Denver's Youth on Record has hired Flobots star Stephen Brackett, also known by his stage name Brer Rabbit, to oversee the expansion of the music-and-education nonprofit.
The fit seems natural for Brackett, who helped found the group and served on the board of directors since the organization began as Flobots.org in 2008. Brackett helped executive director Jami Duffy build a $2 million recording studio for kids with the Denver Housing Authority.
Brackett and Duffy will work with teens all over the state in an attempt to understand what young people want and need in terms of music education and experiences. The hip-hop artist will then train artists throughout Colorado so they can bring Youth on Record's expertise to their local schools and other youth-oriented groups.
"Something we have always done at Youth on Record is to be aware of the world that is, while also building for the world we want," Brackett said in a statement. "And that's what we'll continue to do as we expand. We know that we have musicians throughout the state who desperately want to be in the schools and are eager to engage with youth. We also know that teens have a keen sense of what they need."
Brackett grew up in Denver and went to Denver Public Schools, which he believes has declined in terms of arts education. He wants kids to "have the tools to tell their own story -- be it through music production, lyric writing, poetry, spoken word or movement," the Youth on Record statement said.
