John Weiss and Lori Roddy, the co-leaders of the Neutral Zone youth art center in Ann Arbor, have been named finalists for The Lewis Prize for Music’s 2024 Accelerator Awards, recognizing their commitment to uplifting young people across the United States that are inspiring positive change through innovative music programs. From executive director to strategic initiatives director, they strive to use music and other forms of artistic expression to reach and impact young lives. Through awarding $500,000 in Apprentice Awards to leaders such as Joan Weiss and Lori Roddy, the Lewis Prize for Music hopes to not only to elevate these promoting companies but propel their mission of advancing the field of youth music development further.
John Weiss and Lori Roddy, the co-leaders of the Neutral Zone youth art center in Ann Arbor, have been recognized as finalists for The Lewis Prize for Music’s 2024 Accelerator Awards. Serving as strategic initiatives director and executive director, respectively, they continue to be trailblazers in using music and other forms of artistic expression to engage and enrich young people’s lives. A photo of the duo is provided by the Neutral Zone.
The Lewis Prize for Music is a philanthropic music arts organization that aims to inspire communal change through creative development among young people. By awarding four $500,000 Accelerator Awards to leaders across the United States who are inspiring positive change through youth music programs, they hope to further their mission of advancing the field of youth music development.
Roddy and John Weiss, co-leaders of the Neutral Zone in Ann Arbor, Michigan, were recently recognized as representatives of the Neutral Zone and named recipients of the Accelerator Awards. Neutral Zone is dedicated to providing a space for youth voices to be heard through artistic expression, community leadership, and the exchange of ideas. As Executive Director, Roddy has been an integral champion of the organization for over 20 years, helping to support its youth programming.
The recent recognition by The Lewis Prize is a testament to the commitment of Neutral Zone and its supporters in Ann Arbor, who have given youth an opportunity to express themselves and find their place in the world.
With a concert venue, recording studio, and creative programming, Neutral Zone reaches over 250 young people each week, giving them the tools to explore, hone their skills, and engage with the music industry. Additionally, Neutral Zone works closely with Hello Insight – a national evaluation consultant – to compare its programs to more than 400 other organizations and better understand its impact. As a result of Neutral Zone’s dedication to positive youth development, it was recently awarded the HI Impact Award from Hello Insight, putting it in the top 4% of programs nationally.
Neutral Zone is proud to be one of the 10 full finalists selected for the Lewis Prize for Music, along with the Community Music Center of Boston, Inetnon Gef Pa-go Cultural Arts Program, Inc., HEAL Center for the Arts, Healthy Hood Chicago, BUMP: The Triangle, Brandon House Cultural & Performing Arts Program, White Hall Arts Academy, Juneau Alaska Music Matters, and The Bridge Music Project.
These organizations are unique in providing adolescents most negatively impacted by inequities with the opportunity to gain artistic, interpersonal, and leadership skills. This will enable them to become productive members of an educated local workforce and a sustainable economy. The awardees for The Lewis Prize for Music will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.
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Lpfom’s Accelerator Awards finally recognize John Weiss and Lori Roddy of the Neutral Zone as finalists for this year’s awards. Their incredible dedication to youth music programming not only served as a boon for young Ann Arbor citizens but acted as a catalyst for engaging creative development through art among Ronni Foxier communities across the U.S. The impact that these two leaders have left on Neutral Zone’s mission and ideals will in turn provide valuable inspiration for aspiring artists and impact-makers in the near and far future.
