Renaissance Youth Center Explained

Renaissance Youth Center
Foundation:2001
Location:South Bronx, New York, United States
Key People:Bervin Harris, Darren Quinlan
Area Served:Bronx and New York City
Industry:Nonprofit
Revenue:$1.2 million[1]
Homepage:www.renaissanceyouth.org

The Renaissance Youth Center is a Bronx-based nonprofit founded in 2001. Renaissance has more than 30 public schools in New York City.[2] [3] The Renaissance Youth Center offers programs in education, music, sports, and civic engagement.[4]

History

It was founded in 2001 as Renaissance Education, Music, and Sports (Renaissance-EMS).[5]

Renaissance was co-founded by Bervin Harris and Darren Quinlan to serve the Bronx's Morrisania neighborhood. Harris was a former recording artist with Capitol Records,[6] while Quinlan was a former NCAA Division 1 college basketball player at St. Bonaventure University,[7] as well as a songwriter who won the 1992 Abe Olman Scholarship from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[8]

Programs

Music On Wheels

Music On Wheels planned a curriculum for schools that no longer have music programs for more than 30 public schools in New York City. Renaissance holds an annual Music On Wheels Recital.[9]

Music With A Message Band

The Music With A Message Band is a 25-member performance group, aged 6–21, that write songs about social issues and perform throughout New York City.[10] The band has performed at Good Morning America,[11] Carnegie Hall,[12] the Women in the World Summit at Lincoln Center,[13] the Apollo Theater,[14] the New School,[15] [16] and the City Parks Foundation.[17] In 2016, they opened Mayor Bill de Blasio's 2016 State of the City address at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts.[18]

In 2018, the band performed with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America,[19] and in 2019, they performed a cover of Lupita Nyong'o's "Sulwe's Song" with Lupita Nyong'o.[20]

Renaissance Youth Council

In 2014, Renaissance's Youth Council spent eight hours painting Unity Park a pink salmon color. The NYC Parks Department painted over it because the youth group only allowed them to use a gray color.[21] After months of discussions, Renaissance partnered with the Parks Department to repaint the park.[22]

In 2016, the Youth Council set up a petition, gaining 4,700 signatures and support from New York State Assembly member Michael Blake, to force the clean-up of animal carcasses and the odor.[23] [24]

In 2018, Renaissance Youth Council launched Youth Connect: Journey 2 Unity Tour, a five-borough tour.[25] The finale in Mullaly Park drew support from New York City Parks Department Commissioner Mitchell Silver and New York City Council member Vanessa Gibson.[26]

Awards and recognition

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Renaissance Youth Center 2015 Form 990 . Guidestar.
  2. The Rite Aid Foundation Unveils KIDCHAMPSM Program . Business Wire . 14 November 2017 . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923085536/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171114005966/en/Rite-Aid-Foundation-Unveils-KIDCHAMPSM-Program . 2018-09-23 . live .
  3. Web site: Rite Aid Foundation donates $10k to youth center . Bronx Times.
  4. Web site: Renaissance Youth Center . My NYC Story . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923123846/http://www.mynycstory.org/renaissance/ . 2018-09-23 . live .
  5. Web site: Message from Client – Renaissance Youth Center . PennPAC . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923085537/http://pennpac.org/portfolio-items/renaissance-youth-center-video/ . 2018-09-23 . live .
  6. Web site: Bervin Harris . Discogs.
  7. News: St. Bonaventure Extends GW's Losing Streak to 7 . Washington Post . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923085618/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1986/01/24/st-bonaventure-extends-gws-losing-streak-to-7/36b35a63-eda3-470e-bf82-9e2592c7faa1/ . 2018-09-23 . live .
  8. Web site: Abe Olman Recipients . Songwriters Hall of Fame . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923123849/https://www.songhall.org/scholarships/view/abe_olman_recipients_3 . 2018-09-23 . live .
  9. Web site: Music on Wheels Recital held at Bronx school . News 12 Bronx . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923123847/http://bronx.news12.com/story/38173511/music-on-wheels-recital-held-at-bronx-school . 2018-09-23 . live .
  10. Web site: Bronx Youth Band Looks to Strengthen Borough Pride Through Positive Music . DNA Info . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052440/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140901/morrisania/bronx-youth-band-looks-strengthen-borough-pride-through-positive-music/ . 2018-09-23 . dead .
  11. Web site: Dressing Room Reveal: This youth choir is sharing music with a message . ABC News . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052529/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/dressing-room-reveal-youth-choir-sharing-music-message/story?id=56196989 . 2018-09-23 . live .
  12. Web site: Keeping life on the straight and narrow . Metro USA . 26 March 2015 . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923125426/https://www.metro.us/new-york/keeping-life-on-the-straight-and-narrow/zsJocz---0Uwc03wFhBpVY . 2018-09-23 . live .
  13. Web site: Youth choir brings the house down with poignant performance of Andra Day's 'Rise Up' . Women in the World . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923123902/https://womenintheworld.com/2018/04/14/youth-choir-bring-the-house-down-with-poignant-performance-of-andra-days-rise-up/ . 2018-09-23 . live .
  14. Web site: Berklee City Music Celebrates Education Partnership with Film 'Take Me to the River' . Berklee College of Music . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052722/https://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-city-music-celebrates-education-partnership-film-take-me-river . 2018-09-23 . live .
  15. News: Pop, Rock and Jazz in NYC This Week . The New York Times . 19 January 2018 . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923123854/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/19/arts/music/pop-rock-and-jazz-in-nyc-this-week.html . 2018-09-23 . live .
  16. Web site: Take Me To The River . The New School . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923123917/https://events.newschool.edu/event/take_me_to_the_river#.W6blnJNKgWo . 2018-09-23 . live .
  17. Web site: VIVIAN GREEN / MUSIC WITH A MESSAGE / GRANDWIZZARD THEODORE . City Parks Foundation . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180917082954/https://cityparksfoundation.org/events/vivian-green-music-message-grandwizzard-theodore/ . 2018-09-17 . live .
  18. Web site: Mayor de Blasio Delivers State of the City Address . YouTube . NYC Mayor's Office.
  19. Web site: Dressing Room Reveal: This youth choir is sharing music with a message . Good Morning America YouTube Channel . Good Morning America.
  20. Web site: Lupita Nyong'o Surprises Youth Band, Music With A Message! . YouTube . Lupita Nyong'o.
  21. Web site: Bronx Kids Beautify Drab Park Wall Only to Have City Repaint it Gray . DNA Info . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923085621/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140925/morrisania/bronx-kids-beautify-drab-park-wall-only-have-city-repaint-it-gray/ . 2018-09-23 . dead .
  22. Web site: Youth Group Allowed to Repaint Bronx Park After City Backs Down . DNA Info . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923085619/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20141215/morrisania/reversal-parks-department-allows-youth-group-repaint-bronx-park/ . 2018-09-23 . dead .
  23. Web site: Youth Center wants slaughterhouse forced out . Bronx News12 . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052332/http://bronx.news12.com/clip/13735727/youth-center-wants-slaughterhouse-forced-out . 2018-09-23 . live .
  24. Web site: Bronx Youth Group Wants Nearby Slaughterhouse to Move . DNA Info . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052813/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160520/morrisania/bronx-youth-group-wants-nearby-slaughterhouse-move/ . 2018-09-23 . dead .
  25. Web site: Bronx teens inspired to offer 'disconnected youth' hope in their communities . am New York . 16 May 2018 . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052231/https://www.amny.com/news/youth-programs-nyc-1.18556399 . 2018-09-23 . live .
  26. Web site: Youth Connect Tour Finale . YouTube . BronxNet.
  27. Web site: Berklee in the Bronx . Bronx Free Press . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052121/https://thebronxfreepress.com/berklee-in-the-bronx/ . 2018-09-23 . live .
  28. Web site: Appreciating Our NYPD Community Partners . NYPD News . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052247/http://nypdnews.com/2016/03/appreciating-our-community-partners/ . 2018-09-23 . live .
  29. Web site: Bervin Harris Receives Inaugural KIDCHAMP Award. . Rite Aid Foundation . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052309/https://kidcents.riteaid.com/community/bervin-harris-receives-inaugural-kidchamp-award-the-rite-aid-foundation/ . 2018-09-23 . live .
  30. Web site: Serranos Celebrate Black History Month . Bronx Times . 16 March 2017 . 2018-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180923090708/https://www.bxtimes.com/stories/2017/10/10-a-serranobhm-2017-03-10-bx.html . 2018-09-23 . live .

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