The late 80's marked a violent period for Boston youth that culminated with a record-high 152 homicides in 1990. ZUMIX was founded in April 1991, in response to this dreadful wave of violence.

Like a lot of good ideas, ZUMIX started in someone's living room. Co-Founder's Bob Grove and current Executive Director Madeleine Steczynski began with a simple principal - every child needs something to feel passionate about, and for many teens their passion is music. In the summer of 1991 they recruited 24 youth ages 8-18 to participate in a song-writing and performance program. In 1993, ZUMIX began serving the broader community with the establishment of Music in Maverick Square. The move to their current facility in 1996 enabled ZUMIX to launch Community Arts programs, welcoming local residents to intimate arts-related gatherings, in a small but vital arts space.

In 1994, a community needs and resource assessment conducted by the East Boston Healthy Boston Coalition - listed increased arts activity as one of its main priorities. In 1997, ZUMIX was chosen to lead Cultural Connections: a three-year, multi-agency, Neighborhood Preservation Initiative funded by the Pew Charitable Trust.

In 2005, ZUMIX received the "Best Practice Award for Teen Centered Environment" from The Boston Foundation & Greater Boston After-School for All partnership. In 2006 ZUMIX was selected as a semi-finalist for the competitive, Federal Coming-Up Taller Award, and was chosen as a 2006 Social Innovator for the Social Innovation Forum at MIT.

Cultural Agents has been collaborating with ZUMIX to create programs that stimulate interchange between university projects and community arts, since both organizations agree that creative practices are essential for sustaining a democratic society. Active citizens need to learn a disposition for resourcefulness and non-violent problem solving; the arts train this talent for judgment and for turning difficult circumstances into challenges for creativity. In the summer of 2007, Cultural Agents hosted a workshop for ZUMIX for Hispanic and English Dominant students, to promote local talent and expand their repertoire with literature.

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