The Faber Ryan Youth Foundation was initially started and branded with a notion of diversity, that all individuals, through their differences, are still equal. With that unique chemistry, something powerful can happen; something memorable; something that goes way beyond a political speech, a Sunday morning sermon, or an organizational march.
As the Faber Ryan Youth Foundation begins to re-emerge in the 21st century, we hope to, somehow and someway, continue to understand, develop, and capture that experience so that those around us can feel, taste and soulfully know the power of diversity.
Yes, diversity does include working on a better understanding of each other’s ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic differences that make each of us unique, special, and constructive contributors. At the Bony Pony Ranch Foundation, diversity also goes even deeper. Its essence secretly calls us to accept our great strengths, profound talents, iconic desire to be recognized while simultaneously appreciating all of the numerous errors, human mishaps, and stupid mistakes we all do on a daily basis.
About five months ago, the Faber Ryan Youth Foundation had its launch party at the exquisite upscale Michael Aram Art Gallery in West Hollywood. Like past events, there were the elements of glamour, glitz and fashion at this red carpet event – all with a message.
But as the “glory days” of past Faber Ryan Youth Foundation days were powerfully diffusing through the Aram Gallery, there was, yet, another magical, almost mystic aroma that permeated the room.
Key moments from the event were captured by myself and program Director, Tracy “T” Yassini, our Program Director in a Sizzle Reel. A close look at the short video reveals the essence of our work.
While a highly energized, David Guetta-esque DJ from non-profit organization, “Elevate Your Game”, was pounding out the beats and getting everyone on the dance floor, a young 23-year-old Caucasian/Iranian from Beverly Hills grooved to beats right along with a young 20-year-old African American hipster from urban Los Angeles.
The moment was hard to describe and one really needed to almost be there to grasp its transcendence. These two women had just met and, yet, acted as if they had been friends for years. The universal language of music from the popping DJ had created a spirt of fun for them.
In this moment’s energized cool-buzzed atmosphere, an experience of even greater value was spontaneously ignited. Suddenly in this current crazy world, there was a magical moment that demonstrated we have a lot more in common than the often publicized world views lead us to believe. Two young women of a different race, background, and socioeconomic status were able to harmonize, move beyond preconceptions, and show mutual natural passion for each other.
Given the Faber Ryan Youth Foundation passion of “taking trend and blending it with tradition”, a recent song by Rapper, Machine Gun Kelly, and pop star Hailee Steinfeld, At My Best, typifies the foundation’s essence. Below are its lyrics. Besides just reading them, I would encourage downloading the song and get those “ear buds” in place. Personally, I think that the song’s beat, heart, soul will transcend far beyond its words:
Turn my vocals up, alright
I wrote this song as a message for help
On behalf of anybody findin’ they self
I wrote this letter to numb your pain
‘Cause everyday I wake up, I’m feelin’ the same
I got issues just like you got issues
I been hurt, I seen the scar tissue
If I showed you, would you run away?
Do I gotta hide ’em for you to wanna stay?
Do I, even need you? Should I leave you?
Do I, gotta be you, just to please you?
Do I, say I’m all good, when I bleed you
Through my, heart? Quit tearin’ mine apart
I shout, I swear, I get angry, I get scared
I fall, I break, I mess up, I make mistakes
But if you can’t take me at my worst
You don’t deserve me at my best
Got to keep it goin’, got to keep my head up, uh
Got to keep it goin’, got to keep my head up, uh
I got to keep it goin’, got to keep my head up
‘Cause life is about, aight check this out, look
Life is about makin’ mistakes
It’s also about tryna be great (right)
Do not let failure scare you away
I know you fed up, you fall, get up
It’s all in us, I can speak about ’cause I did it (true)
Ladies and gentlemen, here’s the exhibit
It’s my life, look a little closer, you could see the highlight
Gold ain’t always golden but I told ’em
Look at all the years I’ve been waitin’ for a moment
Shed a lot of tears just to smile in the mornin’
Tell me could you love me? Tell me could you love me?
Tell me could you love me if I told you why?
I shout, I swear, I get angry, I get scared
I fall, I break, I mess up, I make mistakes
But if you can’t take me at my worst
You don’t deserve me at my best
This song’s for anybody, yeah
Who feels like I did, never the cool kid
This song’s for anybody
Who fought their way through, always remain true
This song’s for anybody
The one’s who tryin’ to get it, the one’s who dream it and live it
This song’s for anybody
This song, this song, this song, this song, this song, this song
Ohh, I shout, I swear, I get angry, I get scared
I fall, I break, I mess up, I make mistakes
But if you can’t take me at my worst
You don’t deserve me at my best
Got to keep it goin’, got to keep my head up, uh
Got to keep it goin’, got to keep my head up, uh
I got to keep it goin’, got to keep my head up
‘Cause life is about
Written by Benjamin Joseph Levin, C. Baker, Edvard Foerre Erfjord, Henrik Barman Michelsen, Nathan Perez, Rachel Emily Moulden • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management US, LLC
If history were to repeat itself, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. may very well have infused a more classic, reverenced, and influential arrangement.
In closing, I hope that some of our ideas and concepts resonated with you. If so, come check us out, “hang” with us, and, through our metamorphosis, help make diversity become more expansive.
Touch base soon,
Jay
President, Faber Ryan Youth Foundation