For Andrew Muse, community outreach mentor with Allies' Project Silk program, community-oriented work is his 'bread and butter.'
'I like to feel like I'm doing something,' he said. 'I'm out in the field testing people, meeting new people, getting programming out there.'
Andrew applied for the community outreach mentor position on the advice of a friend and former coworker, and he was excited when he learned that he could bring his passion for music into his work with Project Silk. He's been with Allies for a little more than a year.
'One of the big things about Project Silk is that we want to do programming based on what you can bring to the table,' he said. 'I'm a musician. I'm a singer. I was really excited. I've never had a job that's like, we want to build programming based on what you're good at.'
Andrew worked with Anitra Branch, director of outreach and education, and Curtis Hanner, community outreach manager, to develop 'Muse's Music,' an eight-week Project Silk program that will give participants the opportunity to write a song from start to finish. The program launches on Sept. 26 and runs through Nov. 14. Sign-ups will open shortly
'A song entails lyrics, melody, and also some engineering, like how you record your voice and how you record an instrument,' he explained. 'Every week is going to be a lesson on how you would do that. It's like a step by step process.'
Andrew said that the program is for any Project Silk participant with an interest in music, regardless of skill level.
'Music is for everyone and making music is for everyone,' he said. 'It's so low stakes. It's supposed to be fun. The interest in doing it is enough. That's all it takes. Each lesson isn't dependent on the one before, so you can just drop in.'
At the conclusion of the program, participants will have the opportunity to share their music.
'The final week, we're going to play our music for each other and have a little listening party,' Andrew said. 'It gets you comfortable sharing your music with others, which can be a really hard step.'
Andrew hopes that 'Muse's Music' becomes an ongoing program for Project Silk. 'I would love, love, love to expand this,' he said. 'I would really love to make this like a big thing. So I'm definitely going to continue to work out the kinks for this program.'
In the meantime, he encourages young people to explore programs like Project Silk.
'Youth programming is so important, and it's vital to your self-confidence and your future,' he said. 'We're trying to build up kids as much as we can.'
Project Silk is an early HIV intervention and educational program designed to reach BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and gender inclusive individuals ages 13 to 29 within Pittsburgh. To learn more about Project Silk and its activities, click here(opens in a new tab).
