Josiah B.
Biography
Josiah Bruny is a trailblazer for systematic change through arts and culture. Josiah is the CEO and Founder of Music Changing Lives, (MCL), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the highest quality music and art enrichment programs paired with academic support, civic engagement, and financial literacy to underprivileged and at-risk youth ages 5 and older.
Josiah's vision is to build new-age community centers around the nation for at-promise youth who are aspiring to learn what it takes to compete in the entertainment industry and to teach them how to become successful entrepreneurs. Prior to establishing MCL, Josiah created and led the independent record label, Higher Ground Records, LLC to become one of the leading underground labels in Southern California.
Josiah was raised in Altadena, California for most of his young life, but now considers the Inland Empire his home. Due to his hard work and dedication to the youth in his community, Josiah has been honored with several notable awards including President George H. W. Bush's Daily Point of Light Award, the Executive Director of the Year presented by the Community Foundation, Cal State University of San Bernardino's Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, and the Western Riverside Council of Governments Outstanding Community Service Award to name a few honoring his efforts of service through Music Changing Lives.
In 2012, Josiah collaborated with the Moreno Valley Unified School District, (MVUSD) to establish what is now known as the "Changing Lives Showcase," a performance-art competition between schools in MVUSD. Josiah's vision is to replicate his program throughout the region and one day the nation, "changing lives, one note at a time."
Since the pandemic, Music Changing Lives has further evolved under Josiah's leadership to meet the needs of the community. MCL now distributes over 40,000 lbs. of fresh produce each week to children, families, and seniors in need and recently created the 1st open Urban Garden in San Bernardino that has become a food forest with 51 species of fruit trees, corn peppers, and more, every fourth Sunday their team provides gardening and healthy eating classes free to all who attend. In response to the social injustices nationwide, Josiah and his team at MCL are taking control of the narrative by leading a Know justice Know Peace Mural Tour where they "Spread Paint, Not Hate" across Southern California. To date, The Know Justice Know Peace Mural Tour was established to address social injustice, polarization, and exclusion. Through the Know Justice Know Peace Mural Tour, we are endeavoring to build a culture of people working together to create meaningful and beautiful works of art throughout our region and beyond. The "Know Justice Know Peace Mural Tour" has revitalized numerous cities including, San Bernardino, Riverside, Rialto, Fontana, Thousand Palms, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga, Moreno Valley, Victorville, Colton, Perris, El Monte, Pomona, and Pasadena.
