We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tony Royster a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tony, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Positive Movement is the most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on and it still continues to better each year!

Around 2019-2020

While everything, like most businesses was closed for business, we were one of the only entertainment groups out here for the community! People were angry, scared, and traumatized, after seeing people dropping like flies. “but everyone heard the drums.”

It brought people out of their homes, uniting together with their next door neighbors. Giving joy and hope for a better tomorrow. When No one could celebrate birthdays or get married, not to mention Graduation’s – we came through and had it Rockin 6 feet apart – (following government guidelines) so we could bring smiles to the hearts of our neighbors!! Doing this throughout the city of Philadelphia and some surrounding area made this a sense of purpose.. It was a major accomplishment and a meaningful project. “MY SMILE SHOULD MAKE YOU SMILE” @Tony Royster

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 strive to keep a positive mind. To decrease negative reactions. To bring unity to my community and enjoy life abundantly avoiding negativity.

Why do I do this? To bring smiles to the hearts of my neighbors and to be a role model to others.

How do I do this? Promoting PUT DOWN THE GUNZ & PICK UP SOME DRUMS FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY! Your never to old to do something positive and give back to the community/ youth.

“If everyone lives by this the world will be a better place”

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding is, Definitely overcoming self doubt” this one inspired me to keep pushing through. In the pandemic everybody was telling me dont go outside, quarantine, etc. Which made me have a lot of self doubt. (Should we really go out? Do I want to bear the burden if anything happens to the health of a member while the team out with me?) NO i dont want anyone to get sick because of me and my DREAM. As the director I decided a hand full of our adults could make it happen if they were willing to risk it all for PHILLY? And there we were marching around mt airy where there’s a lot of hills, and loving community neighbors that don’t get much excitement coming through the blocks, and this day everyone came out and chased behind us! We had so much fun and the kids loved seeing Elmo Drumline and taking pictures with us. After we was done and came back to the car this lady had put an envelope in the window,  when I got home and looked, it was $20 and a note. she thanked us for what we are doing! she said the past few days has been very hard for her family (when they heard the drums at first they thought that was it) she was waiting for her husband’s covid test. They were so worried, and she said the drums gave her hope that everything would be good. After hearing so much negative stuff on tv, and to come outside to see something positive! She was very thankful and so am I. That’s what inspired me to keep going! One day a woman called and hired us to make a grand entrance marching down her sister’s block for a wedding that couldn’t take place due to COVID restrictions. Turns out someone also called the inquirer- it wasn’t me- and the news was everywhere- since no one else was out doing anything this was a very big deal. Seeing the bride cry tears of joy and the groom just amazed and full of smiles, it felt very good helping someone help another feel special and giving them hope. Also we made a very special connection making everlasting memories for love ones! This also showed me how important what we do is very important to our city, youth, and for the world “it’s a Positive Movement”.

You never know what the next person is going through. So to be able to put your own pain aside, to go around and spread love and joy for others, is a powerful thing. You never know who needs that positivity so be a positive you..

We are always recruiting. All ages

NO experience needed or equipment needed

practice days Mondays and Fridays

inside practice hours  4pm – 6pm

@ Spring Garden Academy -17th And Tioga st

outside practice hours 6pm – 7:30pm

@ 20th and Tioga st Hope Garden

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The Goal is to have 500 members (big goal) inspired and inspiring others to believe in the power of drums / drillteam and embrace the joy that comes from it. Positive Movement’s mission is to decrease gun violence in the city of Philadelphia by providing all people with a safe environment, resources, leadership, and inspiration required to express themselves with drumming, dancing, positivity, and love. The group can be seen on any given day drumming throughout the city of Philadelphia. Positive Movement is a non-profit drill team and entertainment group. Their sole focus is to inspire and encourage young people to find a safe haven in drumming and spread a positive message throughout the city of Philadelphia and surrounding areas. They do this in the hopes of decreasing gun violence and giving the next generation of sense of leadership and purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: Whourockinwit.org
• Instagram: @pmedrumline
• Facebook: Pme who u rockin wit
• Youtube: @pmedrumline

Image Credits
Tony Royster, Donavon Harrison, Shauna Guttman, Marissa Rivera, Solomon Saunders, Antwuan Dockery

street put down the gun and picked up a drum.