VYH is so excited to announce Mecca as our 2017 Youth Artist in Residence!

Mecca is a high school junior and participant in the Montgomery County Adolescents Achieving Independence program, which helps current and recently released foster youth to complete their education, locate permanent housing and jobs, and learn life skills. Mecca plans to attend college and study music in some capacity – one of her goals through the YAIR program is to become more comfortable performing and sharing her own music. Mecca received a guitar from VYH Holiday Gift Drive donors and – with some help from VYH staff – has taught herself to play through videos online and chord charts. She’s been singing since age ten, and has always enjoyed the arts – if she’s not singing or playing music, she’s likely drawing, painting, or writing. Mecca’s favorite artists are The Goo Goo Dolls, LifeHouse, and Gavin DeGraw, and she dreams of pursuing music professionally. *Fun Fact: Mecca has auditioned for The Voice!*

Thanks to the generosity of Martin Guitar Co., Valley Youth House received a $3,000 grant for the Youth Artist in Residence program to use as part of a special concert series that connects youth performers to established local musicians. Valley Youth House’s Youth Artist in Residence program, now in its third year, is an agency-wide project that seeks to highlight one youth’s creative arts talent through a series of four performances and/or artist interviews.

We look forward to watching Mecca explore writing her own music and find a long-term mentor through the YAIR program!