Music on the Inside (MOTI) connects youth and adults impacted by incarceration with professional musicians as teachers and mentors to bring hope and healing through the transformative power of music.
" A program like Music on the Inside has given me sure proof that society has not counted us all out or as wasted talent.”
- Irv J. a participant in a MOTI prison music class
There are over 62,000 people incarcerated in prisons and jails in New York state alone. Each year, over 20,000 are released into our local communities, and nationally the number is much larger. While jobs and housing are primary needs, too few organizations focus on the basic life skills needed for success in reentry, and the recidivism rate is high. Over 43 percent return to prison within a year. Through the joy of music making, MOTI clients develop positive self-expression as well as focus, concentration, patience, and a sense of parity with others. All of society benefits when these individuals have support for new and better choices and, over our first 10 years, none of our participants have returned to prison.
To date, MOTI has delivered music education to 300+ justice-involved youth and adults in NYC jails and NY state prisons, reached 800+ incarcerated people with prison concerts, facilitated 20 - 30 instrument-specific mentorships for returning citizens, and presented over 80 “Musicians for Justice” in person and online concerts.
Our numbers
To date, MOTI has delivered music education to 300+ justice-involved youth and adults in NYC jails and NY state prisons, reached 800+ incarcerated people with prison concerts, facilitated 20 - 30 instrument-specific mentorships for returning citizens, and presented over 80 “Musicians for Justice” in person and online concerts.