BuildaBridge’s instructors, Alex Farr (green hat), helping students learn how to produce music. (Photo courtesy of Debbie Fortune.)

The ‘Music Studio’ at Lonnie Young Recreation Center continues to expand steadily, offering a wide range of interactive lessons and activities that impact both local youth and adults.

Made possible through the partnership between Lonnie Young, BuildaBridge, and community organizer Debbie Fortune, the program’s sessions have provided a space for individuals to grow technical music-making skills, as well as character growth and healing.

“I’m going to continue what holds most dear to me,” Fortune said. “If [kids] come to me and ask ‘Ms. Debbie, can we do this, can we do that,’ I’m not going to say no; I’m going to find a way to make it happen.”

“That means that child is reaching out for help and wants a safe haven,” Fortune exclaimed.

Attendees are able to engage in many different studio components, such as drumming, beat-making, sound mixing and engineering, songwriting, keyboard playing, recording, dancing, photography, and videography, guided by BuildaBridge.

BuildaBridge is a non-profit organization that uses artistic initiatives to help heal children and communities while maintaining an emphasis on teaching self-efficacy, and they provide experienced instructors to lead these sessions.

The program is free, and sessions take place on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Even with mostly youth and young adult members, all ages are welcome, and the program promotes connectivity between all age groups when making music.

“I’m doing what the youth wants while also accommodating adults and seniors; there’s no age limit,” Fortune said. “On Monday, I ended up having three adults show up that wanted to learn how to play the drums.”

Before the program developed into what it is today, it began as a vision from Debbie Fortune to form an environment where young people in Germantown can come together and be productive in discovering their passions. She began the program in September 2024 after years of communication and preparation.

“I went over to the recreation center, introduced myself to the director, Damon Cunningham, and when I found out they didn’t have an advisory board up and running, I said, ‘As of here and now, you have one,” Fortune said. 

Two years prior to the start of the music program, she began to survey the young people in the area through casual one-on-ones and discussions to determine what programming could be added to the center. Fortune realized that her then-teenage grandson, Zakeen, and other young folks were interested in producing and recording music but didn’t always have the convenient resources.

Fortune says these opportunities could “give them a better chance than just hanging around on the streets.”

Many people Fortune chatted with mentioned that they had to travel to various other parts of the city for studio sessions, which may either be too expensive or are available too late at night in unfamiliar neighborhoods.

Fortune and her grandson then began taking music equipment, such as a drum set and keyboard, from their house to Lonnie Young’s playground and welcomed kids to join in. As they put the word out, meet-ups quickly started to gain traction throughout the summer. 

“When I started seeing that it was more than 15 people, I said, ‘OK, this is what it’s going to be,” Fortune said.

After contacting Councilwoman Cindy Bass and Senator Art Haywood, Fortune explained her vision and received their support as she applied for and received city grants. This enabled her to buy new and refined equipment to help form and start the music program in a space inside the recreation center.

Some of this equipment includes microphones, keyboards, speakers, controllers, and more. In addition to instruments and tools, students can learn music software programs like Logic Pro X, GarageBand, Fruity Loops, and BandLabs.

Haywood then introduced Fortune to Ami Yares, the Executive Director of BuildaBridge.

“If we can get people more familiar with [Lonnie Young] and what BuildaBridge does, we can really create a safe space for kids to engage their creativity and imagination,” Yares said, recognizing the recreation center as a community hub. 

“That will not only help them be better [artists], but the external stuff also takes place, such as self-esteem, cohesion, and community.”

In October, BuildaBridge began providing staffing for the sessions, helping the program operate with the guidance of experienced artists. This move also helped transform the studio into a haven that can teach different components of music creation to people of all ages.

Right now, there are currently 20 people registered with the Lonnie Young and BuildaBridge offerings.

“Like any program, it takes time to develop and time to develop the relationships with the community,” Yares said. “It used to be two to three kids coming to a session, and now it’s becoming five, six, seven.”

Songwriter and recording artist Alex Farr is another consistent program instructor who facilitates session activities, namely the aforementioned music software, songwriting, and drum circles.

“The main thing I found working here is helping [members] build confidence,” Farr said. ‘’That’s also something we’re trying to express and teach: collaboration, community, working together, and listening to each other, not just with music, but with all of the things that music teaches us.”

Zakeen Fortune, who is now 21, has been a member of the program since the very start and credits his new-found direction in creating his own music to BuildaBridge.

“They were definitely teaching me different softwares; I’ve never made a beat before [these sessions] and playing instruments and all that,” Zakeen said. “They opened up my eyes to other things than just going in the booth and rapping.”

He echoes other young people’s sentiments about insufficient opportunities to learn a skill and build a passion for music. He says these experiences are also beneficial in keeping folks on a good path. 

“At least going somewhere for a few hours can be better than just being outside and getting caught up,” Zakeen pointed out.

Tony Flagiello has been one of the main instructors from BuildaBridge, who has led drumming and music production activities and lessons. With over 30 years of background in music, indulging in rock, hip-hop, reggae, jazz, and more, he’s collaborated with different bands and has performed at various events.

Now in a stage of giving back, Flagiello made it known that they’re “just trying to keep building while creating music and opportunities for people to come in and work together on different things.” 

He hopes “everyone learns something every day they come here.”

To learn more about BuildaBridge, you can visit their website. For more information about Lonnie Young’s Music Studio sessions, visit their registration form.e better than just being outside and getting caught up,” Zakeen pointed out.

Tony Flagiello has been one of the main instructors from BuildaBridge, who has led drumming and music production activities and lessons. With over 30 years of background in music, indulging in rock, hip-hop, reggae, jazz, and more, he’s collaborated with different bands and has performed at various events.

Now in a stage of giving back, Flagiello made it known that they’re “just trying to keep building while creating music and opportunities for people to come in and work together on different things.” 

He hopes “everyone learns something every day they come here.”

To learn more about BuildaBridge, you can visit their website. For more information about Lonnie Young’s Music Studio sessions, visit their registration form.