Our Mission
MeMA-Music empowers young people from underserved communities of all backgrounds and abilities through arts-integrated education that merges music, literacy, historical awareness, and self-discovery for social justice and progress.
Our Team
We are a group of teaching artists who have developed engaging multidisciplinary programs that integrate art, music, social studies, technology, civics, literacy, and social-emotional learning in the middle and high school grades to examine the use and impact of the arts in creating social change.
Our Goals
We equip young people with the necessary skills to effectively navigate the complexities of the modern world, address challenges, and influence the direction of their societies. We educate on the impact of history, culture, literacy, civics, and other relevant topics, using art and music as tools for positive change. We strive to advance educational equity in Chicago through partnerships with diverse schools and community organizations.
How We Work
Our programs use popular music from different eras and genres with messages about social issues to help students think critically. They look at how musicians express messages about justice and fight against unfair systems in their songs. By studying this music and other materials—like related videos, current events, and news—they learn about the history of how people have protested against injustice over time. The goal is for students to understand the deeper messages in the lyrics and what makes them impactful.
Through MeMA’s program activities, students will acquire essential knowledge and skills, including the ability to think critically, solve problems resourcefully, make informed judgments, build a sense of shared responsibility and teamwork, appreciate different cultures, foster individual creativity, and recognize the importance of civic engagement.
PROGRAM PARTNERS
Let’s work together.
