Earlier this month, Building Better Futures, the City’s Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Initiative, kicked off its newest program for youth and young adults – Tunes Used To Release Negative Thoughts (T.U.R.N.T.). The program was created to engage participants through music and teach character development. Many young people have aspirations to be involved in the music industry while others use their lyrics as a form of self-expression and their participation in the program will lead to exposure to both.

For nine weeks, T.U.R.N.T. participants meet weekly at the Downtown Maritime Community Center, located near the Apprentice School, for instruction and hands on application. They engage in industry related topics such as music theory, basic song structure, the art of sampling, the role of music in hip hop culture, and more. Additionally, the youth and young adults also have life skills training such as leadership, character development, job readiness, and personal accountability. After each theory and life application session, attendees participate in hands on training in the music studio to create their own track.

Music industry professionals also volunteer to share their experiences and provide tips to be successful to program participants.  The second session of T.U.R.N.T. begins in early 2018. Youth who are interested in joining the second session should contact Latoya Delk at LDelk@nnva.gov or Monique Wilson at ZWilson@nnva.gov.