Max is a long time volunteer turned employee for mindyourmind as a Youth Outreach Assistant. He enjoys blogging, cats, and the state of Utah. Check him out on Twitter: @maxamilli

Music is a huge part of our lives, that much we cannot deny. Whether we are hanging out in our rooms, going to the movies, or just standing in an elevator… there is always music around us! That being said I am rather impressed with people who use music and integrate it into their program to help youths.

Blue Print for Life (http://www.blueprintforlife.ca/) is a program, which is described as “social work through hip-hop” that targets youth living in Canada’s North and inner cities. Their website does the most justice in describing what they are all about when they say:

“BluePrintForLife offers dynamic, culturally appropriate programs designed for First Nations and Inuit youth that are founded on HipHop, rooted in traditional culture, and centered on community needs. Their programming has also been successfully adapted to meet the needs of youth in Canada’s inner cities, working with youth at risk and newly immigrated families to Canada.”

Blue Print for Life is one of many agencies doing work in communities around the world, not only using music, but simply engaging youth using things that they can relate to. Because if someone can’t relate to what you’re trying to say, what are they going to get out of it? In order to help you need to engage, and in order to engage you need to be relatable. So check out Blue Print for Life and see how they’re engaging youths in their community, and share with us any other places you know that are doing the same!

Also check out more info on Blue Print For Life in mindyourmind’s Dance section here !

- by Max