Philly Youth Music Fest: Shaping Tomorrow's Creative Leaders

Philadelphia is a place brimming with charm, skill, and a long-standing tradition of musical excellence enduring history of artistic music-making profound heritage of creative musicianship time-honored background of musical talent established lineage of artistic performance deep-seated influence of musical craftsmanship centuries-old foundation of musical expression strong cultural roots in musical creation lasting impact of artistic musical development traditional expertise in musical artistry and leadership.

Empowering the upcoming wave of artists and leaders begins with providing them a stage to excel—this is precisely the mission of the Philly Youth Music Festival.

After a highly successful first year, the Philly Youth Music Fest is moving into its second edition with a fresh venue designed for an expanded festival experience. This year's gathering will be held at the Dell Music Center and it's free and accessible to everyone. The Philly Youth Music Fest will include jam sessions, educational seminars, and chances to connect with local groups and businesses prior to and following the shows. Making a return on Tuesday, July 15, the main event will run from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., with a neighborhood festival starting at 10 a.m. on the same day.

It takes a village

Numerous key individuals contributed to realizing this vision, including Matthew Kerr, co-executive director of Beyond the Bars ; Shameka Sawyer, creator and chief executive officer of the 5 Shorts Project ; Latisha Otuonye, co-owner of ; Latisha Otuonye, one of the founders of ; Latisha Otuonye, joint founder of ; Latisha Otuonye, co-creator of ; Latisha Otuonye, partner in founding ; Latisha Otuonye, co-initiator of ; Latisha Otuonye, co-developer of ; Latisha Otuonye, co-establisher of FamFrequency Productions and Anthony Brown, creator of Always Be Real Original (ABRO). [caption id="attachment_192999" align="alignnone" width="700"]

Programs / Outreach Outside of Prisons [caption] The Philly Youth Music Fest honors both the performers and the whole artistic journey, highlighted by the participation of the 5 Shorts Project, a regional non-profit dedicated to encouraging emerging filmmakers in Philadelphia. “Our youth learn about video production and film,” says Sawyer. “As part of our assistance, we recorded all performances so they can keep a high-quality version of their show from the event.” Additionally, ABRO is involved, supporting youths in production and offering media exposure to participants. With ABRO, Brown collaborates with young dancers, rap artists, and various kinds of up-and-coming entertainment talents, providing practical guidance.

The following wave of innovators The new era of artists Emerging talents in design and art Fresh voices in creative fields Tomorrow's visionaries in the arts New breed of artistic minds Up-and-coming creators Next-wave pioneers in creativity Future leaders in the creative industry Innovative forces shaping tomorrow's culture

Several young leaders participating in this initiative include Miguel and Kahsaan, both emerging artists known professionally as 'SZN' and 'TK the Hill.' These rising talents talked with Kerr, Sawyer, Otuonye, and Brown about the efforts of the Philly Youth Music Fest, highlighting what the festival represents. [caption id="attachment_193002" align="alignnone" width="700"]

Outreach Beyond the Bars Community Efforts Outside of Prisons Support Initiatives Beyond Prison Walls Programs Extending Help Past Correctional Facilities Services Reaching Out Beyond Jails Initiatives Going Beyond Institutional Boundaries Efforts Expanding Support Beyond Detention Centers Projects Focused on Post-Prison Assistance Workshops and Activities Beyond Custodial Settings Activities Aimed at Rehabilitation Beyond Lockup [caption] “One of the most important aspects of the Philly Youth Music Fest involves these two key elements. Our youth here in Philadelphia are truly remarkable. We aim for this event to become a citywide recognition of how exceptionally talented our young individuals are, along with celebrating them as outstanding leaders,” Kerr explained to Metro. “There are countless incredible youths in our community, and we desire a citywide acknowledgment of their achievements—not merely about ‘what our organizations accomplish’ for them. Instead, it’s about recognizing the extraordinary work our young people are doing right within their own neighborhoods.” In line with Kerr's perspective, even before fully experiencing everything the Philly Youth Music Fest has planned, it was clear what opportunities this festival brings forth for these emerging leaders. “It began more as a personal passion,” Miguel shared regarding his initial involvement with music. “I simply used it as an outlet. Over time, I desired to share my musical creations more widely, which eventually turned into something much bigger—my profession.” Kahsaan expressed a comparable view. “As I continued exploring music and sharing my tracks online, it revealed to me that I am capable of achieving whatever goals I set for myself. With determination, anyone can pursue creativity successfully,” Kahsaan stated. [caption id="attachment_193001" align="alignnone" width="700"]

Outreach Outside of Prisons Community Engagement Past Prison Walls Extending Support Beyond Jail Facilities Involvement Outward from Correctional Institutions Programming Beyond the Institutional Perimeter Initiatives Moving Past Custodial Settings Efforts Reaching Beyond Incarceration Boundaries Support Networks Expanding Away from Detention Centers Activities Going Beyond the Limits of Jails Engagement Extending Beyond Prison Walls [caption] Collaborating with Beyond the Bars—a student-driven, community-oriented music and support initiative dedicated to ending cycles of violence—Miguel and Kahsaan have had the chance to demonstrate their innate leadership skills within a secure and supportive setting where these talents can continue developing. One such skill is peer-to-peer leadership, which doesn’t involve positioning oneself above others, but rather standing alongside peers and offering guidance. This is among the key insights Miguel has gained from his involvement with Beyond the Bars. “There’s often an age difference, so sometimes an older individual may struggle to express things in a manner that resonates with younger people,” explained Miguel. “Just being a young person and not always needing to take on a formal leadership role, but simply acting as a friend and helping someone navigate challenges—it makes a significant impact.”

Power of music

With preparations underway for the second edition of the Philly Youth Music Festival, Miguel and Kahsaan are eager to kick off this year's activities, and their enthusiasm isn't isolated. "We're really looking forward to this event," said Latisha Otuonye from FamFrequency. "Our students are enthusiastic, and even people I know who aren't part of any of the programs—just younger individuals—are excited about it." For additional details about the Philly Youth Music Festival, go to phillyyouthmusicfest.com .