Letter from Katy Otto of Positive Force (Washington D.C.)

Dear Friend of DIY and all-ages,

The cultural climate we all have known, loved, and flourished in is facing ever more difficult times. For many of us, DIY and all-ages culture have been critical to organizing, creating and performing, and developing as artists and just as people in the world. About a year ago, I connected with Shannon Stewart, founder of the All-ages Movement Project based in the Bay Area. The work that Shannon has done with a network of others filled a need I'd seen unmet for so long - connecting the dots of all-ages cultural work across the United States.

Shannon began interviewing over 300 all-ages organizations (everything from venues to youth run recording programs, to DIY collective art spaces) across the country, to build a database of what work was going on, what challenges people were facing, and make a resource available for people to share stories and learn lessons from one another. Plans grew - advisory board members like myself went to different sites across the country to do interviews about the mechanics of other spaces. We collected stories to eventually be self-published in a book about all-ages cultural production that will make the urgent case for funders, local government, community organizers, and the public at all. We all know that all-ages spaces allow young people to organize, mobilize, express themselves freely, and engage civicly - now we want to take what we know, make the case for it, and catalyze a movement.

We are writing today to ask your band or record label to become a part of this work. We can't do this alone,nor should we - we all have an equal stake in sitting at the table, sharing our work, and making DIY/all-ages a thriving, viable force to be reckoned with, in an era where corporate merging and control of cultural production threatens bands, labels, spaces, and participants alike. It is up to us to defend this space.

We are asking you to become a yearly member with a $25-100 donation today on behalf of your band/label. We'd like to ask this commitment to be renewed each year. Here is what you stand gain from this commitment:

• More touring options -- tour routes full of all-ages and youth accessible venues as well as young local bands that can support your shows
• An audience that will sustain you - developing an a younger audience for your music will support your art and music over time
• The chance to support communities of action, engagement and artistic experimentation in a culture that largely supports homogeneity and apathy
• The opportunity to add your insight and experience to the network – making alternative spaces and youth music programs even more effective by giving feedback from your perspective

Please make your tax-deductible gift online today or by sending in payment made out to the All-ages Movement Project to PO Box 40147, San Francisco, CA 94140. In the next year, AMP has ambitious plans - from putting out the book and touring with it to funding local organizations, to putting on a nationwide conference on all-ages cultural production in the fall. Be a part of it. Show your commitment and take a stand to build a network of community-based organizations that connect young people through independent music and art.

We look forward to counting you in our ranks.

Sincerely,

Katy Otto