Since its establishment in 2016, the mission of Friends of Noise has been to establish a secure, all-ages music venue for the youth of Portland.历经多年的筹款以及让几乎所有现场音乐都陷入停滞的疫情之后，这个宏大的梦想终于即将成为现实。

Next Year's Big Opening - The Off Beat

Next year, Friends of Noise will unveil The Off Beat, an alcohol-free, all-ages venue situated in the former Dancin’ Bare strip club within Portland's Kenton neighborhood. This venue holds a remarkable 400-capacity event space, capable of hosting both local and touring bands, open mic nights, dances, and a plethora of other activities. As André Middleton, the executive director of Friends of Noise, stated, "We aspire for it to be a safe, welcoming, and inclusive third space for young people, a place where they can discover their voices and actively participate in creating events for their community, with their community."The Off Beat will not only serve as a platform for musical performances but also act as a career training ground for teens with a passion for the music industry. All of Friends of Noise's current shows, held at various venues across the city, are staffed by individuals aged 25 and younger. They are involved in running sound, working at the door, creating posters, and taking photographs. Through these experiences, they are acquiring essential life skills.Friends of Noise, a beneficiary of The Oregonian/OregonLive's 2024 Season of Sharing holiday fundraising campaign, offers a wide range of workshops. These workshops teach young people everything from how to make and sell their own merchandise to how to assemble a PA system and how to manage stage fright.Donating to Friends of Noise or the Season of Sharing general fund can make a significant difference. You can also Text the code Season2024 to 44-321. As Middleton emphasized, "We are teaching kids not only how to perform music but also how to develop financial literacy. What is a W-9? What is a W-2? What is an invoice? They are learning the fundamental aspects of taking the first steps towards converting a hobby into a career."Today, Fox Newey, 20 years old, is a full-time live audio engineer and a member of the theatrical stagehands union, IATSE Local 28. Just three years ago, she was a student at Ida B. Wells High School who secured her first paid sound gig through Friends of Noise. She completed the nonprofit's Live Set program, which teaches teens how to run sound for live events. "I was given the freedom to handle gigs independently or with one other person, and I had to figure everything out on my own. This experience helped me gain confidence and become proficient in problem-solving," Newey shared.Erika Leung, 19 years old, first heard about Friends of Noise when Middleton gave a presentation to her class as a sophomore at Lincoln High School. He mentioned the need for a graphic artist, and soon, Leung began designing posters for Friends of Noise shows. "They helped me enhance my graphic design skills, and these skills have enabled me to discover my passion in business and eventually lead me to where I am today," she said. Leung is now a freshman at Cornell University, studying applied economics and management. She hopes to use her degree to work in the nonprofit sector in the future.Friends of Noise has a staff of 3.5 full-time equivalents. Through their classes, concerts, and work opportunities, the nonprofit reaches approximately 3,000 young people each year. Middleton estimated that the expenses for this year amount to about $922,000. The organization is funded by grants, individual donors, and the money raised through its "event services division," where young people are hired to run sound and staff events for other clients.Friends of Noise signed a lease for the space on December 5th, and The Off Beat is aiming for a soft opening in March. The remodeling plans include all-gender restrooms, a raised ADA viewing platform, a T-shirt printing studio, a recording studio, and office space. Middleton also has plans to offer a summer music camp, "Black Rock Camp for the Resistance," using the instruments that Friends of Noise inherited after the Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls closed in 2023.Although opening The Off Beat will be the culmination of eight years of hard work, Middleton emphasized that it will not be the most important legacy that Friends of Noise will leave. "The legacy will be the network of young people who have shared this experience and continue to look out for each other well into their adulthood. If I can help these kids today create that web, that thread, that tapestry, I believe it will have a profound impact on the livability and camaraderie that a town like Portland typically thrives upon."