Renaissance Youth Center

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Renaissance Youth Center
IndustryNonprofit
Founded2001
HeadquartersSouth Bronx, New York, United States
Area served
Bronx and New York City
Key people
Bervin Harris, Darren Quinlan
Revenue$1.2 million[1]
Websitewww.renaissanceyouth.org

The Renaissance Youth Center is a Bronx-based nonprofit founded in 2001 with the mission "to empower at-risk inner city youth to fully maximize their potential as productive and responsible members of society, by offering dynamic, team-building education, music, and sports programs, while instilling the importance of building strong communities."[2] Renaissance serves more than 3,000 youths per week at their headquarters and more than 30 public schools in New York City.[3][4]

History[edit]

Founded in 2001 as Renaissance Education, Music, and Sports (Renaissance-EMS),[5] Renaissance Youth Center offers a variety of programs in education, music, sports, and civic engagement.[6]

Renaissance was co-founded by Bervin Harris and Darren Quinlan to serve the Bronx's Morrisania neighborhood. Harris was a former recording artist with Orpheus/Capitol Records,[7] while Quinlan was a former NCAA Division 1 college basketball player at St. Bonaventure University,[8] as well as a songwriter who won the 1992 Abe Olman Scholarship from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[9] Harris and Quinlan helped produce KRS-One's album Spiritual Minded.[10]

Key Programs[edit]

Music On Wheels[edit]

Music On Wheels brings music teachers and a curriculum to schools that no longer have music programs for more than 30 public schools in New York City.[11][2] Renaissance holds an annual Music On Wheels Recital where hundreds of students from New York City gather to perform for family and friends.[12]

Music With A Message Band[edit]

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.[13] The band has performed at Good Morning America,[14] Carnegie Hall,[15] the Women in the World Summit at Lincoln Center,[16] the Apollo Theater,[17] the New School,[18][19] and the City Parks Foundation.[20] In 2016, they opened Mayor Bill de Blasio's 2016 State of the City address at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts.[21]

In 2018, the band performed with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America,[22] and in 2019, they performed a cover of Lupita Nyong'o's "Sulwe's Song", with Lupita Nyong'o surprising the band by showing up in-person to the Renaissance Youth Center to sing the song with the band.[23]

Renaissance Youth Council[edit]

In 2014, Renaissance's Youth Council spent eight hours painting Unity Park a pink salmon color, only to have the NYC Parks Department paint over their work because the youth group permit only allowed them to use a gray color.[24] After media attention and months of discussions, Renaissance partnered with the Parks Department to repaint the park.[25]

In 2016, the Youth Council turned its attention to a nearby slaughterhouse, gathering over 4,700 petition signatures and support from New York State Assembly member Michael Blake to force the clean up of animal carcasses, blood spills, and the foul odor, that lowered the quality of life in the neighborhood.[26][27]

In 2018, Renaissance Youth Council launched Youth Connect: Journey 2 Unity Tour, a five-borough tour with examples of positive teenagers to inspire disconnected youth engage with peers in local programs.[28] Hundreds of youth attended these summer events, including the finale in Mullaly Park, that drew support from New York City Parks Department Commissioner Mitchell Silver and New York City Council member Vanessa Gibson.[29]

Recognition[edit]

  • In 2013, the Berklee College of Music included Renaissance in its Berklee City Music Network, grading the Renaissance Music Program at 94/100.[11]
  • In 2016, Renaissance co-founder Bervin Harris was honored by the New York City Police Foundation for his work as a community partner with the 42nd Precinct.[30]
  • In 2017, RiteAid awarded Mr. Harris its inaugural KIDCHAMP Award.[2]
  • In 2017, Congressman Jose Serrano and New York State Senator Jose Serrano honored Mr. Harris with an award for Black History Month.[31]

Official Websites[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Renaissance Youth Center 2015 Form 990" (PDF). Guidestar.
  2. ^ a b c "Bervin Harris Receives Inaugural KIDCHAMP Award". Rite Aid Foundation. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  3. ^ "The Rite Aid Foundation Unveils KIDCHAMPSM Program". Business Wire (Press release). 14 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  4. ^ "Rite Aid Foundation donates $10k to youth center" (PDF). Bronx Times.
  5. ^ "Message from Client – Renaissance Youth Center". PennPAC. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  6. ^ "Renaissance Youth Center". My NYC Story. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  7. ^ "Bervin Harris". Discogs.
  8. ^ "St. Bonaventure Extends GW's Losing Streak to 7". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  9. ^ "Abe Olman Recipients". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  10. ^ "Spiritual Minded - KRS-One, The Temple of Hiphop". Discog. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  11. ^ a b "Berklee in the Bronx". Bronx Free Press. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  12. ^ "Music on Wheels Recital held at Bronx school". News 12 Bronx. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  13. ^ "Bronx Youth Band Looks to Strengthen Borough Pride Through Positive Music". DNA Info. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  14. ^ "Dressing Room Reveal: This youth choir is sharing music with a message". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  15. ^ "Keeping life on the straight and narrow". Metro USA. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  16. ^ "Youth choir brings the house down with poignant performance of Andra Day's 'Rise Up'". Women in the World. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  17. ^ "Berklee City Music Celebrates Education Partnership with Film 'Take Me to the River'". Berklee College of Music. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  18. ^ "Pop, Rock and Jazz in NYC This Week". The New York Times. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  19. ^ "Take Me To The River". The New School. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  20. ^ "VIVIAN GREEN / MUSIC WITH A MESSAGE / GRANDWIZZARD THEODORE". City Parks Foundation. Archived from the original on 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  21. ^ "Mayor de Blasio Delivers State of the City Address". YouTube. NYC Mayor's Office.
  22. ^ "Dressing Room Reveal: This youth choir is sharing music with a message". Good Morning America YouTube Channel. Good Morning America.
  23. ^ "Lupita Nyong'o Surprises Youth Band, Music With A Message!". YouTube. Lupita Nyong'o.
  24. ^ "Bronx Kids Beautify Drab Park Wall Only to Have City Repaint it Gray". DNA Info. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  25. ^ "Youth Group Allowed to Repaint Bronx Park After City Backs Down". DNA Info. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  26. ^ "Youth Center wants slaughterhouse forced out". Bronx News12. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  27. ^ "Bronx Youth Group Wants Nearby Slaughterhouse to Move". DNA Info. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  28. ^ "Bronx teens inspired to offer 'disconnected youth' hope in their communities". am New York. 16 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  29. ^ "Youth Connect Tour Finale". YouTube. BronxNet.
  30. ^ "Appreciating Our NYPD Community Partners". NYPD News. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  31. ^ "Serranos Celebrate Black History Month". Bronx Times. 16 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
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