Railroad Tracks Music Academy already has creative work underway.

We operate a music and video production studio on the West Side, and we hold a residency at Seward Park where people have access to the Digital Music and Media Lab. The lab has working stations and committed teachers—but when more students arrive than there are stations, hands-on opportunities become limited. The teachers who have built this work have also not yet been compensated for their time, talent, and care.

This Black Philanthropy Month, we are raising $15,000 to strengthen what already exists while building toward what is next: a larger, unified community creative space.

We envision a home—ideally on the South Side, wherever the right opportunity makes sense—where music and video production, classes, performances, community events, and a community kitchen can exist together.

This is not simply a request for more equipment. It is an investment in people, access, and a sustainable place for creativity to grow.

Your gift will help us:

Compensate the teaching artists who have already been giving their time and expertise
Expand hands-on access when more students attend than there are available stations
Offer music, media, and digital-skills classes
Host community events, performances, and creative showcases
Prepare for a larger community space with room for production, classes, events, and a community kitchen

When you give, you honor the work already happening and help create the conditions for it to grow. You are investing in a future where young people are creators of the sound, stories, and opportunities that shape our communities.

Help us raise $15,000. Compensate the people doing the work. Expand access. Help build the community home this vision deserves.

Creatives Building Sound, Stories and Opportunities of Tomorrow

RRTMA Black Philanthropy Month 2026

Fund the Future: Black Youth Creating the Sound, Stories, and Opportunities of Tomorrow

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