The Jazz Lab™ Summer 2025 Recap

This summer, A Tribe for Jazz led a bold collaboration that brought together
14 youth camps, 10 educational and nonprofit providers, and dozens of STEAM professionals — uniting to serve nearly 800 historically underserved youth from across Central Ohio.

Through seven hands-on, immersive labs, young people, ages 5-18, explored music, technology, and creative expression in powerful new ways.

The Jazz Lab™ Summer Experience is more than a program — it’s a community-powered movement fueled by partnership, equity, and shared vision. And we’re just getting started.

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“You gave our students something many of them have never had before — the chance to explore music, technology, and creativity in such a hands-on, inspiring way.”

—Charles McLemore III, Program Coordinator, EPIC Youth

Watch the Moments.

Thanks NBC4i!

NBC4i’s “Tell Me Something Good” featured the Jazz Lab™ Summer Experience, spotlighting our collaboration with Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services to bring music, technology, and career exploration to youth across Central Ohio.

“This program was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when passionate, mission-driven people come together.”

—Jared Tanner, Institutional Advancement Specialist, ETSS

Partners in Collaboration

Youth Camp Partners

Educational & Nonprofit Partners

Sponsor & Support Partners

Labs at a Glance

  • VirtuREALity

    Compose original music and soundscapes in the Virtuoso™ VR environment — a space where innovation meets imagination!

    Learning Architects:
    COSI Education

    Tech Shout-out:
    Really Interactive

  • JazzFab Lab

    This dynamic workshop empowers youth to prototype, design, and explore real-world applications of creative technology by fusing traditional and modern manufacturing methods.

    Learning Architects:
    Iddrisu Seidu, Makerspace Central
    Raymond Brooks, OSU Innovation

  • The Art of the Sample: Vinyl to Digital

    Step into the world of beat-making and audio storytelling in this hands-on music production lab. Students explore the foundations of sampling and sound design—starting with classic vinyl records and transforming them into modern digital compositions.

    Learning Architect:
    Otis Sharp, Fresh Elements

  • Conga Drumming: Dance Rhythms of the Caribbean

    An immersive, hands-on rhythm experience from the Afro-Caribbean diaspora

    Students dive into the vibrant world of Caribbean conga drumming using the traditional method of Observation, Imitation, and Participation. In this 50-minute workshop, participants learn foundational rhythms from Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and Puerto Rico.

    Learning Architect:
    Eric “The Fish” Paton

  • Afro Futuristic Studio: Envisioning Bold Black Futures Through the Power of STEAM

    In this immersive and visionary workshop, youth will step into the role of future-builders—blending art, technology, and cultural imagination to design thriving Afro-futuristic cities using AI tools. Inspired by the creative legacies of Sun Ra, Octavia Butler, and Janelle Monáe, participants will visualize bold futures rooted in Black identity, innovation, and community resilience.

    Learning Architect:
    Nathan Harris, Ph.D., See Brilliance

  • Remix the Code: Music-Making with EarSketch

    Unleash your inner coder and music producer—no prior experience required! In this dynamic, tech-forward lab, students dive into EarSketch, an innovative digital platform that teaches the fundamentals of Python coding through music production.

    Learning Architects:
    Kaleem Musa, GooRoo
    Christopher Hearn, GooRoo

    Tech Shout-out:
    Earsketch

  • The Arts Collabor-a-Torium

    Welcome to the Arts Collaboratorium—a space curated just for you! Within the Collaboratorium, safety and belonging are paramount to your mission. Inspired by the improvisational spirit of jazz, this studio is creative exploration, where visual art and jazz converge in rhythm and imagination.

    Learning Architect:
    Lumaire Conte

— Frederick M. Lee Jr., Partnerships & Development Coordinator, Lead The Way Learning Academy

“Our students were engaged, inspired, and left with a greater appreciation for the power of music and creativity.”

Meet the Team

Coming Soon

We’re just getting started.

  • Data + Impact Report (Fall 2025): A deep dive into outcomes, participation metrics, and what we’ve learned from this collaborative model.

  • Behind-the-scenes stories: Insights from our partners highlighting the people, planning, and purpose behind Jazz Lab™ Summer.

  • Future collaborations: What’s next is already in motion — and there will be more opportunities to build together.