Discover the impact of the RAP America Project’s summer camp at Boise Hive, where students learn music production and performance, fostering youth empowerment and cultural bridging.

In today’s episode of Backstage Pass on the Boise Beat, we delve into the transformative power of music and storytelling through the RAP America Project’s summer camp at Boise Hive. This discussion is particularly timely as communities seek innovative ways to bridge cultural and social gaps. The RAP America Project, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Boise, offers a unique platform for high school and college students to learn and express themselves through rap and hip-hop music. With the camp hosted at Boise Hive, a hub for local music talent and Boise concerts, the impact on youth empowerment is profound.

How can music and storytelling through initiatives like the RAP America Project’s summer camp at Boise Hive empower youth and bridge cultural gaps?

Welcome to another episode of Backstage Pass on the Boise Beat, hosted by Gordie Tamayo. Today, we are joined by Brenda Francis, the Project Director for the RAP America Project. We discuss their exciting summer camp at Boise Hive, where students learn music production, beat making, songwriting, and performance, culminating in a free public performance.

*** PRESS PLAY ***

Main Points of Conversation:

• Music Production and Learning Opportunities: Insights into the summer camp curriculum, which includes beat making, songwriting, and performance.
• Community Impact: How the RAP America Project, in collaboration with Boise Hive, is bridging cultural and social gaps and fostering youth empowerment.
• Behind-the-Scenes Experience: The role of local professionals as mentors and the significance of hands-on training with industry-standard equipment.

Guest Bio:
Brenda Francis has been an integral part of the Boise Hive since 2016, serving as the audio educator. She teaches recording classes and leads a community drum circle, fostering a creative and inclusive environment for local musicians. Brenda’s dedication to youth and music extends beyond the Boise Hive. In 2005, she founded Modesto Sound, a nonprofit organization focused on teens, music, and job training, after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Art & Entertainment Management and a Master’s in Business Administration. Brenda continues to serve on the Board of Directors for Modesto Sound while teaching audio technology classes across several locations in Idaho.

Brenda’s extensive background in audio engineering includes recording over 500 artists and producing hundreds of radio shows at Modesto Sound. She has held various roles such as Treasurer at the Modesto Symphony, Manager at the Brubeck Jazz Music Camp, and Audio Technology Professor at the University of the Pacific. In 2020, she designed Creative Culture Beats, a cultural awareness audio podcast and performance showcase that pays artists, which continues to serve the Boise, Idaho community. Brenda’s experience and passion make her a driving force in bridging cultural and social gaps through the power of music and education.