Lynn nonprofit gives city youth musical freedom

LYNN – A Lynn nonprofit and a former city probation officer have teamed up to create an internet radio station and recording studio for the city’s youth.”We’re trying to create a space for kids to go and have something positive to do,” said Carla Scheri, the special projects coordinator for Centerboard, a nonprofit that promotes art and education to Lynn youth.Craig Lawrence is a musician and probation officer who now works for the city of Salem. A few months ago he moved his roomful of instruments and professional recording equipment from his basement – he said his wife was happy to see it go – to Centerboard’s second-floor office in downtown Lynn.He said he jumped at the chance to teach music to children in the city.”It gives kids an opportunity to express some of their frustration, some of their triumph, in a way that’s healthy and creative,” he said.City youth and youth in Centerboard’s myriad of volunteer, education, art, families and business programs drop in to the recording studio every Tuesday evening to write, sing and perform their own songs.On a recent Tuesday evening, Lynn Classical High School senior Mackenzie Mackin prepared to sing for the first time lyrics she wrote the week before.She straightened out a paper with her lyrics on them and put headphones on as Lawrence counted down from five on the audio recording software in front of him.Mackin was recording her song a cappella to get a base for where to take the song next, Lawrence explained.Although singing to a room full of people was nerve-wracking, Mackin said she enjoys the chance to immerse herself in a creative project like recording and writing songs.”It’s three hours away from normal life,” she said.Lawrence also supervises an internet radio station that youth put together.Right now the station, hosted on the radio site live365.com, streams music 24 hours a day. But the hope is to have a 24/7 radio station filled with specific DJ hosts, interviews of newsmakers in Lynn and even Spanish-language programs, Lawrence said.Right now Lawrence donates his equipment and time but, he and Scheri said, as the program grows they hope to find grants to buy more equipment and hire more instructors.But for youth like Mackin and 14-year-old Keyenah Clerfe, just having the opportunity to sing somewhere that’s not the shower is a blessing.”I just heard myself sing,” Clerfe said, smiling, after she finished recording herself for the first time. “I sound awesome.”Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].