Mid-City Community Music

Oscar* loved playing snare drum in his school band. Even though he attended high school in City Heights, one of the most economically challenged neighborhoods in San Diego county, he was on the varsity wrestling team and had plans to attend San Diego State. That all changed when his best friend joined a gang. Oscar found himself in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and ended up in the juvenile court  school system (JCCS) away from his friends and classmates.

At first he was so upset he wouldn’t even participate at his new school. He lost interest in his classes, especially without any of the things he loved, like arts, sports, or extracurricular activities. Things changed for the better when he found MCCM’s after-school Arts Lounge. It was a place he could relax, practice drums, have a slice of pizza, and socialize with new friends. 

Oscar was on track to get back on his feet when Covid-19 shut down all in-person classes and yet again he was left without the arts programs he had come to rely on. There have been more challenges than ever before as students are left without instruments and art supplies.

Enter MCCM’s online program.

Our teaching artists are doing an amazing job keeping students engaged online by weaving themes of nature, science, and current events into each art and music workshop. The students are playing music on homemade instruments, writing poems, sharing videos, and representing their communities through art. 

Unfortunately like so many other organizations, MCCM’s program income has dropped considerably during the pandemic, while our fixed costs, like rent and utilities, have stayed the same. We’ve invested considerable resources into adapting our programs to the new normal so that MCCM can continue to fulfill its mission of bringing music and art education to those in San Diego who wouldn’t otherwise have access. 

We need your help more than ever to continue the programs that help kids like Oscar get their lives back on track!


Where Your Donation Goes 

$35 - Half-hour lesson for one at-need youth
- Your Name Listed on Website

$60 - Full-hour lesson for one at-need youth
- Your Name listed on Website
- Your Name listed in MCCM Newsletter

$120 - Four half-hour lessons for one at-need youth
- Your Name listed on Website
- Your Name listed in MCCM Newsletter
- MCCM Mug

$300 - Beginner guitar kit for one at-need youth 
- Your Name listed on Website
- Your Name listed in MCCM Newsletter
- MCCM Mug
- MCCM Tote Bag

$600 - Ten-week scholarship (full hour lessons) for one at-need youth
- Your Name listed on Website
- Your Name listed in MCCM Newsletter
- MCCM Mug
- MCCM Tote Bag
- Invitation to MCCM summer beach barbeque**

$1200 - Underwrite a ten-week after-school workshop series for ten at-need youth 
- Your Name listed on Website
- Your Name listed in MCCM Newsletter
- MCCM Mug
- MCCM Tote Bag
- Seat of honor at MCCM summer beach barbeque**

* The student’s name has been changed for privacy.
** More details will be released pending social distancing regulations in 2021