Episode Summary:
Ten years. Hundreds of young artists. And a community that shows up. Executive Director Olisa Enrico joins hosts Alysse Bryson and Libby Sundgren with youth artists Maia Gaia and Sonatta to unpack The Residency’s journey from a two-week summer intensive partnering with MoPOP/Arts Corps and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to a year-round 501(c)(3) that serves 300–400 youth annually — plus the capital-campaign dream of a permanent home. We talk stage presence, business skills, community and what it means to throw down for a decade of impact in Seattle.
Takeaways:
•The Residency grew from a 2-week program to a 4-week intensive with 45 artists, then expanded year-round.
•In 2020, The Residency became an independent 501(c)(3) and rapidly pivoted to online programming to keep community connected.
•Today the org serves ~300–400 youth annually across intensives, workshops, performance opps and leadership programs.
•Across ten years, ~400–500 unduplicated young people have come through the program.
•“Who controls the narrative, controls the world” — youth voice and community collaboration sit at the center of the mission.
Timestamps:
[02:20] Meet Executive Director Olisa Enrico; introducing youth artists Maia Gaia & Sonatta.
[04:39] Origin story: MoPOP/Arts Corps + Macklemore & Ryan Lewis → from 2 to 4 weeks.
[06:07] Becoming a 501(c)(3) in 2020 and the Zoom-era pivot.
[07:42] Scale today: 300–400 youth/year; gateway via Summer Intensive.
[22:23] Sankofa: looking back to move forward; why narrative control matters.
[34:35] How to support + Nov. 2025 10-year celebration invite; tickets at theresidencyseattle.org.
Resources & Links:
-The Residency: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook
-Event: An Evening with The Residency: Celebrating 10 Years
-Olisa Enrico: LinkedIn
-Maia Gaia: LinkedIn, Instagram, Depop
-Sonatta: Instagram
-Alysse & Libby: Bios & LinkedIn
Connect with Us:
-Website: www.beatsworkingpodcast.com
-LinkedIn: @BEATS WORKING Show
-Instagram: @beatsworkingshow
-Facebook: @Beats Working Show
-YouTube: @BEATSWORKINGPODCAST
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Send Feedback:
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BEATS WORKING is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.
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Transcript
The following transcript is not certified. Although the transcription is largely accurate, in some cases it is incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors. The information contained within this document is for general information purposes only.
00:00:00:00 – 00:00:14:13
Alysse Bryson
Oh, sorry. We have to do all that again. I don’t know if you’ve picked up on this. We’re not, like, super professional podcasters here. It’s very weird that we’re getting paid to do this, but I love that. All right. Are there any other questions?
00:00:14:18 – 00:00:15:20
Olisa Enrico
I’m ready to make some mistakes.
00:00:15:21 – 00:00:18:18
Alysse Bryson
Ready? Do it. Let’s make mistakes at full speed.
00:00:18:23 – 00:00:40:23
Olisa Enrico
You’re supposed to do a vocal warm up. So first, let’s send her yourself the best you can. We’re going to take two deep breaths. Square breaths. The ground. Here we go. Inhale. Hold it. Exhale. Blow through your lips.
00:00:41:00 – 00:00:46:19
Olisa Enrico
The mechanical reason by blowing through your lip is you cannot be tense and make that sound.
00:00:46:22 – 00:01:08:23
Alysse Bryson
Puka. If you could just be available for us for five minutes before every recording. I think that would make. Thank you very much for your help with that. Okay, now I think we can do this again. Welcome back to Beats Working winning the game of events where we celebrate the people and the moments that make community magic happen.
00:01:08:23 – 00:01:42:15
00:01:42:15 – 00:02:20:00
Alysse Bryson
Today we are diving into a decade of impact, rhythm and resilience with the residency, a Seattle based program that’s been transforming young lives through music for ten years. That’s right, a full decade. Joining us today is Alisa Enrico, executive director of the residency. Alisa is a multidisciplinary artist, educator and cultural leader dedicated to community empowerment through hip hop, ritual, theater and social justice.
00:02:20:02 – 00:02:50:11
Alysse Bryson
As Executive director, she’s carrying forward a decades long legacy of uplifting young artists with the tools to thrive creatively and professionally. Her work lives at the intersection of art, culture and justice, building spaces where equity, creativity and belonging lead the way. Welcome to the show and you are not here by yourself. Libby, would you like to introduce our our youth guests today?
00:02:50:13 – 00:03:09:14
Libby Sundgren
Absolutely. Most important job of the episode. Joining us are two amazing voices from the residency community. Maya, Gaia and Sonata, both young artists who found their rhythm and their voice through this incredible program. Welcome.
00:03:09:16 – 00:03:10:08
Olisa Enrico
Thank you.
00:03:10:11 – 00:03:39:22
Alysse Bryson
This is going to be so exciting. We’re going to hear how the residency grew from a small summer hip hop program way back in the day, into a citywide movement that empowers hundreds of young artists, and proving that when art meets access, community thrives. I am ready to get into it. So, Alisa, how long you’re newer to the residency?
00:03:39:23 – 00:03:42:15
Alysse Bryson
New ish. New ish to the resonate.
00:03:42:17 – 00:04:05:17
Olisa Enrico
C not so. I actually, have been with the residency as a teaching artist since the very first year I came in as a special guest with a focus on, stage presence. I did a workshop master class, and then I came the next year as a teaching artist vocal track, and stayed as a teaching artist through 2021.
00:04:05:19 – 00:04:25:01
Olisa Enrico
Okay, Covid online years. I went off and did some admin growth at life and then the call came for a new executive director, and I read the job description and felt like I was being called back. So I put my hat in the ring and there you go.
00:04:25:07 – 00:04:39:12
Alysse Bryson
Here I am. Here you are. Full circle. I love that. I love that. How can you give us a little synopsis of how the program has evolved since the early days into the powerhouse that it is today?
00:04:39:14 – 00:05:10:21
Olisa Enrico
Yes, indeed. So it started as a two week intensive with a small cohort, two teaching artists, and a partnership between Mopop Arts core and, back then it was Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ticket. Was the call. And together, this dream of what did I want when I was young coming up as an MC, coming up as an artist.
00:05:10:23 – 00:05:35:19
Olisa Enrico
What would have been so dope to have manifested itself? And it was so amazing. They did their final performance at Mopop that they were like, okay, let’s do it again. Let’s expand it. And we moved to four weeks, went to 45 artists from a small cohort of ten and rock like that. As a summer program under Arts Core as a fiscal sponsor.
00:05:35:21 – 00:06:02:08
Olisa Enrico
Time moved and we grew and we began to do year round happenings, parties, gatherings, shows to feature our young artists at the different spaces of their their growth. And throughout the year, we call them satellite shows back then and in 2020. This was all happening late 2019, but right at the height of Covid, we are 2020 is like a Kiwi year.
00:06:02:08 – 00:06:03:08
Olisa Enrico
You know, you’re like, oh.
00:06:03:10 – 00:06:07:11
Alysse Bryson
Yeah, we all just kind of flinch. We all just kind of like, oh.
00:06:07:13 – 00:06:29:15
Olisa Enrico
But that’s when we actually became our own. 523 was in 2020 and really focused on building the year round programing. And that was happening just as Covid hit. So we moved online like everyone did, and we made sure that our our young folks, our artists, our community, our teaching artists had a way to gather and quickly move in zoom.
00:06:29:15 – 00:07:10:21
Olisa Enrico
We had online like freestyle sessions and beat, listening parties and, online classes. We moved back to in-person 22, 23. And then, here we are now on the precipice of searching for our own home, having full year round programing that’s intense with our largest staff of five full time folks all new this year. It’s a lot we’re building so beautifully and seeking synergy in the work and realigning our our mission and vision and values to make sure that we’re repping, hip hop and rap in the young artists the best way possible that we can.
00:07:10:23 – 00:07:12:13
Alysse Bryson
That’s it. That’s all. That’s all you got.
00:07:12:15 – 00:07:14:18
Olisa Enrico
So let’s you changing.
00:07:14:18 – 00:07:16:01
Libby Sundgren
Lives, changing the.
00:07:16:01 – 00:07:19:11
Olisa Enrico
World. Now bands go, you go.
00:07:19:13 – 00:07:42:06
Libby Sundgren
How many youth are. And my guy and Sonata. I do have specific questions for you, but, Alyssa, how many youth does the residency serve in a year? I mean, I’m sure it can change depending on, you know, programs and where where, you know, kids are at with their lives and but how many?
00:07:42:08 – 00:08:11:08
Olisa Enrico
I would say any, depending on how you count it. So I’m not I’m duplicating right now right in my head. But through our programs, anywhere between 300 to 400, it’s been a performance opportunity program, between our workshops, between Summer Intensive Youth Leadership Council and all of the other things that we do. And of course, that’s not like if Maya comes to this and then comes to that, I’m not.
00:08:11:08 – 00:08:15:21
Olisa Enrico
And duplicating that, that’s just a larger number. Yeah, that’s so often.
00:08:15:23 – 00:08:22:23
Alysse Bryson
Do you have the ballpark number of how many students have been through the program in the full ten years?
00:08:23:04 – 00:08:28:00
Olisa Enrico
Yeah. So you’re talking about about almost 500.
00:08:28:02 – 00:08:28:23
Alysse Bryson
That’s incredible.
00:08:29:00 – 00:08:51:04
Olisa Enrico
I would say between 4 and 500. And that would be really close to Unduplicated. We have some folks like Maya. I think this is your second year or third year after year. Yeah, yeah, third year this year. So we have folks who do come back multiple times. The summer intensive and summer intensive is like our gateway into the program.
00:08:51:04 – 00:08:56:21
Olisa Enrico
You come in and then from that you gain access to all the other work that we do.
00:08:56:23 – 00:09:09:07
Alysse Bryson
All right, Maya Gaya and Sonata. I would love to hear from each of you. When did the residency. When? When did you become aware of it? And then when did you know that you wanted to be a part of it?
00:09:09:07 – 00:09:32:22
Olisa Enrico
I became aware of the residency, so I had a friend who did it, and with me too. And I went to his showcase. And it was funny because like, I, one of my classmates also did the residency. I had no idea he produced. He actually produced my first single, like during after 2022. So 2023 was the first year I joined, but I was aware of residency since 2022.
00:09:32:22 – 00:09:52:16
Maio Gaiia
And then yeah, every summer I just kept coming back. I want to say it was really after its like the first summer I joined and I was like, oh wait, I like music, I can do this. And it’s actually a funny story, so I think I’ll tell it. Oh yes, please, you play, but I have a younger brother.
00:09:52:18 – 00:10:18:17
Maio Gaiia
He is 16, is turning 17. He does music. He’s a writer. He’s like really freestyler, really good at just language and words. And because my friend did the program that first in 2022, 2023, I was like, okay, let me bring my brother to audition for this amazing, like opportunity and music program. I had already been doing nonprofit work with other nonprofits for women like Young Women Empowerment or Powerful Voices.
00:10:18:17 – 00:10:32:16
Maio Gaiia
The center, young black and brown women. And I was like, that was my space. You know, I didn’t really think of me as like a musician, but my I thought my, my brother is that. And so I just took him to this audition and he goes and then after his audition, he’s like, yeah, my sister does music too.
00:10:32:17 – 00:10:48:05
Maio Gaiia
She’s like, she’s so fire. You know, I’ve been telling her she should audition. And at this point I’ve been like, I think it was my senior year of high school. I spent my junior year, my senior year just like hanging out with my cousin. And we were just like, right together. I called her house after school and we were just like, right.
00:10:48:07 – 00:10:57:17
Maio Gaiia
You know, that was just. And she would do my hair. That was that would be the vibe. But yeah, I was like, fine. I ended up auditioning like crazy song.
00:10:57:22 – 00:10:58:18
Alysse Bryson
Raunchy.
00:10:58:22 – 00:11:18:14
Maio Gaiia
Raunchiness like, I really didn’t have an identity. It was really just me having fun. And so then, yeah, I did it. And then I’ve been a part of the community, and that’s when I was like, wait, I’m good at this. It’s not just like a talent. It’s like, I think it’s like knowing the business of things, too, and like thinking of, like marketing.
00:11:18:16 – 00:11:26:18
Maio Gaiia
That was after the second year I realized like, oh wait, I can actually apply this to my life. And yeah, I’ve been doing it since June.
00:11:26:18 – 00:11:29:21
Maio Gaiia
That’s all thanks to that little brother hype man.
00:11:29:23 – 00:11:33:15
Alysse Bryson
Yeah. Everybody needs a little brother hype man.
00:11:33:17 – 00:11:53:07
Cameron Simons
So I came to the residency I first saw the 2023 showcase because a producer named audit was in the 23. And he kind of brought me and some of his friends along to just kind of see what it was. And from there I was just kind of like, okay, that’s different. I’ve never recorded music before, like that kind of time.
00:11:53:09 – 00:12:13:22
Cameron Simons
So I started getting into recording and like learning how to sing again, kind of with the residency in mind, because it was such a cool thing to really see from, like the audience perspective and like, I couldn’t even imagine how it was on stage. And so, from there, I kind of worked my way up to songwriting and getting pretty good at my craft.
00:12:13:22 – 00:12:34:04
Libby Sundgren
And creating a little bit of an identity for myself. And then the 2024 year came around, and that’s when a lot of the people in the residency figured out that I could play trumpet. Before I had done the intensive, I actually had the opportunity of performing with the residency. So it was one of those like where scenarios where you’re able to do that.
00:12:34:04 – 00:12:54:21
Cameron Simons
And it was for the, then were a whole show last year. I was the trumpet player in the house band. So that was really crazy experience. And I just kind of kept contact with people, kept showing up, kept saying hi, showing my face at events, going to workshops. And then I was able to participate in the 25 intensive.
00:12:54:23 – 00:13:19:01
Cameron Simons
And from there, now I’m able to release my first EP. After writing like a crazy song. But that’s all that it really is. A lot of it. Thanks to the residency. I mean, that program existing is what pushed me to get into creating music in that way, because I didn’t think myself like, oh, I can never record. That’s like, great people do that.
00:13:19:01 – 00:13:29:10
Libby Sundgren
That’s not me. But, yeah. And then the Memorial Hall show. Crazy experience. I still haven’t processed it yet. So yeah, it was really through Mutual’s so Sonata.
00:13:29:10 – 00:13:51:02
Alysse Bryson
I want to know, like because I was there at Ben Roya Hall and, I got to know, like, how did that feel to walk out on the stage at Ben or Roya, like the view from the stage, facing out and then not to mention being full of people, like, how did that feel? It gives me the goosebumps just thinking about it.
00:13:51:04 – 00:14:12:01
Cameron Simons
It was, I guess is little surreal experience I’ve ever had stepping on onto a stage because I’ve been where Hall was like the Palace of music for me. I had went to so many Seattle Symphony shows and like getting out there. I thought I was going to be like, nervous. I’m going to throw up on stage. I’m going to ruin this show.
00:14:12:03 – 00:14:33:11
Cameron Simons
I had that opening solo when we were doing the instrumental for all Right by Kendrick Lamar, and I’m just like, I’m going to bomb this solo so bad. But like getting out there and seeing all those people there to support you and then support everyone around you and that community, the feeling was like unlike anything I could ever really say, I guess if that makes sense.
00:14:33:14 – 00:14:49:13
Cameron Simons
But you just get like a rush of energy and just like joy entirely, and you’re just like, okay, you know what? I can do this deep breath, and then we just go for it there. It was like literal chills getting on to that stage.
00:14:49:15 – 00:15:38:01
Libby Sundgren
I love it, both of you. You know that the residency really changed this idea that you had about your own relationship and ability when it came, when it comes to music and musicality and you know what you are really capable of in that realm, what else do you feel like the residency has developed or grown in you? Aside from those things which are very important, but I feel like this program, you know, all of the programs associated with, with the residency really seem to develop other parts of of the individual as well.
00:15:38:03 – 00:16:07:11
Maio Gaiia
I mean, yeah, like this program, it’s like there’s so many parts of it that you can take away without even like realizing like, oh, I didn’t know I was going going in here to like, prepare myself for, you know, like how to have stage presence or even, like I mentioned earlier, like the business of music. I’m in school right now for fashion, and I’ve been just really with like between my music and fashion, it’s like you really do kind of you’re able to see how certain things line up.
00:16:07:11 – 00:16:47:00
Maio Gaiia
And for me, it’s just been like, you know, like marketing and the branding and the business, it’s like there truly is it’s a duality when it comes to all things. And I think the residency has shown me there are so many ways to go about your music and your artistry. And even just like with like resource wise too, it’s like you can either choose to garden those relationships and those connections and, you know, pay a producer to go, or you can invest in your own soul so they really do get like, you know, for studio equipment and things like they really do give you a lot of resources and ideas even, and more specifically like
00:16:47:00 – 00:17:07:18
Maio Gaiia
back to back to gardening, those relationships. I do feel like the residency has like put so many important people in my life from like Elisa to live and DJs to, you know, youth like Sonata. Come on and who else like Joy and Kenzi and all the people who I can’t name right now. But yeah, like, they really they place these people in our lives.
00:17:07:18 – 00:17:30:02
Maio Gaiia
And it’s one of those things where it’s like, they didn’t come. I didn’t like meet these people for no reason, you know, like, I need to be intentional and harness those relationships. And it’s yeah, it’s interesting and it’s weird, like experiencing it, you know, it’s like first you think it as a kid and like, I wonder how that person, like, you know, is everywhere and, you know, knows all these people, and then you’re finally like.
00:17:30:04 – 00:17:30:17
Maio Gaiia
And the position.
00:17:30:17 – 00:17:32:01
Maio Gaiia
It’s like, wait, because I care about all these.
00:17:32:01 – 00:17:41:15
Maio Gaiia
People, you know, and they’re coming. So yeah, residency has offered a lot and yeah, just clarity with the process.
00:17:41:17 – 00:17:43:18
Libby Sundgren
I love that. What about you, Sonata?
00:17:43:20 – 00:18:07:00
Cameron Simons
Definitely the business side of music. I think that’s a side a lot of artists try to ignore because it’s that daunting thing, that we have to think about because then you have taxes, write offs and all that stuff, and they really put it into a nutshell that’s really easy to understand and also build upon. And then the other thing too, is just the community that they teach you to get involved with.
00:18:07:03 – 00:18:29:09
Cameron Simons
I was the most unsocial person for a very long time. I didn’t know how to make friends, I didn’t know how to talk to people. But going to residency events and being able to have that like mindedness, or as I think, I think it was merciless. It was like, rip your cool card and like throw it away. And I think that made people willing to actually engage with each other.
00:18:29:10 – 00:19:09:13
Cameron Simons
And it teaches you to be one social. It teaches you the importance of business, knowing your craft and using that craft to like the, most Kimberly it can be. And then on top of that family, the importance of family, knowing your connections, building your connections even outside of the residency, and keeping those and really using those to drive you forward in your artistry, your music, and you as a person, especially in this world where we have something called the Seattle Freeze, and that really can make it hard to want to go out there and contact people and talk to people.
00:19:09:15 – 00:19:23:21
Cameron Simons
But it really builds character as well. There’s the intensive. It is called intensive for a reason, but there’s a lot of character building that you have to go through if you want to create the best music for the showcase. At the end of those four weeks.
00:19:23:23 – 00:19:34:13
Alysse Bryson
Melissa, I just can’t help but sit here and think, like, how cool your job is that you get a role with young adults like this?
00:19:34:15 – 00:20:12:05
Olisa Enrico
Yeah, it, you know, my my journey in youth development has been long from when it was peer to peer tutoring in high school to now. And the one thing I’ve always known from the time I was a young artist in In the Shoes without any support to now, is that the youth of the truth? I am only here for so long, and if I am not connected to my elders and to those who are the next generation coming and looking seven generations beyond, then I’m not doing my job as a human being on this planet.
00:20:12:07 – 00:20:59:18
Olisa Enrico
And if I can share what I know, then that makes me a complete human being. I’ve gained all of this information and knowledge through experience and training and what is it if it just sits inside me? It’s nothing, you know, but supporting, you know, nada. On maybe feeling more comfortable rapping or, or, you know, encouraging my ear to sing more or whatever it is to build who you are as a human being on this planet and how it show up, how you want to show up, whether it’s on stage, off stage and a zoom call, or just with your people that you can believe in something and stand something and you come with
00:20:59:18 – 00:21:14:22
Olisa Enrico
knowledge. It’s a beautiful it’s it’s a beautiful existence to both have a job and love your work. You know, not everybody has that privilege in life, so I feel blessed. I feel I feel blessed every day.
00:21:15:00 – 00:21:39:09
Alysse Bryson
I mean, that’s part of the ethos of the name of this podcast. Beats working right? Like this beats working like when you love what you do. It’s not working. It’s it’s something else. But it’s not. It’s not working. Even though I know that everybody on this call has an an and an insanely, hard work ethic, that that’s obvious.
00:21:39:09 – 00:21:53:03
Alysse Bryson
That’s obvious. You know, this year’s celebration marks a full decade of impact. Like, that’s a lot of ripple effects that have been happening. What does the this milestone mean for you and the team?
00:21:53:06 – 00:21:59:14
Olisa Enrico
Oh, wow. You know, ten years.
00:21:59:15 – 00:22:23:19
Olisa Enrico
Looking back, you know, I look at my daughter, she’s about to be ten years old, and I was pregnant with her when I came for the, teach the master class, in the very first year. And, looking how much she’s grown as a measuring stick to what it means to have a decade on this planet and decade of impact, a decade of learning.
00:22:23:21 – 00:22:51:10
Olisa Enrico
And we have learned so much, and we are excited to look back, to move forward. There’s this, principal called Sankofa in the West African traditions that you look back to know how to move forward and to be here at this time together in such a monumental time in history, in hip hop, in the city, you know, everything that’s going on.
00:22:51:12 – 00:23:23:17
Olisa Enrico
Who controls the narrative, controls the world. And our young folks have narratives to share, you know, and I say that as far as like experience but also looking forward to how the world should be, the imagination, the conceptualization of what we can be, the possibilities of humanity. And to be able to do that to the the genius of hip hop and community is it’s it’s it’s huge.
00:23:23:17 – 00:23:42:19
Olisa Enrico
It’s beautiful to say, okay, this is where we are, this is where we’ve been and this is where we’re going. Let’s go together. And the best way that we can and so I it’s hard to measure what it means, but, I’m ready to throw down on on November 20th. Let me tell you that much. I’m excited for the lineup.
00:23:42:21 – 00:23:58:13
Olisa Enrico
I’m excited that we get to highlight teaching artists over the years that we’re going to have recent alumni and also folks from the first cohort all the way through. So we’re going to have ten years representing, and I am super excited about it.
00:23:58:15 – 00:24:05:08
Libby Sundgren
How are you going to fit all that into one event? I just feel like that could be a it’s a long festival or something.
00:24:05:10 – 00:24:10:10
Olisa Enrico
Oh, that would be so dope. But, Jace is working on the lineup, so.
00:24:10:12 – 00:24:13:05
Alysse Bryson
Jace, no pressure, no pressure. Jace.
00:24:13:06 – 00:24:33:02
Olisa Enrico
Yeah. Okay, so having flow in and from the beginning to the end, we’ll be collaborating because we know that it’s to collaboration that that chain genius. It can be shared. It’s also through collaboration of time that we can make it through everything in a in a short program. I think it’s going to be like a 90 minute to 2 hours.
00:24:33:02 – 00:24:55:05
Olisa Enrico
So it’ll flow, it’ll grow, it’ll climax, we’ll do everything we need to do and we’ll be so tired the next day when I send out my thank you emails and my oh my God posts. And we did that because I can feel it already. You know, it’s a lot of work and we love it. It’s work. We love.
00:24:55:07 – 00:25:09:03
Alysse Bryson
You know, producing events like this takes creativity. It takes coordination. What have you learned along the way about blending artistry with the actual logistics? Like, this is the heart of the hustle, right.
00:25:09:05 – 00:25:30:05
Olisa Enrico
Well, one of the biggest things that I’m learning is that our community folks like you, Elise and Libby, the people who have been around and unseen but who keep showing up and believe in the mission and it’s bigger than just the face. It’s bigger than the people who work every day. There’s a whole village of folks.
00:25:30:05 – 00:25:50:00
Olisa Enrico
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a a community to build a residency. And I am reminded of that every time we meet, every time something is done, how folks show up like this is not something you do alone. You’re never alone. And there’s not one person can claim that they did it.
00:25:50:02 – 00:26:16:22
Olisa Enrico
We, it’s a we, it’s in us. And that is you know I come from the theater world and even a solo show, you’re in collaboration and theater and that is reinforced every event, every production, every, performance. Everything that we do is that it’s a community of folks that we need to get things done. It’s the biggest lesson.
00:26:17:00 – 00:26:18:10
Olisa Enrico
Reinforcement.
00:26:18:12 – 00:26:43:15
Alysse Bryson
How do alumni and mentors and youth like like Maya and like Sonata, how do they play a role in not only shaping what’s about to happen in November, but like what’s about to happen in the next decade, right? You got a decade behind you. Like you’re just getting warmed up, like let’s go. How how do what does that look like?
00:26:43:16 – 00:27:04:11
Olisa Enrico
So we have recently actually, Maya was one of the first, cohort of the Youth Leadership Council. Yeah. And I know we just starting again with a new cohort. Maya. You’re on that as well, right? Yeah. I’m. I’m so grateful. I meant to mention that in my journey, I’m also a part of the the first, the technically first cohort.
00:27:04:16 – 00:27:32:03
Olisa Enrico
Because at first it was a pilot. And now this is like we’re doing it. So having a small group of dedicated young artists who will be not only planning our what used to be called our satellite shows, we’re looking for a good name, if you have one, I don’t. The word satellite don’t stay with me too well, but, right now, they’re planning the winter show and the spring show, and we’re super excited to have that.
00:27:32:03 – 00:27:49:15
Olisa Enrico
And then they also are able to give their input as a cohort. We also hold community community sessions where we invite all alumni to come. We had one last year and give their input on what they want to see, programs they want to see. We do at the beginning of each year. What do you what do you want to sign up for?
00:27:49:15 – 00:28:11:00
Olisa Enrico
What do you need? And we build our programing around that also. They’ll be they have put in and will continue to put in as we’re launching our capital campaign to get a home for the residency on what it should have, what it should look like, how it should feel. And so they’ve been a part of that conversation as well.
00:28:11:02 – 00:28:37:00
Olisa Enrico
And, you know, we have an amazing program director, Jace, who is also connects very much with the youth. That’s his strong space and knows everybody who’s been through, he’s been a teaching artist since the first year, just like me as well. And he is very good about collecting youth voice and input into all that we do.
00:28:37:02 – 00:29:07:12
Maio Gaiia
So I’m thankful for that. As far as a team. And, one thing we remind ourself is that they are the mission. We are just the stewards. So if they don’t have their voice in the circle, then we’re missing it. We’re missing it. I think you’re capturing it. I think also like the residency is truly setting us up, like, again, even with fashion, like, as I’m learning about, like, the cycle of the world and like, history and the things we experience, we’re in a very pivotal time right now.
00:29:07:12 – 00:29:32:20
Maio Gaiia
We’re in a time where people are. I mean, we also have like, hello, like virtual reality here, you know, like we’re able to escape what’s in real life and hop on the screen. And so if we are finding like comfort in that VR, then it is also helpful to have sounds and frequencies and music and communities that are enforcing like, like community and togetherness and, and good vibes.
00:29:32:22 – 00:29:52:22
Olisa Enrico
And I think the residency is really like setting us up with those resources and like you said, like setting them the world up to hear our narratives. Like, you know, I’m really excited. It’s scary, but it’s exciting. You know, I say one other thing. We have our first youth board member, that got brought on this year. Ivana is on a gala.
00:29:52:22 – 00:30:23:03
Olisa Enrico
She actually was in the very first year of the residency. She did several years. She started when she was 13 because back then we serve 13 to 19. Our ages have shift over the years. And, she has joined us as our youth leadership coordinator. And as our, first youth representative on our board of directors. So we’re super excited about that, structural change to have youth represented on our board have youth voice.
00:30:23:03 – 00:30:54:06
Libby Sundgren
So that’s what I think is one of the things that makes the residency. So unique and just such a really incredible organization is that you are yes. You are teaching young adults, you’re teaching the community, but you’re also, you know, it’s like a symbiotic system, like you’re learning and you’re telling the community, like, look what we can learn from these people.
00:30:54:06 – 00:31:22:21
Libby Sundgren
You know, we shouldn’t, you know, you can’t write somebody off because they’re in a different generation than you, and you think you know more than them. Like, we can really learn so much from, you know, from from everybody. And, you know, there aren’t a lot of places where young adults and, and young people get the opportunity to share their voice and you know, what is important to them.
00:31:22:21 – 00:31:39:05
Libby Sundgren
So I’ll say, all right, well, before we wrap up, where can people get tickets? How can they get involved if they can’t go to the event, but they still want to do something for the residency where what what what’s there for them?
00:31:39:07 – 00:32:06:03
Olisa Enrico
Okay. So our website, the residency seattle.org ticket link right at the top. And we’re also building a new website. It’s going to be gorgeous. I’m so excited. That’s going to be launched in a couple weeks. So but you can go right there to the home page to get tickets. We are almost sold out. We have a community ticket link and then we still have tickets for there’s a code.
00:32:06:03 – 00:32:24:22
Olisa Enrico
It’s a, more affordable ticket. It’s like 50 bucks with all the fees and everything that come when you buy a concert ticket. There’s a code community. That’s the code. And then if you can’t make it to I know complex where genius. Where genius.
00:32:24:22 – 00:32:27:02
Alysse Bryson
How long did it take for you guys to come up with that?
00:32:27:03 – 00:32:48:03
Olisa Enrico
That’s that’s, again, a good 10s a good 10s a long time. And so the community code get ticket there. I think we have a few extra general. If you can’t get a ticket for some reason, you really want to be there. Hit me up my emails on the website. And we’ll figure it out. We have a volunteer form.
00:32:48:07 – 00:33:04:17
Olisa Enrico
We do need volunteers for day off, so that’s a great way to get to the show. We have a lot of volunteer slots available, and then if you can’t come to the show a great way is just send me your contact and, I will just meet with you and talk and see how you want to fit into the community.
00:33:04:19 – 00:33:09:15
Olisa Enrico
And of course, we always take money. There’s a donate button on our website because we live in this world.
00:33:09:19 – 00:33:16:01
Libby Sundgren
Yeah, and the residency needs a home. So let’s get a home.
00:33:16:03 – 00:33:25:20
Olisa Enrico
Yes. And a little space to an Instagram. Thank you. I gave you the link. I don’t know, it’s like the residency Seattle I think. Oh yeah, I.
00:33:25:20 – 00:33:28:11
Libby Sundgren
Can find it. I’ll link it in the show now. Yeah.
00:33:28:16 – 00:33:46:04
Olisa Enrico
I got so many apps in my brain. So, so many links and so many apps. But, another thing is just show up when you can, how you can fit in, who you are. You know, you’re welcome. Come as you are. Just always a reminder.
00:33:46:06 – 00:33:49:13
Libby Sundgren
I love that show up as you are. Just come as you are.
00:33:49:15 – 00:34:12:03
Alysse Bryson
That’s nice. I think that’s exactly it. Like it’s like not everybody has, you know, deep pockets to make deep donations. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get involved. There are so many little places that you can that you can slide into to get involved and make a difference. And like after listening to these two lovely young ladies today, like, how do you not want to support this organization?
00:34:12:03 – 00:34:31:12
Alysse Bryson
Like, I’m just so astounded at, some of the wisdom that you’re dropping on the things that you’re learning that are like real life skills that are going to take you to where you’re going to end up being in your lives professionally and personally. I just think it’s so, so very cool.
00:34:31:14 – 00:34:35:17
Olisa Enrico
And thank you so much for having us. And we appreciate you.
00:34:35:19 – 00:35:01:18
Libby Sundgren
Thank you all for being here and for joining us and reminding us what it really means to lead with heart. All right. If you want to learn more or get involved, you can visit the Residency seattle.org. Link in it in the show notes. And if you’re in Seattle this November, November 20th, please come celebrate ten years of making music and art matter.
00:35:01:20 – 00:35:15:18
Libby Sundgren
That is it for this episode of Beats Working. If you’ve got an idea or you want to reach out, just email us at info at Beats Working Dot show. Remember that every detail matters, every moment counts. And no matter what, the show must go on.
