By Dianne Anderson

Young aspiring entertainers are getting the creative space they need to work on becoming all that they can imagine they can be.

As important, they  discover themselves  in the process.

Josiah Bruny said his nonprofit Music Changing Lives is expanding to serve more kids and youth over the past five years “one note at a time,” now serving six school sites between their two community centers service areas, including Redlands, and Sacramento.

Through the K-12 Music Changing Lives showcase, students learn to tap their artistic potential and hone special skills, but they take it a step further by offering their products and monetize online.

The products may take the form of art, music, tee-shirts, or clothing. Bruny said one of the most important aspects of his programming is that students become educated and primed for self-sufficiency, something often overlooked within the creative process.

By learning to navigate various online platforms, he said they not only master their vision for productivity, but also how to use what is now a major marketplace of their generation.

“One of our students is now selling his records through Digital Baby, and several other digital platforms. We’re looking to help them get their music and art heard  in any way, shape or form is our goal,” he said.

Along with several other projects, he continues their Empowerment to Policy Campaign, which has bolstered his community centers into wellness centers, and offers up  many holistic services and resources for the community. Recently, they are also providing programming within Moreno Valley Unified School District.

“It’s providing wrap-around services for our students,” he said. “We realize that [some] need shelters, homes and food, and healthcare, counseling.”

On Saturday, September 14, the entire community is invited out to support their Music Changing Lives Charity Ball 4 A Cause basketball event to help keep music and the arts alive for the community. The event has garnered strong support from local community athletes for fun and games, a half time show, and raffles. Tickets $10 for adults, and free admission kids under 12 years. The event is held from noon to 4:00 p.m.,  located  at 111 West Lugonia Avenue in Redlands.

Bruny said he’s encouraged to see how they’ve been able to take the Redlands programming model and implement it at their other locations. Each year, they serve about 4,500 students from five years old and up. Indirectly, he said they service about 400-500 students through their services.

Among their many programs, students receive music and art lessons, tutoring, mentoring, civic engagement, financial literacy. Part of the mission is to fill the gap that underserved and low-income students face for lack of funding for the arts.

Looking back, Bruny said he was motivated to develop the music-based program from his own desire to be creative while also achieving business growth.

“Music really changed my life, I thought that was the avenue that I wanted to give back to the students as well, to show them how to become independent, and through independent crafts and arts,” he said.

He said for more information, parents can reach out through their website, www.musicchanginglives.org