Remix Your Life

Youth Radio proposed to engage at-risk and low income youth in music composition/production, hip hop, journalism, and community outreach to paint a portrait of their vision for a healthy Oakland. Students studied the seven areas of well-being, addressing them creatively through music composition, recording, and performance. Young artists received training in music production, creative writing and critical thinking through weekly writing workshops that served as prompts for their musical compositions. Under the guidance of teaching artists, students developed and recorded music articulating their vision of a healthy community, exploring critical community health issues, and proposing solutions. Youth Radio developed a curriculum guide incorporating lesson plans, working with local educators to make use of the project in classroom settings. With the success of this project, Remix Your Life will be ongoing, focusing on changing themes.