Before attending this event, I had no idea how rich and diverse the music, art, and social justice communities are in Ithaca. I loved learning about Ithaca Underground and how it exists as a “barrier-breaker” in terms of providing resources and support to local artists, organizers, and community members. It was great to hear about how Ithaca Underground uplifts those in marginalized and underrepresented communities. This program reminded me of the YOUMedia program in Chicago, which provides resources and support for teens to engage with graphic design, photography, video, music, STEM, and more through different Chicago Public Library locations. I was really fond of the YOUMedia program in Chicago and it made me happy to hear that there’s something similar in the Ithaca community. I found it really interesting to hear about some of the speakers’ music creation process, as well. I thought it was cool that they used samples from old video games like Metroid and Blade Runner and were able to apply their background in technology to create music using synthesizers. I thought the speakers brought up a great point about how touring is a key way for small artists to interact with their fans, which places greater importance on having visually appealing performances. The laser jacket and laser-powered synthesizers with light sensors were really amazing ideas. I was so impressed that everything was done DIY by Googling things! It was also nice to hear about the intersection of the music community and social issues. For example, it was really cool to hear about how the music of humpback whales led to a worldwide movement for marine sustainability, as well as a moratorium on commercial whaling.