Check made out to [FOUR Blues Inc NFP]
Address to send check: [FOUR Blues, c/o Bonni McKeown, 5749 W. Ohio St., Apt 2E, Chicago, IL 60644]

🌟&nbsp;Happy New Year 2026!Trying to communicate amid today&rsquo;s chaos is challenging. That&rsquo;s why I put off this email til so late in the year. Nevertheless, I&rsquo;d appreciate your support for our new 501c3 charity organization to bring back old school music in communities that originated it. &nbsp;Our Chicago neighbors on the West Side have seen and appreciated the free all ages public concerts we were able to stage in 2025. &nbsp;We&#39;re working to raise more grants and donations for the coming year. Do you love anything about country, jazz, folk, &nbsp;hiphop, R&amp;B, rock music? Well, it all comes from BLUES-the root of America&rsquo;s popular music. &nbsp;Created by African Americans who survived hard labor, Jim Crow discrimination and lynching in the South, blues moved to big cities in the Great Migration of the mid-20th century, about the time I was born. &nbsp;No matter if things in life make you happy, sad, or mad&mdash;blues is a way to express and share our feelings. Now many of us who experienced the heyday of live blues are aging and passing from the scene. We want to leave the music for new generations, but the fact is, music has not been taught in Chicago schools for over 30 years. &nbsp;Kids on the West and South Side whose great grandparents might have been master musicians do not know how to play an instrument, or sing in older styles. &nbsp; But some are curious about what went on before their lifetimes. That&rsquo;s why my partner, West Side Blues ambassador Larry Taylor and I, with our neighbors, created the nonprofit FOUR Blues Inc NFP and obtained tax deductible 501c3 status from the IRS. &nbsp;We&rsquo;re connecting with people and nonprofits tackling the tough issues around us&mdash;shortages of food and housing, mental illness and addiction; education, health, political and judicial systems that struggle to address what people are going through. FOUR Blues can&rsquo;t solve all the problems in our hood. &nbsp;But we can change the vibe and help the community build from its own positive assets&mdash;like blues music! &nbsp;Older folks come out of their senior buildings to enjoy their favorite songs. &nbsp;We reach out to younger generations by featuring spoken-word poets at each concert. &nbsp;The seniors applaud. We know we&rsquo;re doing right.

Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our cause. This donation will help raise spirits in the neighborhoods where the blues begins. If you would like to contribute further to our cause, contact us to become a volunteer, or spread the word about our mission! Bonni Mckeownbarrelhbonni@yahoo.com

🌟 Happy New Year 2026!Trying to communicate amid today’s chaos is challenging. That’s why I put off this email til so late in the year. Nevertheless, I’d appreciate your support for our new 501c3 charity organization to bring back old school music in communities that originated it.  Our Chicago neighbors on the West Side have seen and appreciated the free all ages public concerts we were able to stage in 2025.  We're working to raise more grants and donations for the coming year. Do you love anything about country, jazz, folk,  hiphop, R&amp;B, rock music? Well, it all comes from BLUES-the root of America’s popular music.  Created by African Americans who survived hard labor, Jim Crow discrimination and lynching in the South, blues moved to big cities in the Great Migration of the mid-20th century, about the time I was born.  No matter if things in life make you happy, sad, or mad—blues is a way to express and share our feelings. Now many of us who experienced the heyday of live blues are aging and passing from the scene. We want to leave the music for new generations, but the fact is, music has not been taught in Chicago schools for over 30 years.  Kids on the West and South Side whose great grandparents might have been master musicians do not know how to play an instrument, or sing in older styles.   But some are curious about what went on before their lifetimes. That’s why my partner, West Side Blues ambassador Larry Taylor and I, with our neighbors, created the nonprofit FOUR Blues Inc NFP and obtained tax deductible 501c3 status from the IRS.  We’re connecting with people and nonprofits tackling the tough issues around us—shortages of food and housing, mental illness and addiction; education, health, political and judicial systems that struggle to address what people are going through. FOUR Blues can’t solve all the problems in our hood.  But we can change the vibe and help the community build from its own positive assets—like blues music!  Older folks come out of their senior buildings to enjoy their favorite songs.  We reach out to younger generations by featuring spoken-word poets at each concert.  The seniors applaud. We know we’re doing right.

Blues in the Hood for 2026

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FOUR Blues Inc NFP

**FOUR Blues Inc NFP Context Profile**

1. **Organization Mission & Cause:**
   - FOUR Blues Inc NFP is dedicated to promoting blues music and its cultural significance within the community, particularly in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. Their mission is to engage people of all ages through blues music, fostering community spirit and cultural appreciation. They aim to provide educational workshops and live performances to keep the blues tradition alive and accessible.

2. **Type of Activities:**
   - The organization hosts community events such as all-ages blues shows and house party fundraisers, which are inspired by the traditional urban blues rent parties. These events often include live performances, singalongs, and discussions about the cultural impact of blues music. They also conduct workshops for young people, teaching them about blues music and performance.

3. **Tone of Voice:**
   - The tone of voice used by FOUR Blues Inc NFP is friendly, inviting, and community-focused. They employ an inspiring and engaging style, encouraging participation and support from the community. The language is casual yet passionate, reflecting their dedication to the cause and the cultural importance of blues music.

4. **Emoji Usage:**
   - The organization does not prominently use emojis in their communications, maintaining a straightforward and text-focused approach in their messaging.

5. **Key Facts:**
   - **Founding Info:** Specific founding details are not provided on the website.
   - **Scale:** The organization operates primarily within the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, focusing on local community engagement.
   - **Impact Metrics:** They highlight their involvement in educational programs, such as assisting afterschool classes with music performances, and emphasize their role in cultural preservation through community events.
   - **Volunteer Info:** While specific volunteer details are not mentioned, they invite community members to host events and participate in their activities.

6. **Writing Guidelines:**
   - **Style:** Use a conversational and inclusive tone that reflects community engagement and cultural appreciation. Highlight the significance of blues music and its impact on the community.
   - **Content Focus:** Emphasize the cultural and educational aspects of their programs, the importance of community participation, and the historical significance of blues music.
   - **Structure:** Use clear and inviting language, with calls to action that encourage community involvement and support for their events and initiatives.
   - **Visuals:** While the organization does not heavily rely on emojis, incorporating images of past events and community interactions can enhance the storytelling aspect of their communications.

By adhering to these guidelines and insights, AI-generated content can effectively capture the essence of FOUR Blues Inc NFP and support their mission to promote and preserve blues music within the community.

FOUR Blues Inc NFP

Blues in the Hood for 2026

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