Hi, my name is Adrian, and I’m a professional musician, producer, and DJ based in the Bay Area, California. Over the 15+ years, I’ve dedicated my life to using music as a force for connection, joy, and community. As the founder of Dance The Change, I’ve organized over 60 silent disco events, raising funds for local charities and bringing people together through the power of music. My journey has also taken me around the world with Remix The Earth, recording and collaborating with musicians in Morocco, Cuba, Colombia, and Brazil, and sharing those sounds with a global audience, creating compilation albums now available on Spotify & other online platforms.

This year, I’m embarking on a new mission: traveling to Kenya and Tanzania to empower youth through music. East Africa is home to an incredibly rich musical culture and a vibrant, creative generation of young people. Yet many face daily challenges—unstable housing, limited access to education, and few opportunities to pursue their dreams. I want to show up in person, with my music, laptop, DJ mixer, and heart, to teach, listen, learn, and support. I’ll be partnering with youth centers, local musicians, and community organizations to offer DJ and music production workshops, organize a Dance The Change music party with young new DJ's, and provide direct support to talented youth. My goal is to give young people practical skills, a stage to share their art, and the confidence to dream bigger.

Your support will help to build a humble music studio at a youth center in Nairobi that works with underprivileged youth. I will also give music production & DJ'ing lessons to the youth. After volunteering, I’ll also be pursuing a personal dream: summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 19,351 feet! This journey is about more than music or mountains—it’s about building bridges, creating hope, and showing what’s possible when we come together as a global community. Every donation, big or small, helps a young person discover & pursue their music career, as well as paying professional musicians to record in a studio for the upcoming Remix The Earth: Kenya compiliation album. Donations are not going towards me paying for Mt. Kilamanjaro tour (that's out of my own pocket). Thank you for being part of this movement!

Dance The Change: www.DanceTheChange.com

Remix The Earth: www.RemixTheEarth.com

Why Kenya & Tanzania?

East Africa has an incredibly rich musical culture and a huge population of young people — many of them talented, creative, and hungry to learn.

What I’ll Actually Do On This Trip ::

My goal is to travel to Kenya and Tanzania for about one month and partner with youth centers, local musicians, and community organizations to:

1. Build a humble music studio at a youth center in Nairobi. Supply them with 2 monitor speakers, headphones, an audio interface, midi device & DJ mixer.

2. Teach DJ & Music Production Workshops

Intro to DJing: beatmatching, song selection, transitions

Basics of music production: arranging beats, samples, and melodies

Sharing practical tips on how youth can use these skills to earn money at events, parties, and community gatherings. I will continue to give free online lessons & workshops to students after my trip is over as well.

3. Support Talented Youth

In addition to teaching and events, If more funds are donated then the goal... I want to directly give back in practical ways, such as:

Food, clothing, and basic supplies for youth

Supporting shelters or youth drop-in centers

Covering transport, school supplies, and other basic needs where it helps the most.

4. Build Ongoing Relationships

This isn’t a “one-and-done” trip. My intention is to:

Build relationships with trusted local organizations

Return in future years, if possible

Keep supporting from afar with online free lessons & workshops, mentorship, fundraising, and collaboration.

What Donors Receive (Beyond the Feel-Good)

This is not a product sale — but I do want to say thank you in meaningful ways:

Updates from the road with photos and short videos!

Stories of specific youth and groups we worked with (with respect and consent).

A recap video / mini-documentary when I return!

DJ mixes inspired by East African music and the journey

(See the detailed donor “thank-you tiers” below.)

❤️ Why This Matters

Music enhanced my life in many ways. It gave me belonging, identity, and a way to contribute. I have been fortunate to make music my career owning my own DJ business with a team of 10 DJ's here in Bay Area, California. Since 2012 it has been my career that has given me much joy & abundance, the ability to work 20hr work weeks. There are young people in Kenya and Tanzania with massive talent but no access — to gear, role models, or opportunities. I will be showing them my business model & mentoring them towards ways they can also build a career with music!

With your help, I can:

*Put actual DJ gear and knowledge directly in their hands!

*Create a stage where their voices and music are heard.

*After our goal is surpassed...more funds will help provide basic needs to youth who are sleeping on the streets or struggling to survive.

*Your donation multiplies into skills, community, and hope for young people in Africa who deserve to feel seen and supported.

How You Can Help ::

*Donate any amount that feels right for you.

*Share this campaign with your friends, family, and networks.

*Follow along as I post updates, photos, and videos from Kenya & Tanzania.

(If you can’t donate but can share, that support is huge too.

Thank you for believing in this mission and in the power of music to change lives.

— Adrian

"No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe."