Ascension Sounds is a nonprofit recording studio. This studio will provide services to young musicians who lack the resources to fully pursue their creative endeavors without support. The Romero Institute is a 501(c)3 organization that focuses primarily on climate justice and Indigenous advocacy (in the Dakotas). The Romero Institute’s founders, Sara Nelson and Daniel Sheehan, formerly operated the Washington D.C. based nonprofit law firm the Christic Institute. Many famous musicians performed in national benefit concerts to support social justice litigation by the Christic Institute, including Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Joan Baez, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Jackson Brown. YouTube, Bandcamp, and other readily available digital music platforms have democratized the music making process to some degree, but there’s still a barrier for young musicians when it comes to professional recording. To produce high quality music, one either has to have an “in” in the industry or one has to be able to pay a professional producer and studio engineer thousands of dollars. I will offer my services as a person with a background in music for free to young, disadvantaged artists in the Central Coast region. For twenty years I have created original music, mostly hip-hop, and now I am pursuing a minor degree in electronic music at UCSC. I am building my skills incrementally as a studio engineer and music producer, and this field study will allow me to burnish my capacities while delivering value to at-risk young people. In my experience, art has the ability to translate frustration into productive activity, healing wounds and creating positive community. We will not be able to repair all instances of social injustice overnight, but we can leverage our gifts — in my case, music — to contribute to the overall mission of creating a fair and sustainable world. Ascension Sounds will be located at the Romero Institute headquarters at the corner of Water and Mission Streets in Santa Cruz. I will be utilizing methods suited for persons with disabilities. (For example, I am currently working with an associate who is blind to analyze what I can do to offer support to artists who are sight impaired). I myself have learning differences and have many friends and associates who are gifted but challenged in ways that at times makes accessing resources difficult. Both the Romero Institute and I are committed to hosting a respectful and inspiring environment for our music students. In the past, when contemplating a program such as this, I actually developed relationships with local schools in the interest of identifying potential students. I may leverage this approach again, though it is possible that less robust methods will suffice; things will inevitably be experimental. I will work with my mentors at the Romero Institute to refine my outreach and organizing strategies to most efficiently reach eligible young people in the community.