Department of Sound

Dept. of Sound expands access to sound—through music, audio-tech education, and creative platforms—so underserved youth and their communities can express themselves, build marketable skills, and strengthen mental-health and cultural well-being.

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Sacramento, Dept. of Sound is a 501(c)(3) that turns classrooms, community centers, and pop-up studios into hubs of creativity and healing:

• Sound Mind Workshops – hands-on beat-making and podcast courses for middle- and high-school students in South Sacramento.
• Indigenous Artist & Podcast Series – co-produced with Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and Wilton Rancheria, spotlighting Native voices.
• Clean-Energy Podcast Labs (SMUD) – youth cohorts create audio stories on climate solutions.

We serve hundreds of students annually, partner with school districts, community centers, and tribal nations, and measure success by creative-confidence gains, mental-health indicators, and tangible outputs (songs, podcasts, live events). Our lean team values inclusivity, hustle, and the joy that comes from turning up the volume on voices that are too often muted.