Photo by Christian Avila.
ABOUT US
Young people are carrying more than any generation before them. Department of Sound exists to give them a place to belong, a trusted adult, and the tools to tell their own stories.
Department of Sound is a 501(c)(3) music and media education nonprofit serving the Sacramento region since 2018. It was founded by J. Hamilton Hodgson, a music industry professional and former official Sacramento Kings DJ, to bring professional tools, working artists, and real studio time to the young people most often left out of creative careers.
Sound & Story Labs, its flagship, teaches beat-making, recording, and podcasting in schools, after school, and in summer intensives. Students write about their own lives and communities and finish an original track or episode. The Sound Business Summit teaches working artists how to get paid, protect their work, and build a career. Voices of the Land supports Native artists and tribal youth as podcast, film, and music storytellers.
Since 2018, Department of Sound has engaged more than 10,000 young people, about 2,500 in the most recent program year, across 33+ schools and community sites. It is supported by the NBA Foundation. Department of Sound is led by people of color, and its staff, teaching artists, and board reflect the communities it serves. All programs are free.
