Meet Michelle Blue: ‘Follow Your Dreams’
(BALTIMORE – August 5, 2008) - Michelle Blue was born and raised in the Harwood community in Baltimore city. She attended Barclay Elementary for her primary education and graduated from Lake Clifton Eastern High School in 1990 where she majored in business. After graduation, she immediately went to Coppin State College dedicating five years of her life and ultimately graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Mass Communications, with a concentration in Broadcast Production and Technology.
Upon graduating, Michelle started her career with a job that would put money in her pocket right away. She was hired as an English teacher for students in grades 10-12 at Harbor City High School. Blue enjoyed teaching and stayed at Harbor City for 2 ½ years until a more lucrative position at Lucent Technologies surfaced. Working in corporate America was hectic, but Michelle utilized her time wisely by developing a business plan for her prospective hip hop management firm. After completing the business plan in 1999 she ventured to California to start her management firm, Millagros Inc. Due to some unfortunate turn of events in California, Millagros Inc. didn’t happen, but something else did happen while volunteering with the Grace Resource Community Center. In 2001, she realized that she had a greater mission in life and was inspired to come back to Baltimore to help the Harwood children that she left behind in pursuing the hip hop management firm.
After simultaneously receiving both formal and informal education in life 101, Michelle was now equipped with the knowledge and skills that was needed to resurrect the neighborhood that she has lived in for almost my entire life. It started by Blue simply cleaning the block and the kids pitched in. Sweeping and cleaning turned into monthly fun and activities such as block parties, skating, beach, and museum trips, which often was sponsored out of her own pockets. With Blue sidelined as their cheerleader, the Harwood youth wrote their first Youth As Resources (YAR) grant to create a safe play area in the neighborhood. The youth transformed a rusty old yard into a warm welcoming environment. These types of activities and youth enthusiasm ultimately led to the creation of Follow Your Dreams Inc. (FYD) a 501(C) 3 registered organization.
FYD was created in response to a necessary intervention that the residents of the Harwood community needed through an assortment of programs such as mentoring, after school tutoring, and summer camp. Since, its inception, FYD provided youth programming that reflects youth voices.
FYD was created in response to a necessary intervention that the residents of the Harwood community needed through an assortment of programs such as mentoring, after school tutoring, and summer camp. Since, its inception, FYD provided youth programming that reflects youth voices. In the summer of 2001, with the support of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, Follow Your Dreams began Youth Awareness Month, a camp-style program. The youth didn’t stop there, next they wanted a Hip Hop recording studio, so Blue encouraged the youth to write their second grant to YAR, they again won funding and purchased the equipment needed to fulfill their dream of creating their own recording studio. Responding to increased student participation in 2004, FYD applied for and received a grant from Associated Black Charities Baltimore Direct Services to expand the center to include after-school programming.
FYD is more than just a center, it serves as a safe haven for underprivileged youth. It is designed to provide tools to empower at-risk youths and families, and make available meaningful activities that will assist youth to reach their full potential, instead of becoming a product of their environment. Follow Your Dreams supply at-risk youths with the power to create, express, and realize the power of their own voice. Not only do they mentor youth at FYD, they are developing talent, and providing tangible learning processes as they steer youth who dream of participating in the hip hop culture. FYD is considered to be a learning facility, therefore the goal of FYD Records is to explore various careers in the music industry, teach beyond an artist standpoint, and help individuals gain entrepreneurial experience.
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