Our Mission

To empower communities by bridging the gap between education, arts and business incorporating quality enrichment programs and services to youth organizations.

 

Our Vision

To build and unite artistic professional educators, recording artists, producers, song writers, musicians and recording engineers who are committed to changing our community for the better by nurturing minds and educating youth while aiding organizations in accomplishing their charitable goals.

 

WHO ARE WE?

 

Kariz Kids Youth Programs was originally formed in 2008 by music producer and recording engineer Marcel Martin AKA Kariz Marcel in 2008. He began hosting Music Production after school workshops in the middle schools of east Baltimore working with The Creative Alliance. In 2008 he was approached with the opportunity of assisting Citibank with a Financial Literacy program. Students were not automatically receptive to the original Citibank curriculum. Mr. Martin combined music business with the financial literacy curriculum and named it MATH+MUSIC=MONEY. This program was such a success that it began getting requests from several after school programs throughout the Baltimore area. Actively being involved in the music industry gave Marcel an advantage in working with youth. His vast knowledge and experience in the record business was reflected in the program as he taught the young people the importance of “watching your money” and being smart with your finances. To date this cutting edge curriculum has served over 300 youth in the DC, Maryland and Virginia area.

 

As the demand for this program increased, Marcel decided to hire and train several music producers/ teachers in the Baltimore area. Luckily enough his relationships in the music industry paid off by giving musicians an opportunity to not only be leaders in the music world, but leaders in the community as well. Today KKYES is a growing brand and company with qualified and brilliant musicians instructing classrooms in the DMV area

 

 

Letter from the Founder,

 

In serving a population of at risk youth in urban communities, we are faced daily with the harsh realities of oppression and disadvantages. Kariz Kids Youth Enrichment is a reaction to the demographic and economic realities that face all of us around the world. Youth are a burgeoning population. We are leveraging our convening powers as music industry professionals and educators to be a hub between the pop culture generation and the education systems. We are looking at the solutions that are based on collaborations and partnerships with a multi stakeholder approach to addressing some of these issues they face daily in their communities. We want to apply the lessons we have learned about what affects young people. Through active participation and problem solving, young people will develop the skills they need to go from citizens to leaders. Contributing to the solutions of the problems with the youth, and not for them, will give us as adults and mentors a realistic understanding of their true concerns. We have to invest in incorporating youth voices into some major challenges that we are facing in the world. This program helps us improve our two way engagement with young people. We understand that this is a marathon and not a sprint. Bridging the blurred gap of urban culture and education is important to us. Music gives a voice to these youth's realities, hopes and dreams. We are simply music’s messengers with a passion for the future.