Don’t let details and the pursuit of perfection get in the way of accomplishing the mission, advises Jami Duffy, executive director at nonprofit Youth on Record (YOR).
“Women are often taught to be perfect, which prevents us from taking risks in business,” Duffy said. “I’ve always led with the idea that perfection is the enemy of inspiration. I structure projects, deals and programs with this philosophy in mind: Lead with bold vision that creates a positive community impact. Design a cohesive strategy — but don’t let details slow your launch. Move quickly, with intention, and work out the nitty-gritty as you go.”
YOR is a nonprofit organization offering education, music and community programs designed to help young people become freer, more rooted in their personal power and better able to thrive in spite of systems and circumstances that disempower and marginalize them. “YOR designs and implements strengths-based, music-centered programs intended to equip young people from historically under-resourced communities with skills needed to find success in life by advancing their academic success, increasing their economic opportunities and career skills and strengthening their community connections and networks,” the nonprofit said.
YOR was originally founded by Denver music group and community organizers Flobots and named Flobots.org. Duffy was just 28 years old at the time she was named executive director in 2009, when Flobots.org had an operations budget of around $120,000 per year.
In the 14 years since its founding, YOR has grown tremendously. The organization grew out of its original tiny headquarters and moved into its Youth Media Studio, built in partnership with Denver Housing Authority in the Mariposa neighborhood. YOR’s staff has grown from three full-time employees to nearly 20 full-time staff. The organization now serves more than 1,700 youth every year.
With Duffy at the helm, YOR purchased a music festival, and the organization is officially co-owner of The Underground Music Showcase. In addition to managing a successful $2.2 million capital campaign that resulted in the construction of Denver’s only state-of-the-art, industry-standard recording studio designed by and for youth, Duffy has transformed the way YOR supports its participants and shifted the way the organization approaches innerlife work and office culture-building.
Duffy is the co-founder and Arts & Culture Committee chair of a local advocacy organization, All In Denver. She serves as a member of Denver’s Cultural Affairs Commission and on Denver’s Public Art Policy Committee and the national Music Policy Forum Advisory Committee, and she is the co-chair of Purpose:CiviCO’s committee.
Duffy was featured by Denver Westword as the 2023 Impact Leader to Watch and was most recently named a Colorado Changemaker by Notley Ventures.
In recent years, Duffy has served on the Hadley Library Public Art Selection Committee, the National Western Complex Public Art Selection Committee, Back to School Night School Board Candidate Forum Planning Committee and Denver’s Mayoral Palooza Candidate Forum Planning Committee.
