Skrappys

Skrappy's is a youth-oriented music venue, performance space and community hub located in downtown Tucson, Arizona. It is billed as a drug-free, positive environment to encourage expression and youth culture.

Skrappy's has existed in some capacity since 1996, when it was founded by current proprietor Kathy Wooldridge. In addition to hosting national bands, a wide variety of local and small bands have played nearly nightly since its inception. Skrappy's is under the umbrella of "Our Family Services", a community service-based nonprofit.

Skrappy's was founded in 1996 by Kathy Wooldridge as an alcohol-free haven for teens to listen to music and socialize. Over the years its service offerings have grown. Besides the regular live shows featuring a mix of local and touring bands for which it is best known, Skrappy's offers job and drug counseling, classes and emergency clothing, blankets and shelter. Since 2001 it has operated under the umbrella of Our Family Services (formally known as Out Town Family Center), a social service provider. Skrappy's is a youth center that last year provided services to approximately 16,000 teenagers.

Skrappy's is a youth-run performing arts center and after-school hangout operated by Our Family. It was founded in 1996 and became part of Our Family (then known as OUR TOWN) in 2002. It is nationally recognized as a model of positive youth development and civic engagement. Skrappy's offers a variety of programs from dance, film-making and art classes to health fairs and a host of volunteering opportunities.

In 2006, more than 16,000 young people walked through the Skrappy's doors seeking self-expression, community engagement and a safe, stimulating, drug- and alcohol-free environment. About 4,800 of those received services from Our Family's outreach staff in the form of food, clothing or referrals to other resources in the community.Our Family provides a continuum of services to people in every stage of life. Last year, more than 29,000 at-risk children, youth, families, seniors and disabled adults used our services, which include counseling, education, housing, mediation and help for people in crisis. Aside from hosting shows, Skrappy's involves teens in break dancing classes; film and theater projects; training in art, karate and literacy; GPS mapping; and sewing and fashion design. Skrappy's in effect is an urban park and after-school program deserving of public support.

Skrappy's is more than a place for music - it is a youth community. Skrappy's is a safe, positive, drug and alcohol free environment for young people to freely express themselves through music, theatre, art, journalism, dance, and lifestyles. Skrappy's encourages youth to embrace who they are and helps them achieve their goals. Young people involved at Skrappy's learn valuable life and social skills. Whether they are helping run the center, playing in a band or participating in a class activity. They increase their self-esteem, refine leadership skills and strengthen their sense of community. Skrappy's is based on a "do-it-yourself" ethnic, where young people have ownership of the program. It is a place to be heard, a place to grow, a place young people give each other the support, acceptance, love and family structure that may be missing in their lives. Skrappy's was founded in the mid-1990s by a group of youth and adults dedicated to a dream of establishing a regular venue for underground or independent music in Tucson, Arizona. Skrappy's is currently located in downtown Tucson at 160 E. Alameda (part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters building).

Art Classes at Old Pueblo Children’s Academy

Youth from Skrappy’s have been volunteering at Old Pueblo Children's Academy which is a kindergarten through eighth grade charter school since January 2006. Originally, youth would go to the school once a week and work with two grades at a time, using art as means to teach creative expression, conflict resolution, and listening and communication skills. In August 2006, youth began volunteering there twice a week. It is an excellent opportunity for the youth to give back to some of the neediest sectors of the community. The students form trusting relationships with the volunteers and learn important life skills, while the volunteers gain valuable training in mentoring, communication, patience, being part of a community, as well as career training for those interested in education or social services.

Project Contact

This is a program funded in part by the United States Department Of Health and Human Services through the Arizona Family and Planning Council that offers pregnancy testing, birth control, STI and HIV testing, and emergency contraception. Three times a year, Project Contact puts on an event at Skrappy’s offering free STI and HIV testing. The events educate youth on family planning, physical and emotional health, and connect them to further resources as well as giving them a chance to discuss openly and in a mature way issues that in other places are considered taboo.

Warp It Up Jam

Once a year in the month of December, Plan Parenthood and Skrappy’s hosts the Wrap It Up Jam in recognition of World AIDS Day. Free STI and HIV testing are offered, along with emergency contraception. The event educates youth on personal health and tolerance. By opening dialogue, it helps to make youth more conscientious and responsible world citizens.

Safe Place

During the month of November, Skrappy’s hosts an event in honor of National Runaway Month. Although the actual program changes yearly (this year was youth art, musical performances, and movie screenings), the focus is on bringing to light the issue of youth runaways and homelessness. The youth involved come together from a variety of organizations to promote awareness of a prevalent problem and the myriad causes that lead to it.

Working with Community Service Youth

Skrappy’s provides an excellent opportunity for kids on probation or who have community service to learn responsibility, life skills, and proper work ethic while at the same time exposing them to an alternative way to spend their time even after their service is over. Community service youth have the opportunity to volunteer in any of the aforementioned areas and can come out of it with the same life and career skills as other youth. These youth become connected to the Skrappy’s community and in turn become connected to the larger community.

The youth at Skrappy’s receive numerous life-skills/ job skills, trust, resources, leadership social skills, how to research, communication skills, self-esteem, conflict resolution, educational opportunities, parenting, mentoring, volunteering in their communities, the arts, freedom of expression and passion through voice friendship, youth and adult relationships, customer service, basic bookkeeping, inventory, responsibility, and employment. In the end they become proactive citizens involved in their community.

In 2002, on the brink of closure, Skrappy's was temporarily relocated about four miles south of its current location, behind a bread factory in an industrial area of Tucson. In 2003, a public grant allowed the venue to continue its existence at its original location. In 2005, Skrappy's was nearly shut down when a fight broke out after a show, resulting in one person's death along with at least one more injury. City officials were quick to come to the venue's rescue, and another grant allowed it to continue its existence. In 2006, Skrappy's continued to have their usual shows until winter of that year, they were notified with a 90-day eviction notice. Their stay extended until the summer of 2007 with August being their last show at 201 E. Broadway Blvd. They moved out in September to Big Brothers Big Sisters' basement down the street. As a music venue, Skrappy's is an important pillar of Tucson's music scene, and much of the scene's development has been focused around Skrappys, at least from a youth perspective.

Currently, Skrappy's is in the basement of Big Brothers Big Sisters being relocated to a confidential location.

External links

* [http://www.skrappys.org/ Skrappy's official website]
* [http://www.azstarnet.com/business/128282 Arizona Daily Star article about Skrappy's]