*** ALL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON THIS PAGE were created by local students ***
WHAT WE ARE DOING IN CHATTANOOGA SCHOOLS
On August 1st, at the start of the HCDE school year, Dynamo Studios will fund and staff two full time teacher positions that will work between Howard Connect Academy (HCA), and Howard High School. Additionally, we will be staffing a position to direct a robust mentorship program supporting students well beyond the classroom. There are various teaching standards that we will structure the classes/programs around (national arts media and A/V or the media and A/V CTE standards) so that students are able to receive credit for their time in these programs. Beyond our in-school related arts classes, the Dynamo Studios teachers will be supporting after-school/extracurricular programming 4-5 days per week. Through this programming, we will impact around 700+ participants. We have the vast majority of funding secured for this programming, but we still have a $65,000 gap to close by Fall 2021. We are hoping to secure the final bit of funding through local community partnership and local corporate sponsorship.
We empower students and musicians through innovative and exciting educational experiences built around music production and the arts
“DYNAMO STUDIOS HELPS STUDENTS ACHIEVE SELF ACTUALIZATION, DIGITAL LITERACY, AND CAREER READINESS THROUGH HIGH LEVEL EXPERIENCES WITHIN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AT LARGE. WE ARE HERE TO CHANGE LIVES AND CREATE SUSTAINABILITY FOR OUR STUDENTS.”
IN ADDITION TO IN SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS…
Mentorship is an essential component of achieving success in the music industry (and every other industry). It’s also been proven to successfully combat trauma and challenges encountered in adolescence. As a direct response to poverty and a drive to support the needs presented by the diverse student community that we serve, we will be staffing a full-time position to direct a robust mentorship program supporting students within and well beyond the classroom.
Students will be paired with creative industry professionals in the local community that will serve as mentors to the students. These mentors will support student mental health development and they will also be working with students on creating professional experiences where the students will apply what they've been learning in consistent professional settings.
“Mentored students are 130% more likely to hold leadership positions.
Mentored students are 55% more likely to enroll in college.
”
Our Mission
Dynamo Studios provides an environment and resources for students to harness their creative potential using the arts, education, and technology as a catalyst to promote cultural growth, community growth, and real world opportunities for participants at free or reduced rate.
Our Vision
We want to see our programs inspiring, empowering and equipping the youth of Chattanooga to not just be successful in the music industry, but also successful in life.
We want to give them everything they need so that they become the next generation of elite professionals in the music industry, establishing Chattanooga as a hub for the creation of music and entrepreneurship.
THE MAGIC OF DYNAMO
What makes our programs so special is that we take learning well beyond the typical classroom experience. Participating students are paired with professional creatives in the community where they are able to apply what they have learned in a real world professional setting.
Not only that, we also bring in creatives to partner with teachers and students in their classrooms as well. This allows for us to bridge the gap between the professional world and the academic world.
By putting industry leading equipment in the hands of students and creating high level opportunities for students to apply what they’ve learned in the real world, we are changing the trajectory of their lives.
PROGRAM AND PROJECT SUMMARY
The purpose of all of our programs is two fold. We use the music industry, and the creative industries contained within the music industry, to help students 1) reach Self Actualization and 2) advance their economic position because all programs are built around a workforce development model. In a nutshell -- we teach them a skillset and then we immediately create opportunities for them to apply and capitalize on those skill sets within the real world beyond the walls of a classroom environment.
In order to achieve those goals, Dynamo Studios will fund and staff two full time teacher positions that will work between Howard Connect Academy (HCA), and Howard High School. There are various teaching standards that we will structure the classes/programs around (national arts media and A/V or the media and A/V CTE standards) so that students are able to receive credit for their time in these programs. Beyond our in-school related arts classes, the Dynamo Studios teachers will be supporting after-school/extracurricular programming 4-5 days per week as well.
The reason we are supporting these schools specifically is because we want to establish a consistent pipeline for students within their feeder pattern to learn this technology and industry from 7th grade all the way up till 12th grade when they graduate allowing them to enter directly into the workforce or pursue a college education. Theoretically, these students should be graduating with more experience than the average college grad in this specific focus area.
Accessibility is of the utmost importance to our organization. We pride ourselves on being intentional about building the overwhelming vast majority of our programming around the needs of the inner city. Additionally, we have been very intentional about promoting opportunities for our female students because less than 5% of the professionals in the music industry are women.
IMPACT PROJECTIONS
PROJECTIONS FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR
700+ students directly impacted
Open one new music/media production studio space
25 live audio video projects
550+ music/audio production classes
10+ major touring artist sessions with the students
48+ high level professional opportunities for students
75+ photo libraries delivered to community partners and clients (all student created)
25 high level video projects (commercial, music video, and mini documentaries)
40+ artists/musicians directly supported through media creation (all student created) (local and national touring artists)
3+ schools directly impacted through programming
DELIVERABLES
Robust student portfolios
Published student work in local+national journals
Printed and published media lookbooks
A plethora of blogs and digital media assets
Marketing plans for partner organizations collaborating with students content creators
10 high level music videos for artists (local and national) produced by students
A TON of recorded projects produced and engineered by students
WHERE WILL PROGRAMMING BE HAPPENING AND WHO ARE WE TARGETING FOR IMPACT?
All of our full-time in school programming is slated for inner city schools where the student population is composed almost entirely by minority students. These programs are focused on the hyper specific needs of inner city students. We will focus most of our efforts on Howard Connect Academy and Howard High School.
Our after school programs are accessible to other people around the community, but even then many of those programs happen at our partner schools so that our inner city students can continue/further their learning.
Programs that happen outside of schools at partner locations are open for anyone above the age of 13 interested in growing/refining their craft.
Additionally, we will be working with local arts organizations to collaborate on programming and support their respective missions.
IMPACT DEMOGRAPHICS
HOWARD CONNECT ACADEMY
School Demographics
89% Minority Population
76.4% African American
12.7% Hispanic
5.5% White
Student Population 300
49% Female
51% Male
100% Free or Reduced Lunch
HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL
School Demographics
96.3% Minority Population
45.7% African American
50.6% Hispanic
1.7% White
Student Population 1,120 total
49% Female
51% Male
100% Free or Reduced Lunch
CURRENT CONTRIBUTIONS
The Bobby Stone Foundation:
$100,000 Year 1
$100,000 Year 2
UnFoundation Mini Grant
$3,000
Mission Support Grant Through ArtsBuild
$7,500
UNUM Gives
$30,000 ($15,000/yr for two years)
WE ARE SEEKING $65,000 TO FINALIZE OUR BUDGET FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR.
PROJECT BUDGET LINE ITEMS
Staffing for In-School Programming
Contractors for Extracurricular Programming
Teaching Materials
Classroom Technology
Programmatic Technology
General Operating Expenses
Professional Services
Insurance
General Liability Insurance
Equipment Insurance
Web Services
FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR, WE ARE SEEKING $197,000 TO SUPPORT OUR BUDGET FOR IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND EXPANDING PROGRAMMING TO OTHER PARTNER SCHOOLS IN CHATTANOOGA.
Through community partnership, Dynamo Studios cultivates an innovative culture founded in music production that is essential for the sustained entrepreneurial growth of our city. You can make a difference.
If you are interested in making a financial contribution to support our programs, please reach out to Kessler Cuffman at (513)377-1293 / kcuffman@DynamoStudios.org
OR click the "Sponsor & Give" button below.