Hello and thank you for visiting Genuine Voices website.

Genuine Voices is a Non-Profit Organization inspired by a story I read in 2001. I read about a guy who taught journalism to inner-city youths at a local youth detention center in Los Angeles. He taught classes on how to publish a newspaper within a correctional facility. Many youths took the opportunity to better themselves and two of his students have become Hollywood screen writers.

After I read the story, I decided to do a similar idea for my senior project when I was attending Berklee College of Music. Instead of using journalism as the background for the project, I decided on using music, especially sequencing computer-based music. I felt it would be a great way for the incarcerated youths who were locked up in a small, dark and depressing cell to be able to escape their worlds for a bit.

For more background information about Genuine Voices, you can read more in the “history” section of this website.

Since I founded the organization in 2001, Genuine Voices has grown so much. At this time, I would like to take the opportunity to thank so many people that have made Genuine Voices a valuable resource to so many inner-youths. I want to thank each of my volunteer teachers who have taught and spread their love to all the students at Genuine Voices. Thank you to all my mentors, board members for their support, teachers, friends, family members and the BU CDIA (Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts) Team (Mark Bailey, Brian Jouris and Nathaniel Johnson) for developing this amazing website!

Every one of us has a story to tell in one way or another about our lives. Some are able to be heard and some are not. The boys that I have encountered through Genuine Voices have had so much to say, but never given the opportunity to tell their stories because of their social image or the way they grew up in society. They feel that no one has the time or wants to take the time to listen to them. So this is where Genuine Voices steps in and gives them an opportunity to voice their opinions and feelings with the help of music.

Many stories that I have heard over the years are incredibly powerful and sad.  I felt that music as a powerful tool would be able to unlock the youth’s wounded souls that they have come to live with over the years in their lives. Music would give them a powerful voice to change their outlook on life. Each youth associated with the program would be able to venture away from a life of crime or a feeling of low self-esteem.

Since the program began, there have been countless successful stories and I have witnessed many changes in so many youths. One boy received a scholarship for a summer program at the Berklee College of Music in 2005 while he was still incarcerated. Other youths have become teachers, performed in public and become volunteers at Genuine Voices. The program has changed the way the youths think and act every day. The so called “criminals” gave me and other teachers hugs, respect, warmth from the heart, compassion and genuine love. This is what happens when you take the time to support, listen or even given them an opportunity to strive for a future or an outlet to get their stories heard to the outside world.

I am truly touched by their change and being able to go out there and give all my love through music to these boys who are desperate and thirsty for attention. Love is one of the most rewarding feelings you can experience in life.

Let me stop you right here and ask you this question. Who really wants to commit a crime? Think about this for a second……

I don’t know what your opinion is, but my opinion is simple. My answer is that no one wants to commit a crime and would rather be loved and accepted by family, friends and our society. This is what each youth is missing from their lives, so this is what Genuine Voices is able to give back to each inner-city youth associated with the program.

Recently I became a U.S. Citizen and the biggest reason why I fell in love with this country is when you have an idea, people are willing to help and support you in any way they can! This might seem easy to say, but I realized how many countries don’t have the support that I am talking about or the opportunities that I or others in the United States have every day.   I want my students to know that they are born in the best country and there are people out there who are willing to support them and their dreams!

For example, I know of a 17 year old boy who has been locked up for a very long time. His dream is to become a public defender, a lawyer. I told him to promise to treat me to a very expensive dinner when he becomes a lawyer, so I won’t have to charge him for all my music lessons. He has changed so much in front of my own eyes. Since I have gotten to know him very well, he only talks about the future and not his past or why he committed crimes or how unfair life is for him.

We can all dwell into the negativity or adversity and cry all day. But life is too short as they say and too precious to waste our time being victims in our own mistakes in life forever.

Genuine Voices does not only teach music to those who need our attention, but also provides genuine love, support and unlocks those hearts who have been locked up for a long time in their young challenging lives. I am happy to say that we guide them on how to empower their lives through their own Genuine Voices………

Thank you again for visiting Genuine Voices.