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- Episode 42: A Decade of The Residency: Hip-Hop, Youth Power, and Event Magic in Seattle
Episode 42: A Decade of The Residency: Hip-Hop, Youth Power, and Event Magic in Seattle
Ten years. Hundreds of young artists. And a community that shows up. Executive Director Olisa Enrico joins BEATS WORKING hosts Alysse Bryson and Libby Sundgren with youth artists Maia Gaia and Sonatta to unpack The Residency’s journey from a two-week summer intensive partnering with MoPOP/Arts Corps and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to a year-round 501(c)(3) that serves 300–400 youth annually — plus the capital-campaign dream of a permanent home. We talk stage presence, business skills, community and what it means to throw down for a decade of impact in Seattle.
Our favorite takeaways from this episode?
• Origin story: MoPOP/Arts Corps + Macklemore & Ryan Lewis → from 2 to 4 weeks.
• Today the org serves ~300–400 youth annually across intensives, workshops, performance opps, and leadership programs.
• “Who controls the narrative, controls the world” — youth voice and community collaboration sit at the center of the mission.
Tune in to the BEATS WORKING events podcast here: