The VOICES nonprofit continues to evolve while offering a variety of diverse programs with events and workshops happening on the mainstage, in the community and at local schools. Part of the change includes staff turnover and the expansion of several programs within Garfield County schools.
“There are lots of really exciting things with a new team, new energy, and we are really in line with what VOICES wants to be doing, which is offering platforms of amplifying voices through the arts to the communities,” Executive Director MinTze Wu told The Sopris Sun. “They really need those opportunities.”
Some of these changes include Amy Moore joining as director of operations and development, Jennifer Hughes as project director for the VOICES Radio Hour program, Harris Jackson as director of the ever-growing music residency and Gabriela Mejia as project director of the Hero’s Journaling Project which has expanded into Garfield County School District 16 and Re-2.
“Last year is when we started to see this urgency to offer [the Hero’s Journaling] program to the Colorado River Valley, and we’re very fortunate to also have funding in place for that,” Wu stated. “We feel like with VOICES growing its community base, from Basalt to Glenwood Springs in the first eight years, it is really time for us to expand further.”
She continued, “It did take some time for us to get our internal infrastructure ready for that leap and bound, but it is in action and it absolutely feels like the right thing to do. Especially in the communities further downvalley, you’ll find that art education access inequality is even more pronounced. We’re fortunate to be giving something we’ve had a history of offering and knowing how impactful it is.”
The music residency programming stepped in to fill gaps left by a lack of funding for music education in schools across the region. What began as a drumming workshop has evolved into a program offering opportunities for learning song writing, collaboration and, very recently, self-expression through guitar playing. The most recent residency took place at Carbondale Community School and wrapped on March 18.
“We thought it was such a wonderful opportunity to meet the youth and their needs where they are. We happily facilitated that with Harris Jackson, who is a local guitarist, but more than that, he is such a wonderful pedagogue,” Wu recounted. “A lot of the kids were picking up the guitar for the first time, at a time when many of our participants were having trouble focusing or wanting to communicate. Guitar gave them an opportunity to make that initial shift. Some really moving stories came out of that.”
Future events for VOICES include the Sage VOICES Project, wherein five storytellers between the ages of 12-16 help to bring to life the stories of five elder storytellers between the ages of 75-88. Directed by Tom Cochran and titled “The Rhythm of Reflection,” this production is currently in the rehearsal process. More details will soon be announced.
Discussing the importance of youth having access to the arts, Wu explained that the arts provide tools of creativity, communication and processing emotions. During a person’s formative years, access to these tools can have wonderful benefits, helping youth to find their voices as well as a sense of community and belonging. Additionally, Wu assured that VOICES and their programming will remain safe spaces for the community.
“During the drumming residency, a big part of it is to remove the language barrier, because we communicate with the rhythm,” she stated. “VOICES is making its programming available in every corner. Everywhere you turn, there is going to be a space where you can share your story and where your stories can be heard. We are a group of artists, so we know how art can move and shift people. We want to continue making it available.”
Additional VOICES programming includes ARTery Tiny Stage performances during June and July First Friday festivities in Carbondale. For more information, to donate or purchase event tickets, visit voicesrfv.org