Voices of Bars and Beats: DREAM Partners with Richard Kemp Center to Empower Youth Through Music
- Hanna Blankenship
- Dec 18
- 3 min read
This November, DREAM brought youth from Elm Street and Riverside to the Richard Kemp Center for Voices of Bars and Beats: The Future, a music-making workshop designed to give young people a creative outlet and the confidence to explore new skills. Using the Center’s state-of-the-art music lab, youth were able to produce beats and collaborate with peers in a new and fascinating way.
Inspiring Creative Expression
For many participants, including DREAM mentee, Muhidin, both listening to and making music provides a way to share emotions that are hard to put into words. Through the workshop, DREAM mentees, Rahema and Muhidin, discovered new technical skills, such as understanding BPM, and Matumaini proudly celebrated creating her first beat. Looking ahead, Muhidin shared that he hopes to continue developing his skills through sampling and adding vocals.
Omega Williams, creator of the pilot music-making curriculum and DREAM Afterschool Coordinator, explained the vision behind the program through her experience as an artist. She shared, “I wanted to bring something to my community that, once upon a time, helped me. And still does. And I wanted to pay it forward.” Music-making is just one part of a larger program designed to empower youth, help them create something meaningful, and give them the confidence to make positive changes in their lives. As Omega put it, “Hip-Hop to me is just public speaking to a beat. Give them something creative and fun to do and hopefully prevent the things that could happen that are not so positive.”
“I wanted to bring something to my community that, once upon a time, helped me. And still does. And I wanted to pay it forward.” — Omega Williams, DREAM Afterschool Coordinator
Partnership in Action
This workshop was made possible through Omega’s long-standing relationship with the Kemp Center, which has grown into an unofficial partnership between DREAM and the Richard Kemp Center. Omega’s connection to the Center began years ago and continued to deepen as the music lab came together. “Once I showed them the proposal and curriculum for the music making program, Executive Director of the Kemp Center, Mark Hughes, said, ‘We have been waiting for this.’ Since then, they have shown themselves to be very supportive of this pilot program,” Omega explained. This collaboration highlights DREAM’s commitment to being a team player by supporting and partnering with local nonprofits to provide youth with opportunities they might not otherwise have.
The fourth annual block party at the Kemp Center in October offered an additional layer of engagement. Youth explored the music lab, participated in a music video shoot, met local artists, and even interacted with a snake. Reflecting on this moment, Omega shared that it made her think, “Yes, this is exactly why we are doing this.” DREAM mentors noted that during both the block party and the music-making workshop, youth were fully engaged and demonstrated increased attention spans and collaboration as they explored the equipment and experimented with sounds.
The Impact of Creative Spaces
By partnering with organizations like the Richard Kemp Center, DREAM continues to expand opportunities for youth and strengthen community ties. These collaborations provide access to creative spaces, mentorship, and experiences that cultivate confidence, agency, and joy.
Through workshops like Voices of Bars and Beats, DREAM is helping youth find their voices not only in music but in life. From creating their first beat in the lab to imagining a future where they can confidently express themselves, youth are building skills, meaningful relationships, and self-assurance that will serve them for years to come. This workshop reflects the power of creativity, mentorship, and community partnership, and stands as a testament to what can happen when organizations come together to support young people.