any barrier—be it economic, cultural, racial, or societal. At the heart of the
organization is a dedication to the relationships formed through music. The organization
makes a point NOT to censor lyrics as it is the freedom of expression and
respect for the creativity of others that drives an open environment in the
studio. Music is an incredibly powerful means of inspiring collaboration and
connection and it is these relationships that will have the most impact in a
young person’s life.
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February 26, 2014
Last week we made the exciting announcement that Give a Beat is the newest member of Creative Visions Foundation's Creative Activist Program and we wanted to provide a bit more background for our supporters about this amazing organization.
Creative Visions Foundation (CVF) is inspired by the life of Dan Eldon, an artist, adventurer and activist killed in Somalia in 1993 while covering the conflict as a photojournalist for Reuters News Agency. To honor his legacy, in 1998 his mother Kathy Eldon and sister Amy Eldon Turtletaub founded the Creative Visions Foundation, a publicly supported 501 (c) 3 organization, to help others like Dan use media and the arts to create meaningful change in the world around them.
Over the past fourteen years, CVF has incubated more than 100 projects and productions on 5 continents, by providing fiscal sponsorship, mentorship, inspiration, fundraising, connectivity, and step-by-step toolkits for launching projects. To date, their creative activists under their umbrella have touched more than 90 million people and raised more than $11.2 million to fund their projects.
Their Creative Activist Program (CAP) serves as a global hub for individuals who are using Arts, Adventure, and/or Activism to create high-impact media projects and productions within our Core Social Issue categories: Human Rights, the Environment, Youth & Education, Gender Equality, and Health & Well-Being. CVF encourages collaboration and facilitate workshops, speaker series, think tanks, and a myriad of community and networking events to serve our community and connect like-minded artists and professionals.
Learn more about their amazing work at creativevisions.org and follow them on Facebook for your daily dose of inspiration.
February 19, 2014
The Fetzer Institute fosters awareness of the power of love and forgiveness in the emerging global community.
People across the globe, from all cultures and traditions, embrace love and forgiveness in daily life. These values are universally viewed as central to the fabric of humanity. Yet, the emerging global community has few institutions dedicated to deepening the understanding and fostering deeper awareness of these values. In this context, the Fetzer Institute pursues a unique role—working to investigate, activate, and celebrate the power of love and forgiveness as a practical force for good in today’s world. They are interested in how people truly experience and understand love and forgiveness from their diverse points of view, especially from the perspective of their daily work in the world.
Learn more about the Fetzer Institute on their website and follow them on Facebook for daily inspiration of the power of love and forgiveness.
January 30, 2014
"If you have a feeling that something is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up"
Who is Fred Korematsu? Does Korematsu v. United States ring a bell? Today, learn more about this amazing civil rights activist and let his story inspire you to be a change-maker.
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January 22, 2014
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The Harmony Project is a music program for inner city kids in Los Angeles that is brining quality music instruction and ensemble playing to children who otherwise would not have access to it. They partnered with a neurobiologist to study the impact of music training on the learning skills of poor children.
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December 14, 2013
We are so excited for today! It's A POSITIVE SPIN - our collaboration with We Are The Movement supported by Native Instruments, Pioneer DJ, Denise Melanson, Plexi PR, and a slew of dedicated artists who will teach music production and Dj'ing on a variety of platforms to youth in the Los Angeles foster system. Instructors include: A-Trak, AC Slater, Big Syphe, Craze, Flinch, Harvard Bass, Kill The Noise, Klever, Mr Choc, Protohype, Richard Vission, Tittsworth and Valentino Khan.
The event is not open to the public, but you can support our efforts by bidding and spreading the word about our auction. Funds raised from the auction will help fund this event and similar events like it in the future.
The auction has awesome deals on some of the hottest upcoming EDM live events around the country, including: Ultra Music Festival, OMFG NYE - San Diego, Spring Awakening Music Festival, BPM Festival, Circa Survive, Falling in Reverse, OMFG NYE - at Shrine Expo Hall, Antibalas in NYC, Pomona Hard Summer and Hard Day of the Dead, Insomniac's White Wonderland NYE, Resolution NYE and Major Lazer NYE.
There are also items on every DJ's wishlist, including Dubspot's Logic Pro Producer Certificate Program, Pioneer 1 DDJ-SX Controller, OWSLA Records Merch Bundle, $100 Traxsource gift card and Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S4. So start your bidding for good now! A Positive Spin Auction.
December 10, 2013
With the holidays in full swing, it’s a perfect time to think about ways to give back! We’re excited to announce A POSITIVE SPIN, an online fundraising auction to benefit Give a Beat and We Are The Movement, two programs which use electronic music to make a positive impact in the lives of youth.
The online auction runs from December 9 through December 22, featuring amazing items from several generous donors, including (in alphabetical order) The BPM Festival, Dubspot, Fool’s Gold Records, Fusicology, Goldenvoice, HARD, House of Blues, Insomniac, Krewella, LED, Major Lazer, Mysteryland, Native Instruments, Pattern Bar, Pioneer, Ultra Music Festival, USC Events and more. The auction is live at www.32auctions.com/APositiveSpin.
In conjunction with the online auction will be a day of DJ and production workshops on Saturday, December 14 at The Optimist Youth Home in East Los Angeles. 50 youths ages 13-18 who are wards of the state (in the foster system) will get a chance to learn various aspects of DJing and production (turntables, CDJs, beat-making and more) from some of electronic music’s biggest names including (in alphabetical order): A-Trak, AC Slater, Big Syphe, Craze, Flinch, Harvard Bass, Kill The Noise, Klever, Mr Choc, Protohype, Richard Vission, Tittsworth and Valentino Khan.
The event is being coordinated by Candice Fliedner (We Are The Movement and Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services) with the involvement of Denise Melanson. Promotional is support provided by The Firm Graphics, Plexi PR, fusciology, and Universal Rhythm.
About the organizations:
Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services (OYHFS) is a nationally accredited non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. We are one of the oldest and largest agencies of its kind in Southern California. We have locations in three counties though referrals are accepted from throughout the state of California. We serve over 500 at-risk youth and their families’ every day.
We Are The Movement helps at-risk foster and probation youth increase their emotional intelligence, self-awareness and confidence by encouraging them to explore outlets of creative self-expression, within the accepting environment that the positive and loving dance music community creates. We Are The Movement offers lessons in DJ’ing, digital music production, sound engineering, live instrumentation, songwriting and recording, and freestyle expressive street dance to youth in an informal environment where children can express and celebrate their own individuality, and not be subject to the judgment of peers. We provide, as a mobile unit, a DJ learning station, live instrumentation such as percussionists, spoken word artists and poets, freestyle dance instructors, and movement therapy practitioners.
Give a Beat serves as a catalyst to transform the positive energy of global dance music culture into meaningful interactions that build community and generate social good. We provide dance and world music producers and lovers with a unique channel for activism and philanthropy by empowering them to make purposeful decisions. By creating a dynamic presence online, and participating in live events, we raise awareness of pressing issues and injustices and allow our supporters to make a difference through small, but deeply impactful, socially conscious acts.
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Additional donations are being accepted for the auction now through December 12.
Contact auction@giveabeat.org to contribute.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Lydia Fong | lydia@plexipr.com
Dance Local. Think Global.
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December 4, 2013
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We Are The Movement is a LA non-profit providing an open and accepting environment within which kids can express themselves without worrying about being judged or whether or not they are performing a task correctly; A peer group for youth to affiliate with, and provide a sense of belonging during their formative years of self-discovery and peer group formation. A positive community built with friends who become like extended family. Using freestyle dance, music, including percussion instruments, song writing, and DJ/ production as a conduit for positive self-expression and building self-confidence. Learn more about this awesome organization. Follow them on Facebook.
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November 13, 2013
We are big fans of Jail Guitar Doors. Jail Guitar Doors USA believes our country’s human and financial resources should be dedicated to education and ending poverty, the primary source of crime. We support public safety. We believe in accountability in a civilized society. We believe the punishment should fit the crime and that one is sentenced to prison as punishment, not for punishment. We believe in reform and that if we expect more of offenders and empower them with the necessary tools and resources they need to change, most will choose to change and not repeat offend. We work for better implementation of best practices in ways to treat non-violent offenders and minimize prison violence. We believe prisoners provided with the musical tools to create songs of their own can achieve a positive change of attitude that can initiate the work necessary to successfully return to life outside prison walls. Creating music, along with other educational and vocational programs, can be a profound force for positive change in a prisoner’s life. Our goal is to aid the ‘correctional’ aspect of corrections that can only come from a regenerated belief in ones future as a positive, contributing member of society. Check them out!
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November 11, 2013
In honor of Veterans Day we wanted to highlight some of the amazing organizations using music to serve the men and women that have served our country.
Heroes’ Voices creates opportunities for Veterans to raise their voices together in song. http://heroesvoices.org
Music for Veterans offers a life-long method of attaining peace through learning to play an instrument. www.music4veterans.org
Musician Corps trains and places musicians as teachers, mentors and care workers in public schools, children's and veterans hospitals and other settings where music can reach, teach and heal. www.musiciancorps.org
Operation Music Aid is securing musical instruments of all types in order to help aid in the rehabilitation of our valiant men and women who have been wounded while serving their country. www.operationmusicaid.org
Songwriting with Soldiers pairs returning active duty soldiers and veterans with professional songwriters in a retreat setting to craft songs about personal experiences in combat. http://www.songwritingwithsoldiers.org
Strumming for Vets is an organization that has come up with a way to help restore the feeling of joy and self-worth that can be lost after extreme trauma. With music therapy and donated guitars and teachers donating their time, these vets are given a new type of therapy that works! www.strummingforvets.org
Warrior Songs brings hope and healing to veterans through the creative arts. http://warriorsongs.org
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