The Full Story
About
BUMP was founded by Dr. Georgiary Bledsoe in Boston, MA in 2005 as Boston Urban Music Project, Inc. During this initial stage, BUMP implemented exploratory programs and served nearly 500 students, attracting many collaborative partners and strong community support. At a 2009 Music Educators National Conference, the over 100 music educators from across the country we surveyed overwhelmingly indicated a need and desire for the programming and support materials BUMP resourced. BUMP established operations in Durham in late 2012 and became BUMP, Inc. BUMP: The Triangle launched programming in 2014 and has done workshops and residencies serving over 700 children annually in public schools through CAPS; and in after-school settings through a range of partnering organizations like the Durham Housing Authority, the Emily K Center, and Student U.
Joy Harrell Goff is BUMP's Visionary Conductor and Executive Director. BUMP's short term future plans include growing our direct service programming to impact more youth in the community.
Vision
Our vision is a future where youth draw strength from African-diasporic heritage and creativity to imagine new possibilities. Guided by culture bearers and rooted in community, they honor tradition while innovating through the arts to cultivate belonging, wellness, and transformation—leading with cultural pride, creativity, and joy.
Rooted in culture.
Driven by creativity.
Advancing innovation through African diasporic arts.
Our Why...
We are living in a time when young people need creative, cultural, and emotional tools to navigate an increasingly complex world. At a moment when arts programs are underfunded, cultural histories are contested, and many youth feel disconnected from identity and community, BUMP offers a liberatory alternative. Through African-diasporic arts, we connect youth to ancestral knowledge and living traditions that affirm who they are and where they come from.
Our work transforms cultural heritage into a source of innovation—inviting youth to see themselves not only as artists, but as creators, problem solvers, and future leaders. In today’s polarized climate, BUMP provides spaces for belonging, expression, and healing, where creativity becomes a catalyst for resilience and joy. By centering African-diasporic culture and advancing innovation through the arts, BUMP ensures that the next generation is both grounded in history and equipped to imagine and build a more just, vibrant, and connected future.
