Bobby Williams, Executive Director
Position: Executive Director
Tenure with the Organization: Since 2014
Biography:
Bobby Williams is a hip hop musician and performer. Through his music he has traveled and performed across three countries including India, Mexico and the continental United States.
Bobby worked as a foster care case manager for several years, working with youth who had often bounced between multiple foster placements. It was there Bobby began bringing his laptop to youth’s foster homes and teaching them how to write and record. He found that these youth were taking this experience as an opportunity to process their experience. These early sessions planted the seeds for what would eventually become The Bridge Music Project.
In 2017 Bobby received a fellowship award by The Jubilation Foundation for the work he has done to empower youth in our community. Bobby is an accomplished Hip Hop artist. He has toured across the United States and performed with some of the top names in rap, including Blackalicious and Dead Prez.
In addition to his work with The Bridge, Bobby is the host of The Parental Compass, a weekly podcast where Bobby interviews experts to leave parents with real advice they can use.
Marisha McDowell
Position: Music Mentor
Tenure with the Organization: Since 2014
Biography:
Marisha and our executive director, Bobby first began working together as case-aids with an Olympia, WA based foster care agency. Their work included driving youth to appointments, enrichment activities, and coordination with foster families. However, their most important role was building relationships with the youth they served.
Since childhood Marisha had a passion for writing and understood the therapeutic value it has. Marisha is a poet and book author who writes about trauma, relationships, and healing.
In 2014, The Bridge hosted their pilot songwriting workshop with Marisha as a Music Mentor. This group included eight youth and was held after hours at an alternative high school. Since that time Marisha has been a Music Mentor at nearly every Olympia Community Songwriting Workshop.
Given Marisha’s professional background, she brings a unique trauma-informed perspective to The Bridge. The supportive relationships that Marisha builds with youth create an environment that brings out their true artistry.
Outside of her work with The Bridge, Marisha published her first full length book, “Learning to Fly” in 2021.
Micheal Jones
Position: Participant (2014- 2019) Workshop Mentor & Lead Facilitator (2019-2022)
Tenure with the Organization: Since 2014
Biography:
Growing up was not an easy experience for Micheal. At age 13 Michael was removed from his mother’s care and sent to live with his grandmother. The trauma that Michael experienced left with extreme behavior challenges beyond his grandmother’s capabilities. At age 14, Micheal was placed into foster care.
A strength that helped Michael through these difficult times was his passion for music. He loved to dance and would whenever given the opportunity. During a stay at Haven House group, Michael joined The Bridge’s pilot songwriting workshop. It was there that Michael realized his talent for rapping and songwriting.
Throughout his teenage years, Micheal had multiple foster placements, stays at Haven House, and times where he was incarcerated. Simultaneously, he continued The Bridge’s workshops and became an organic leader among the group. At the workshops, Micheal’s charisma and positive energy set a tone that exuded fun.
Micheal’s music career has continued to flourish. He performs his own concerts, has performed alongside The Bridge across Washington, and most recently was opening act for Brother Ali.
Now as an adult, Micheal is in a position where he can give back to the community he came from. Michael is a mentor in The Bridge’s one-on-one mentorship program, leads the Haven House workshops, and is co-facilitator in our Olympia Community Songwriting Workshops.
Micheal sees how much of an impact music and community had on him growing up. His desire is to be that same support for the next generation of artists in our community.
Matt Smokovich
Position: Teaching Artist/ Lead producer
Tenure with The Bridge: Since 2016
Biography:
As a teenager, several artists took Matt under their wing to help him develop his skills. Matt grew up as a member of the Christian Hip Hop scene, learning from well-known artists like MG the Visionary. At age 14, Matt learned how to rap, make beats, and record.
In 2000, at age 18, Matt joined the artist collective Oldominon. The Oldominon collective included several heavy hitters of Seattle’s Underground Hip Hop scene. At that time, Matt was leaning in to his identity as a producer and became one of the lead beat makers for the collective’s 25+ artists.
Producing for these many artists gave Matt a unique opportunity to hone his skills. He became a prolific beat maker. The variety of artists forced him to become familiar with all different styles and approaches to music making.
Today Matt continues to produce beats for artists across the country. He also frequently licenses his music in commercials for major companies such as Kit Kat, Samsung, and Adidas.
The impact that music and community had on Matt as a young person is what drives his work with The Bridge today. Matt is now The Bridge’s lead producer, consistently recording, mixing, and mastering youth’s original music. He also is a Teaching Artists that leads workshops on audio production and beat making.
Matt’s kind spirt, humor, and creativity combined with his knowledge and dedication make him an essential component of The Bridge’s team.