In this month’s YEAH! updates, you’ll find Rock Block fall registration, auditions for LOVE UNITED, a 5-day #YEAHChallenge to boost wellness, and spotlights on youth voices like our volunteer’s new single “Pride”. Each story and opportunity shows how collective action and generosity transform lives through song.

We are thrilled to announce that YEAH! has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Genesis Inspiration Foundation. The award is part of the foundation’s bold $3 million investment in over 70 youth arts organizations nationwide in 2025. 

A check presentation and community celebration will take place on Tuesday, August 12, at 4:15 PM at The Forge, another Genesis Inspiration Foundation grant recipient dedicated to providing pathways for artists and makers to learn, create, and thrive in community. Welcoming everyone from beginners to entrepreneurs, woodworkers to welders, The Forge mirrors YEAH!’s mission of collaboration, education, and outreach.

"When words fail, music speaks” (Hans Christian Andersen) and at YEAH!, we give participants the space to turn sound into story so they can be heard, felt, and celebrated through every step of their creative journey.

At YEAH! Rocks Music Camp 2025, young people raised their voices and made community connections through guitar riffs, original music, fearless drumming, and conversations that mattered. They grew louder, bolder, and more connected. And they reminded us all: youth artistry is not just the future. It’s right now.

Amidst national conversations around equity, education, and the role of the arts in community healing, we remain committed to creating a camp experience where music meets purpose and belonging. Where creativity is more than just expression, it’s liberation.

Thank you for helping us create this space. You make the rhythm possible. Read ahead for more YEAH! updates!

We’re beyond thrilled to announce that our very own YEAH! youth band Forget Me Nots will be opening for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the Ryman Auditorium on October 17, 2025 as part of the band’s 10th annual residency in Nashville!

"Music is a powerful force that brings people together, fosters creativity, and strengthens communities." Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtPride New Jersey Foundation.

The world is heard and seen when voices rise. When youths step into music, they step into themselves. A single instrument, lyric, or collaboration - it empowers their voice. This is more than music. It’s belonging. It’s power. It’s necessary.

Yet, too often, the arts are treated as an “extra,”— a luxury rather than a foundation. But music shapes creativity, strengthens bonds, and amplifies voices that need to be heard. YEAH! program participants prove that when young artists create, they transform - not just their lives, but the world around them. 

YEAH! champions spaces where young artists discover, explore, and express their sound. It’s not just about notes or chords—it’s about connection, growth, and creating something that lasts beyond the stage.

Nonprofits like ours are essential, just like music itself. When we uplift creative spaces, we uplift each other, our communities, and our collective future. The detriment of one is the detriment of all. When we champion and celebrate these spaces, we ensure the rhythm never fades.

Youth voices don’t just spark revolutions— they help us to see the world more clearly. When young people speak,  they remind us what truth, courage, and possibility really sound like. 

We’ve seen firsthand how music empowers youth to find their voice, their purpose, and their people. At YEAH!, we’re creating space for connection, confidence, and courage to express oneself authentically. Read ahead to see what’s been happening, what’s coming up, and how you can be a part of it all.

At YEAH!, kids don’t just make music - they make meaning! We’re calling on our community to help keep the space to make this happen alive! The AMP UP YEAH! Pledge Drive runs from April 1-7, intending to raise funds to sustain our programs, expand our reach, and ensure every young musician has access to the resources they need - regardless of financial barriers. This spring, we aim to gain 100 new $10 monthly donors to support our mission.

Can you imagine life with only air, water, or sunlight? What about the music world made up of only vocals, one instrument, or one beat?

Music has always been a conversation—a pulse, a connection, a spark that brings us together. It’s collaboration in its purest form, where every beat, every note, and every voice matters. Just like music, we are diverse; we grew and grow from something else.

Think about it: The tap of a drum. The strum of a chord. Each sound is unique, but when layered together, they create something even more powerful. That’s what we do at YEAH!—we create spaces where young people don’t just play music; 

YEAH! (Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities) is thrilled to announce that registration is officially open for YEAH! Rocks Music Camp 2025 - a week-long, immersive music experience like no other, designed for youth ages 6-17.

YEAH! is excited to present a dynamic series of Arts & Activism Workshops this March, bringing together young creatives and change-makers to explore the powerful intersection of artistic expression and social impact. This workshop series, a collaboration between YEAH!, Jessi Zazu Inc., and Random Sample, offers a unique opportunity for youth to learn, connect, and amplify their voices in meaningful ways.

Happy New Year from all of us at YEAH! As we step into our 22nd year, we’re reflecting on how far we’ve come and looking forward to another year of empowering youth through the power of music. Your support makes it possible for us to create spaces where young people can explore creativity, build confidence, and connect with their communities. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey with us. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, change, and, of course, music!

YEAH! (Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities) is excited to announce that registration is now open for YEAH! Rocks Music Camp 2025, a week-long immersive, inclusive and collaborative music experience for youth ages 6-17. The camp will take place June 9-13, 2025, from 9 AM to 5 PM at Nashville Prep School, with a showcase performance on June 14th

YEAH! (Youth Empowerment through Arts & Humanities) is proud to announce the debut of the Unity Song Mix, a collaborative music project that celebrates inclusivity, creativity, and the transformative power of community. The track, engineered by experimental musician Linda Heck at Electric Arcadia in Sewanee, Tennessee, will be released on YEAH’s brand-new Bandcamp page on December 31, 2024.

Calling all ages and all voices – we want you in our Unity Song Mix Project! Whether you’re a seasoned musician, a bedroom beatmaker, or just have a love for music, this project is all about bringing voices together to create one powerful track around the theme of unity. At YEAH!, we believe music is democratic and everyone’s got a role to play, whether that’s writing lyrics, playing an instrument, or simply sharing your take on unity. The angle to expressing unity is wide open: you could focus on the need, lack, impact, or value of unity, or even share the sense of community and unity that YEAH! represents for you.

YEAH! is thrilled to announce that registration is now open for our "Gig Explorer" workshop series at YEAH! This unique program is designed for teenagers who are interested in exploring the music industry beyond picking up an instrument, providing hands-on skills and a deep dive into the world of music and media. More details and link to sign up here »