Why LIV?
In 2000 I immigrated from Bogota, Colombia to Fairfax, Virginia with my family at the age of 12. In Colombia, I went to a military school and struggled without an outlet for my curious and creative nature. When I moved to the U.S. my new school had a free music class and access to the internet. These things didn’t exist for me in Colombia. Having access to these simple resources changed my life. I felt like I could learn anything at any time. I got into any musical group that would have me from jazz ensembles, marching bands to hardcore/metal bands.
In this new space, I began creating my own art and interpreting the world around me. I joined Tech Theater and enrolled in a Midi & Electronic Music class during my high school years. This exposed me to a whole set of skills and careers I had no idea existed. I have never stopped growing as an artist since then. And because of that, now as an adult, I have carved out a career for myself as a creative director, audio engineer, and music producer.
Dream Lab Inauguration @ Lakemont Elementary School, Petersburg, VA
In 2018, I moved home to Richmond Virginia to set down roots. Apart from music, my creative passion is artist development. I love collaborating with artists, sharing resources and capacity building. In 2020 I was presented with an opportunity to bring a professional and personal dream to life. I was asked to develop an in-school and after-school program at Lakemont Elementary in Petersburg, VA. My friend and Lakemont teacher, Vicky Becker, put me in contact with the head of after school programs at Lakemont, Irving Jennings (CIS).
While creating this program, I was hired at Defiant Studios where I met the co-owner, Gabriel Williams. We both found out about our common desire to help the youth and decided to collaborate in creating this mentorship program for Petersburg Elementary Schools. A few months later, we were awarded a grant to create 4 “DREAM LABS” at different elementary schools in Petersburg. This was the beginning of our organization, L.I.V. (Live is Valuable). We now have a team of 9 volunteer mentors who are artists and industry professionals that work with the students in our “Dream Labs”.
Peter working with student @ Cool Springs Elementary School
The Dream Lab creates opportunities for the underserved youth in our local community who may otherwise not have an opportunity to develop their artistic voice in a structured environment. The kids get to learn about recording, producing records, scoring, voice overs, and general content creation. Curiosity and self-directed learning is encouraged. The mentors are there to foster a sense of community, collaboration, support, and give a feeling of self-worth that comes from the students creating their own work.
I will never forget the free music program that I was a part of in high school. It opened up a whole new world for me. I want to create opportunities for kids in the same situation I was in, who would not have access to explore the arts world otherwise.
Songwriting session @ Cool Springs Elementary School, Petersburg
Vision for Dream Labs
Upon enrollment into the program, students will meet with their designated mentor to create a road and identity maps for the creative goals they would like to achieve. This exercise ensures we can give the students access to industry professionals who can help them explore their particular area of interest. To remain in the program students must maintain a certain GPA and attendance record. We can implement the GPA requirement as an effort to incentivise students to make the most of their in-school hours. Life skills like time management and self discipline are key to building a career in the arts space. We want to help students build themselves up as artists, students, future entrepreneurs, and members of their community. To further incentivise students and help them create a future in the arts, any royalties from content created with the students will be collected into a fund and released to them when they graduate from high school or turn 18.
Everyone is an artist. Everyone is a creator of experiences. Artists help us reflect and experience new perspectives. We do this every day. Through the pictures we curate for our friends and family, the food we cook, the clothes we choose to wear, and how we decorate our living space.
The greatest aspiration for my life and career is to help others make their lives valuable and purposeful. I believe that creating equitable opportunities for underrepresented communities will breathe life into those we reach and have a long term impact on the earth as a whole.
Peace & Love,
Pete
