What does support sound like? Sometimes it sounds like advice. Sometimes it sounds like laughter. And sometimes, as we discovered recently, it sounds like a beat dropping in a room full of people finding their flow.
On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, our CLIMB program partnered with Beats, Rhymes & Life (BRL) for an evening that was equal parts vulnerability, creativity, and pure joy.
BRL is a hip-hop therapy group that helps youth write and record their own music, providing a powerful outlet for processing feelings and emotions. For one unforgettable night, they brought that energy to the SLM office.
The evening started the way all good gatherings do: with food. Mentors, mentees, and staff shared a meal, settling into the space before the real work began.
The theme for the night was “Who is in your corner?”
BRL staff led the group through a worksheet designed to identify the people who have our backs. As pens hit paper, something powerful happened. Many mentees wrote down “Silver Lining Mentoring” and “my mentor” right alongside friends, teachers, and family members. It was a tangible reminder of the deep trust and connection that exists within this community.
Next came the challenge: turning those feelings into bars.
Using an activity called “flowcab,” the group brainstormed rhyming words about community. Suddenly, words like support were rhyming with report, resort, and court. The room buzzed with energy as people practiced their lines, testing rhythms and finding their voices.
It wasn’t easy. Stepping up to the mic – even just to practice – takes courage.
“I really enjoyed getting out of my comfort zone and connecting with mentees and mentors about their support systems through music,” shared Maria, Community Engagement Coordinator at SLM. “Everyone was being vulnerable and trying something new.”
One mentor noted the impact on their mentee: “This activity pushed my mentee out of their comfort zone. They love music, and I think this experience could help them exit their comfort zone to make music with others in other settings.”
The night culminated in the recording studio. Despite the nerves, giggles, and restarts, the group came together to record an original song titled “Who’s In Your Corner.”
When the final track played back, the room was filled with pride. We didn’t just hear a song; we heard confidence. We heard connection. We heard the sound of a community lifting each other up.
You can hear that energy in the final recording. Here is the chorus of ‘Who’s In Your Corner,’ created and performed by our community:
A huge thank you to Beats, Rhymes & Life for facilitating such an incredible workshop and empowering our youth to find their voices. You reminded us all that no matter what life throws our way, we never have to face it alone – because we know exactly who is in our corner.
Interested in joining our community?
Whether you want to be in a young person’s corner as a mentor or support programs like CLIMB, there are many ways to get involved.
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