Beyond the Bars is a student-driven, community-based music and resource connection program dedicated to interrupting the cycles of violence and incarceration while helping Philadelphia youth recognize their immense potential and bright futures.

Founded in 2015 by Matthew Kerr and Christopher Thornton as a small, volunteer-run music education program inside the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, Beyond the Bars has continued to expand and now reaches more than 1,800 young people each year to deliver impactful programming across a network of over 65 citywide music labs in locations ranging from youth shelters, trauma clinics and diversion to rec centers, community hubs and schools.

By partnering with schools, community spaces, trauma clinics, recreational centers, homeless shelters, and correctional facilities, Beyond the Bars provides safe, accessible environments where talented young artists can thrive. They offer their Ecosystem of Support program where they use music as a means of meeting youth wherever they are at, build up their self esteem and self expression skills and connect them to a larger community of support. With over 95 partners they work to holistically ensure that whatever needs a youth had can be collaboratively met by the community. As students grow within the program they further have the opportunity to become leaders within it through the Student Teacher Program. In this program students learn not just how to play music but how to teach it with Social Emotional Language to the younger youth and how to become peer mentors. Once graduated from this program students often go on to become adult facilitators and teaching artists within the org ensuring a cycle of youth leadership that is built communally.

Student leaders and alumni now support hundreds of younger students through leadership and employment. Last August, Isaiah Robinson spoke (alongside Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro) at a press conference highlighting state investments in community-led anti-violence programs and youth career development: “I joined Beyond the Bars in 2020 as a student. From the start, I was walking into a safe space and loving environment, surrounded by peers and mentors that share similar interests. Beyond the Bars quickly became a second family to me.”

While a student at Belmont Charter, Isaiah helped implement an impactful music curriculum. After graduation, he was hired by Beyond the Bars to serve as their Student Teacher Lead SEL Teacher.. In this adult educator role, Isaiah has been teaching music and social-emotional learning skills in trauma clinics, diversion programs, and homeless shelters across the city. Isaiah has shared that from his experiences with Beyond the Bars, he has been inspired to pursue a career in social work.

BTB believes that systemic challenges need to be faced with systemic solutions rooted in compassion and community that amplifies the amazing work of the numerous community based orgs in our city. Over the last few years, Beyond the Bars has hosted large-scale initiatives like their annual Philly Youth Music Festival, which brings together large groups of local children and dozens of youth performance groups.

This year, Beyond the Bars’ Third Annual Philly Youth Music Fest was held on July 19 at Spruce St. Harbor Park, and included more than 300 youth performers, over 2,000 attendees, more than 100 paid youth workers, and 30+ community organizations for a free, youth-led celebration of music, creativity, and community. The festival featured hands-on arts activities, instrument & book giveaways, free music lessons & haircuts, a community resource fair, open jam sessions, and performances from young people representing organizations from across Philadelphia. Tree House Books and Rock to the Future, past Impact100 grantees, also participated as well as Philadelphia City Council, who presented citations recognizing outstanding youth leaders and the collaborative work of participating organizations.

To find out more about Beyond the Bars, check out their website at https://beyondthebarsmusic.org.

(Isaiah Robinson’s quote is from The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania website)