History of Don’t Miss A Beat
Don’t Miss A Beat was founded in 2008 by Ulysses Owens, Jr. and his family. Owens began playing drums at just two years old. Shortly thereafter his mother, Gwendolyn, enrolled him in classical piano lessons.
Owens later attended Jacksonville’s Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, where he became part of their inaugural jazz program and graduated with a full scholarship to New York’s Juilliard School.
After graduating from Juilliard in 2006, Owens traveled the world as a jazz drummer, but one day he read about his hometown’s student dropout rate and other youth problems.
That’s when Owens and his family decided to act, and Don’t Miss A Beat (DMAB) was born.
Don’t Miss A Beat began with the singular objective—helping suspended youth stay in school so they wouldn’t “miss a beat.” Today, the program blends music, art, academic achievement, and civic engagement to enhance the lives of children, teens, and their parents in Jacksonville’s At-Hope neighborhoods.
2007
The show gets started
The Don’t Miss A Beat (DMAB) Company and Board of Directors are formed by the Owens, Poitier, Sibley, Bass, and Ings Families.
2008
First positions
First grant from Jacksonville Children’s Commission (today’s Kids Hope Alliance)
First Music and Art Summer Camp at Holly Brook Housing Development, creating, composing, and directing its first musical production, “Diamond Tales”
First Summer Camp Showcase at City Rescue Mission
2010
Enter stage right
DMAB moves to JS Johnson Center
Serves first DMAB Thanksgiving Dinner
Creates the first DMAB Holiday Production and Toy Drive
2016
Doors open even wider
Edith B. Ford Center officially renamed Don’t Miss a Beat Community Center
2017
We can make it anywhere
DMAB makes it to NYC and The Juilliard School with “Back to Bach”
Partnership inked with UNF Music Mentors Program
2018
Playing with the pros
Partners with Sulzbacher Chartrand Foundation
DMAB All Stars perform at Jax Jazz Festival with Ulysses Owens Jr.
2019
Meet us in the Park
DMAB launches its Community Art Festival at Woodstock Park.
2020
Award-winning work
Awarded Outstanding Champion for Diversity Award by AFP Philanthropy Day
Movement House launches
First community mural is unveiled
Continues pandemic programming via Zoom
Celebrates Summer Cabaret in the Park
Awarded NEA Arts Grant
2021
Announcing The Jazz Festival
2022
Encore! Encore!
Produces 2nd community mural
2023
Growing and giving back
Honored with the Mayoral Partnership Award by Mayor Lenny Curry
Presents Conversations with Legends with Alfred Woodard and Alexander Smalls
Performs first cabaret with Players By the Sea
Awarded NEA Grant
Bringing the world to Jacksonville through the power of mentorship
2024
And the show goes on
DMAB Announces Capital Improvement Patio Project
DMAB launches New Seamstress Suite
Kicks of its 2024 programming with a Spring Cabaret performance at Players by the Sea Theatre
Its Flagship Broadway Summer Camp Experience turns sweet 16!
Summer performance at Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts