My Voice Music is a nonprofit organization based in Portland Oregon amplifying young voices and igniting self-discovery through music. My Voice Music (MVM) teaches youth ages 5-17 to write, record, and release original songs. Why? Because the act of setting an idea down on paper, rehearsing it, collaborating with others, getting feedback on it, and finally releasing it through recordings and/or performance is transformative. It empowers people and changes lives. It’s that simple. Our vision is that all youth have the opportunity to find and share their artistic voice. MVM was born in a mental health treatment center to help youth facing crisis to cope, heal, and thrive through music, and our artistic mission is tightly enmeshed with a social mission. Each year MVM reaches about 1,500 youth through music programs that take place on-site at partner agencies (including the mental health providers: Albertina Kerr Centers, Trillium Youth and Family Services, Morrisson Child and Family Centers, and youth services groups such as: Friends of the Children, Caldera, Mt. Scott Learning Center and others), and at MVM Studios, our recording studio and performance space in SE Portland where music programs are open to the public on a sliding scale tuition model called, "Play It Forward!". My Voice Music is committed to providing all youth with opportunities in music. The Play It Forward model is one of our best ways of making sure that happens. Our Play It Forward scholarship system means that when you pay for a lesson, you help someone else get a lesson. Or if you can’t afford classes or studio fees, call us anyway! To learn more go to: www.myvoicemusic.org