05/10/2022
Citizens Partners With Music Forward To Provide Music Industry Programs And Internships To Students In Boston
Program Will Engage Boston Youth with Career Exploration and Workforce Development through Venue Tours, Workshops, and Paid Internships
BOSTON – May 10, 2022 – Citizens today announced a three-year partnership with the Music Forward Foundation to provide a series of music industry career-readiness programs for Boston-area students from underserved communities.
Designed to promote music industry education and workforce development, Music Forward Boston powered by Citizens Live™, engages high schools, community partners, and music venues across Boston to provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to inspire personal and professional development, and to prepare the next generation of music industry leaders.
“At Citizens, we’re partnering with organizations across Massachusetts to provide summer employment opportunities that will expand access for local students and empower them to pursue their goals and advance their careers,” said Lisa Murray, president, Citizens, Massachusetts. “We’re very excited to work alongside Music Forward on this program to help students gain knowledge and build the necessary skills to thrive in the music industry.”
The partnership, which includes venue tours, educational workshops and paid internships for students interested in careers in the concert business, is a new community-focused initiative within Citizens Live, a music and entertainment marketing program that provides exclusive ticket and hospitality perks for Citizens’ customers. Venue tours, beginning in May, will highlight a variety of careers that make live music possible as students consider career pathways within the industry. The program will take place across the four Citizens Live sponsored venues: Brighton Music Hall, Citizens Bank Opera House, Orpheum Theater, and Paradise Rock Club.
12 high school seniors will be selected for the inaugural six-week paid internship component of the program, taking place from July-August. Each week of the internship program will include hands-on training and job shadowing, mentorship from industry professionals, and workshops focused on fiscal empowerment and career-readiness held at a Citizens branch. The program will highlight various careers associated with producing live music such as talent acquisition, venue operations, live production, marketing, ticketing and more.
“We’re honored to join with Citizens to introduce music industry education and workforce development programs and create new opportunities for youth in the Boston community,” said Nurit Smith, executive director, Music Forward Foundation. “We look forward to providing these students with the knowledge, resources, and access they need to lead the music industry into the future.”
Through this partnership, Citizens and Music Forward will help remove barriers and increase access and opportunity for BIPOC youth, young women, and under-resourced communities. This initiative aligns with Music Forward’s goal to contribute to a more equitable industry and just society. Students, teachers, and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for the program at: https://musicforwardfoundation.org/music-forward-boston-x-citizens-live/
About Music Forward Foundation
Music Forward transforms young lives, inspires careers, and champions a more inclusive music industry. Music Forward next-gen programs help break the barriers of gender, poverty, and race to enter the music industry. Music Forward bridges our communities to the music industry, empowers ambition, and creates momentum to redefine what is possible for the youth and industry we serve. Learn more at www.musicforwardfoundation.org
About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $192.1 billion in assets as of March 31, 2022. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,300 ATMs and approximately 1,200 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.
Media contacts:
Citizens
Eric Donovan
[email protected]
508.446.5308
Music Forward
Nazanin Fatemian
[email protected]
424.354.5484
