Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Midori & Friends
Legal Name (if Different): Midori Foundation, Inc.
Also Known As: Midori & Friends
Mailing Address: 352 Seventh Avenue Suite 301
City: New York
State: NY
Postal Code: 10001
Main Phone: (212) 767-1300
Main Fax: (212) 767-1300
Organization Website: https://www.midoriandfriends.org/
Employer ID Number: 13-3682472
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 20, 2024
Requested Amount: 10000

Project Title: NEXTGen Musician Program
Project Description:

NEXTGen Musician is a youth leadership and arts advocacy program for New York City teens who are passionate about music. The only program of its kind in NYC, NEXTGen equips teens with the knowledge and tools they need to develop as performing artists and burgeoning leaders in the cultural arts sector.

Each academic year, NEXTGen engages a cohort of 12 teens ages 15-18. The students – who are recruited from traditional public or charter schools across the boroughs – come from various socio-economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds, bringing with them a wide range of life experiences and perspectives. The diversity of the cohort is one of its key strengths: Students learn not only from celebrated guest artists and thought leaders but from each other. The result is a genuine broadening of students’ horizons as they cultivate an artistic community of like-minded peers.

During the first year of enrollment, each teen receives:
-A program stipend of $500;
-Weekly private music lessons;
-Masterclasses and performances featuring renowned musicians;
-Career labs and workshops on arts advocacy, including lobbying, building grassroots movements, and the art of public speaking;
-Mentorship opportunities with professionals in the field of technical music production;
-Excursions to events at cultural organizations;
-A culminating arts advocacy campaign project aimed at local policymakers and their influencers;
-College application support.

Launched in 2022, NEXTGen has a vibrant alumni network of 21 teens from the FY22 and FY23 cohorts. Alumni remain engaged with Midori & Friends via the Alumni Advisory Panel for mentoring, community advocacy, and other projects. Crediting NEXTGen with nourishing their passion for the arts, program alumni are currently enrolled at such esteemed institutions as Princeton University, Thornton School of Music at University of South California, Peabody School of Music at John Hopkins University, Manhattanville College, SUNY Purchase College, and Carleton University.

Total Project Budget: $129,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Committed: $10,000 Roberta A. Conroy Charitable Fund, $8,000 The Lotos Foundation, $5,000 American Eagle Outfitters Foundation, $5,000 Rubinstein Foundation; Potential: $25,000 SONY Corporation of America

Project Duration: Annual, recurring program coinciding with the academic school year
Geographical Area Served: New York City (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx)
Age Group To Be Served: Teens (Ages 15-18)

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Jennifer
Contact Last Name: Dayton
Contact Title: Director of Education
Contact Phone: (212) 767-1300 (x704)
Contact Email: jdayton@midoriandfriends.org