Department Of Sound

Our Sound Mind Initiative expanded in 2024 with a streamlined multi session format delivered at partner schools and after school community centers. In addition to immersive lessons in music and podcast production participants practiced breathwork journaling and other wellness techniques from our Sound Mind curriculum produced original audio stories and attended a capstone studio day at Shattered Records where our instructors engineers and guest mentors outlined real world career paths in audio and media. Short form recap videos have already been released online and will continue to be released in 2025 to extend the programs reach.

Department of Sound continued its partnership with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Community Fund strengthening our Indigenous programming to deepen cultural representation and mental health advocacy. In 2024 we added new episodes to the Indigenous Artists Series spotlighting regional Native creators and their creative processes; released a mini series exploring the intersection of Indigenous culture and mental health; produced a podcast series addressing urgent Indigenous rights issues including the global climate crisis the LANDBACK movement Indigenous womens rights and the Change the Mascot campaign for distribution on Department of Sound and Yocha Dehe platforms; and launched a docu series profiling local artists and community leaders developed and premiered with Shattered Records alongside neighboring Tribal leaders. Featured artists were compensated and youth storytelling workshops were delivered in Yolo County. These works are being rolled out across social channels supported by community screenings and press features to amplify Indigenous stories and perspectives.

In 2024 Department of Sound expanded its work with tribal nations to include Wilton Rancheria where we provided workshops utilizing our Sound Mind Initiative curriculum to provide audio engineering and mental health wellness techniques to their youth.