Music With Meaning.
Learning With Purpose.
For 15 years, MeMA-Music, Inc. has been a 501(c)(3) Chicago-based youth development and arts nonprofit using meaningful, message-driven music as a powerful foundation for learning, reflection, and personal development. Through arts-integrated programs and partnerships with schools, community organizations, and youth-serving organizations, we connect music with literacy, historical and civic awareness, critical thinking, communication, and creative expression. Our programs give participants opportunities to examine ideas, experiences, and perspectives while developing a deeper understanding of themselves, society, and the world around them.
Preparing the Next Generation to Understand and Shape the World
Navigating A Complex World
We believe meaningful music helps people better understand themselves, others, and the world around them. Our programs encourage curiosity, strengthen communication, and build the critical thinking and self-awareness needed to navigate an increasingly complex world.
Our Vision
We believe every young person can shape their future and positively influence the world around them. By exploring the messages in meaningful music, participants deepen their understanding of themselves, others, and society while developing the confidence to express their values, perspectives, and ideas.
What Sets Us Apart
Led by a music industry professional with more than two decades of experience, MeMA-Music combines real-world perspective with structured, arts-integrated learning experiences. Our approach engages participants through meaningful music while supporting literacy, reflection, communication, and personal growth.
The Power Of Music
Meaningful music captures attention, sparks curiosity, and creates opportunities to explore ideas, perspectives, and lived experiences. Through listening, lyric analysis, discussion, and creative expression, participants strengthen literacy, critical thinking, communication, and self-awareness while making meaningful connections to themselves, others, and the world around them.
Our Mission
MeMA-Music engages youth of all ages and abilities in under-resourced neighborhoods through arts-integrated, music-driven learning experiences that build literacy, critical thinking, communication, creativity, and self-awareness, deepening participants’ understanding of themselves, society, and the world around them.
What We Do
We design arts-integrated learning experiences for schools, community organizations, and faith-based organizations, adapting each program to the goals and needs of our partners. Our offerings range from multi-week residencies to workshops and specialized programs, with experiences that connect learning, reflection, and creative expression.
Who We Serve
We serve youth, young adults, and adults through partnerships with schools, community organizations, and faith-based organizations. Our programs welcome people of all backgrounds and abilities and can be adapted to different ages, settings, and experiences. We create supportive environments where participants can engage with meaningful music, reflect on their experiences, and develop skills that support personal growth.
Explore Our Programs
Every MeMA-Music program uses meaningful music to create engaging opportunities for learning, reflection, communication, and creative expression. Whether participants are exploring identity, history, civic awareness, or how music and media shape mindset, each program is designed to build knowledge, strengthen essential skills, and create meaningful connections to the world around them.
Our Impact
For 15 years, MeMA-Music has helped participants explore, create, and grow through meaningful music and arts-integrated learning experiences.
- Thousands of participants engaged through school and community-based programs
- Over 1,500 original projects created through writing, music, visual arts, and multimedia
- Increased engagement, communication, critical thinking, and creative participation reported by educators and partners
- Participants build self-awareness, confidence, and healthy outlets for expression through structured creative work
- Partnerships with Chicago-based artists and creative professionals provide mentorship and real-world insight
