We were lucky to catch up with JAHZEEL MONTES recently and have shared our conversation below.
JAHZEEL, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project that I have been working on for the past 10 years is the founding and growing of the nonprofit organization, Internal Creations, Inc.
I founded Internal Creations on September 3, 2014 with a mission to develop leadership, self-sufficiency, and life skills through learning the classical guitar to create responsible, fearless and independent leaders. My goal is to teach students how to embody the four pillars of life (which music naturally teaches us) that make success in life, which are; patience, persistence, passion and perseverance. Our main goal is to create conscious kids that make for better people. The reason it is meaningful to me is because it saved my life and gave me a direction and purpose.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a musician, guitarist, songwriter, producer etc. who also has a passion for education. I always say I have my “Batman” life and my “Bruce Wayne” life since I am the same person in different lights. I embrace that thoroughly because it represents who I am as a person. The backstory of Internal Creations goes like this. When I was fresh out of college I was working with the DOE and various nonprofits who had small music programs, but quickly realized that the education method used for students was not sustainable in regards to learning an instrument and become self-sufficient with it. I always had the teaching philosophy I envisioned that helped provide direction and purpose for me, but the goals of these organizations along with funding and time restrictions did not align and were not conducive to achieving the goals I had in mind.
I founded Internal Creations because the guitar saved my life as a young man and going into adulthood. It kept me off the streets when I started becoming more involved with the instrument and also taught me the values of discipline, critical thinking, hard-work, and awareness. Especially after I almost got kicked out of college twice. The philosophy I developed was the way to teach guitar as the vehicle to positive self-development where music is taught in relation to life skills that transcend across all fields, in your personal life and professions. Since then, we have had a great deal of success in bringing empowering music education to many students in NYC and NYS. Our programs have provided opportunities students have never even dreamed of such as taking students to perform at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame, in different boroughs in NYC and helping students develop a mindset and structure that has allowed them to get into accredited 4-year universities. We have showed youth and adults what is possible to achieve in this world if we put our minds to it.
Many parents have to work two or more jobs these days and it can be tough to balance work and life. We provide an outlet for expression outlet to learn a new skill, provide self-development and character building through the vehicle of learning music. Nowadays, many youth and adults are falling victim to unproductive habits and crowds that can inhibit their mental and personal growth. The problem that we solve begins with investing in accessible programming that is familiar, can garner high interest, teach and develop self-awareness (metacognition), problem-solving, critical thinking and more life skills that transcend to every career and personal life with financial limitations being removed.
Oftentimes the consistent and positive experience of learning through music immersion is oftentimes the only reliable and nurturing experience that is available to these students to help develop their social/emotional skills. Internal Creations is known for working with under-represented individuals through our activities and active recruitment regardless of musical skill levels or abilities. The added benefit to learning classical guitar is not only its universal acceptance within various cultures, but it is also a portable instrument (in contrast to horns, drums, etc.), which is easier to pick up on than a double reed instrument and is far less disruptive when practiced at home.
Internal Creations began as a grassroots organization and maintains its small family-based environment where staff and students are considered family first and employees/students second.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Being doubtful and not believing in yourself. This stems from the narratives of “poverty thinking” that many people, most particular people of color and immigrants face. The whole “we cant achieve that because thats only for rich people” or the fear factor of us never being good enough which causes limited thinking and scarce mindsets. This is learned from childhood when we never receive any sort of recognition for achievements of any sort and also traumas from actually coming from poverty and staying in that mindset that are then taught to the children.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
You don’t even need to buy anything, just connect people, build a mastermind group, volunteer your talents and work together towards that vision. Its really not that difficult, people just make it difficult. For your musician friends, Just share, comment on posts, listen to the music, and shout your people out. For entrepreneurs, do the same! Advertising is around for a REASON, and thats what pulls you in to buy everything and actually spend money….why would you not want to help bring your people up with a simple share to give exposure and credibility?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.internalcreations.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/internal_creations
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/internalcreationsmusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/internal-creations
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@internalcreationsinc.3055/videos
Image Credits
Christian “C-Spin Films” Guzman