MMI is incredibly honored—and excited—to announce that we have received the The Lewis Prize for Music Accelerator Award! We are one of three organizations selected from a competitive pool of 249 applications for our work advancing systems change through music and creative liberation. We're humbled to receive this acknowledgement of our work, and are so grateful for all the friends, community partners, youth participants, and MMI staff who went on this journey with us and contributed to the application process.
While we are undeniably proud to have won, this isn't a win for MMI alone, but for Memphis. It's a reflection of all the people who work alongside us, with us, and for Memphis' young people every day.
Congratulations to fellow awardees Hip Hop Into Learning and Mana Maoli!
Earlier this month, members of the MMI team attended a virtual celebration with panelists, past winners, and community partners. Attendees were treated to a showing of the music video for "Feel Something" by Hand5Made (students DeAndre Deener, Gia Howell, Lily Becker, and Kennedy Jones)—one of our 2022 MMI Works student-created music videos. The video was also featured on the Tamron Hall Show last month in a segment announcing the winners! More on that below. Click here to read the acceptance speech given by MMI Executive Director Amber Hamilton.
Special thanks to the Tamron Hall Show for inviting MMI Works alum Julian Anderson to speak last month about his experience with MMI alongside student representatives from our fellow award recipients. Watch the full segment below!