Beat Builders
Building health, building skills, building youth one beat at a time.
Beat Builders:Music therapy
An Innovative Approach to Mental Wellness
Beat Builders is a music therapy program designed for marginalized, racialized, and justice-involved male youth to help improve their well-being while learning skills directly applicable to music and technology-related industries. The program runs twice per week for two separate cohorts based on age for 16 consecutive weeks, with admission dates spread over the year and transportation help to ensure accessibility to all potential participants.
Due to stigmatization and non-culturally informed programming in mental health care, racialized and marginalized youth have often gone underserved, with limited access to care being a further hindrance. As a result, this can lead to further mental health deterioration and overrepresentation in the justice system. Beat Builders seeks to revolutionize how music therapy is utilized to address these inequities by providing a doorway to clinical support through urban music culture. The program will foster creativity, build belonging, and promote productive self-expression in youth with support from a clinician, youth worker, and music professional.
SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
- Male youth between the ages of 14-24
- Identify as racialized or a member of the BIPOC community
- History or risk of involvement with the youth justice system or adult criminal justice system
- Interest in mental health improvements
- Interest in music production and/or technical skill-development
All participants are expected to engage in each session and be respectful of others in the program.
REFERRAL PROCESS
We accept referrals from Probation Officers, Social Workers, Custody Facilities and other professionals working with youth. Previous youth justice involvement is not a requirement for participating youth.
To make a referral or ask a question please email
Fareen Khimji (Manager, Community Services)
We see success
Youth grow with their environment, the better the community supports the better the outcome. Read about some youth who have made a commitment to change.
Be the Change
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