Our mission is to reduce violence, and nurture cognitive growth, physical activity, economic opportunity, and local roots culture. We benefit people suffering from poverty, violence, drug abuse, toxic waste, incarceration, and lack of appreciation. The project is informed by Public Mental Health strategies and alternative education. The core of our project is a portable music player. Bayview Boomb
oxes are handmade by residents of a unique community in San Francisco, called Bayview Hunters Point. When a person builds something powerful and beautiful with their hands, it makes them feel powerful and beautiful. Our method is to develop a high-quality, bumpin' music product, designed to consumer standards, that can be built at low cost by our trained crafts-people. Then, we'll implement a street-savvy marketing strategy to get this product into the eager hands of B-Boys and B-Girls everywhere (that’s Bicycle Boys and Bicycle Girls).
-We deliver our activities in the heart of the most troubled neighborhoods, often in backyards.
-We provide mentoring in boombox electronics, bicycle repair, motorcycle repair, and more. Participants learn to use professional tools, techniques, and terminology.
-We create apprenticeships for at-risk young adults in local vehicle shops, art studios, and machine shops.
-Boombox sales teach entrepreneurship, and offer an opportunity to earn. Mechanical and electronic assembly and repair involve constant problem-solving, troubleshooting, and improvising. This gives our participants a much-needed sense of control, and the confidence to solve other, personal, real-life problems. These are transferable thinking-skills that our communities need. Assembly and repair projects provide unemployed or out-of-school youths with a constructive, healthy alternative activity.
