Portland opera and R&B-singer Onry became a viral sensation not once, but twice, last year. On this week’s segment, he shares his thoughts on the purpose of art and his life as a Black opera singer in contemporary America.

The August 2020 single "Take Flight" started with a request from Grant’s son’s 8th-grade teacher that he write a song that parents could sing to the children during their middle-school class promotion. As he wrote, he thought about the bittersweet nature of launching our children into the world, even as we struggle to let them go. Fast forward to the summer of 2020: coronavirus descended on the world, traditional rites of passage for youth were suspended indefinitely, nationwide protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. In this challenging and painful time of re-evaluation and reckoning, Grant was moved by their emotional resilience, by their courage in the face of the pandemic, and by their demands to end racism to offer up this song and the artistic collaborations it inspired.

The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation advances equity and cultural knowledge, focusing on the power of arts and collaboration to strengthen Native communities and promote positive social change with American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples in the United States.

Black History Festival NW is a Celebration of Culture and Heritage Showcasing African American artists, businesses, organizations and leaders. Through arts, education and advocacy 365 days a year, utilizing Black History Month to celebrate Black excellence, bridge gaps, amplify truth, unity, and hope in the Pacific NW.

Bridging Voices (The Portland GSA Youth Chorus) is a youth chorus for gay, straight and questioning youth, ages 13-21, and strives to be a safe, accessible place for youth to experience empowerment and unity through music. It is Portland’s first Queer/Straight Alliance Youth Chorus and is one of the largest choruses of its kind, in the nation.

The Inclusive Arts Vibe Dance Company provides integrated dance classes, and is inclusive of youth with and without disabilities. Dancers aged 12-22+ have the opportunity to learn structured improvisation through DanceAbility Methodology, how to choreograph movement including creating their own solos or small ensembles, and expand their movement vocabulary through learning contemporary dance. IAVDC emphasizes individual expression of movement and building an equitable community through dance. All choreography builds on the dancers unique minds and bodies, and each dancer contributes to the choreography in their own way. Participating in Inclusive Arts Vibe is a way for young dancers to develop artistic expressions, positive identities, leadership skills, and experience a working model of social justice in the arts.

The Piano Santa Foundation is dedicated to promoting and enhancing music education for children in the Portland Metropolitan area. PSF offers a unique program including piano scholarships for students, piano placement grants for community organizations, group performance events, after school group keyboard classes and a music lending library.

PHAME is a fine and performing arts academy serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We offer three ten-week terms of arts-based classes each year, as well as many performance opportunities. Taught by talented arts education professionals, our classes include visual art, acting, choir, dance, musical theatre and many more.

The Lullaby Project – conceived by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute – uses the creative process of songwriting to improve maternal health and child bonds with pregnant women and new mothers experiencing housing insecurity and other challenging life situations. Together with musicians from the Oregon Symphony and local singer-songwriters, mothers and mothers-to-be are creating personal lullabies for their children, expressing their hopes and dreams for the future.