Shameless

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I am on a mission to help young people find a sense of pride and empowerment in their self-image. This spring, I am producing a performance and a collaborative songwriting workshop for Chicago Public School students that gives voice to hidden feelings of shame, jealousy, comparison, and the need for perfection that so many of us have, and teaches fundamentals of moving beyond them. Having struggled myself with some of these issues as a professional performer, I feel it’s important to be a role model for young people to help overcome shame stigmas and develop an empowered sense of identity. In this workshop, I will incorporate my original music, live electronic looping, videos, and candid stories about my own experiences as a kid, as an adult, and as a woman in the music industry. I will lead open discussions and a free-write with the students that will help them express and work out their own experiences on this issue. At the end of the workshop, I will guide the students in collectively creating a short, original song based on our discussion. With funds donated toward this project, I will be able to produce the program at no cost to students or to Chicago Public Schools (CPS). I believe that the more our young people are empowered with hope and pride in who they are, the better off our world will be. I hope you will help me make this program a reality! 

About This Project

Over the past ten years, I have taught private voice lessons and songwriting workshops to middle school and high school students. I love the music component, but my favorite part of working with students has been talking to them about their wants, needs, hopes, and fears, and using music as a powerful source of expression and healing. Every time I work with students, I walk out feeling I want to do more of this. Now, with this project and the help of a co-producer, Michael Ingersoll, who can help connect me with CPS schools, I feel I’m ready to fully develop this idea.

This workshop will take place this spring in CPS middle schools and high schools during class time. We are working with the CPS arts program coordinator, who is placing us in various schools that don’t have a budget for arts programs but desperately need one. This will be at no cost to students and teachers. I would love to be able to reach as many students as possible with this project. The funds will go toward a PA speaker system, microphone, website, equipment, marketing, travel, and a yearly insurance premium, as well as fees to help support the facilitation led by myself and my co-producer.

This next generation of students is going to help shape the world we live in. The more we can encourage these young people to love themselves, find strength in vulnerability, and use therapeutic outlets like art, music, and storytelling, the more we can help them develop empathy for themselves and others. Your support will go a long way toward getting this movement off the ground!

Thank yous

Contribute any amount or choose from the levels below.

• $25
  Personal thank you on social media. ($25.00 is tax deductible.)
• $50
  Above plus a handwritten love letter via email and a signed group pic from workshop. ($50.00 is tax deductible.)
• $100
  All of the above, plus an autographed "Say Love" CD. ($80.00 is tax deductible.)
• $250
  All of the above, plus a private voice lesson or songwriting lesson in your home or via Skype. ($150.00 is tax deductible.)
• $500
  All of the above, plus an original "Muses" song written about you or someone you love based on a one hour conversation with me. ($250.00 is tax deductible.)
• $1500
  All of the above, plus a private one hour house concert for you and your guests within a 50 mile radius of Chicago. ($1000.00 is tax deductible.)

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Jess Godwin

RH, Restoration Hardware Awardee

J (aka Jess Godwin) is an audiovisual artist and mentor currently based in Brooklyn. A proud recipient of a 2016 3Arts Award, she uses music, storytelling, and visuals to translate and transform her worldview. She has created hundreds of videos …

View Jess Godwin's profile

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