Transparent Christian Magazine

If Joshua Wienczkowski was a painting, he would be a mosaic.  He’s a writer, musician, business man, implementer, philanthropist, coordinator and ‘idea guy’.  We recently got together to talk about his newest passion, Nashville.Hearts.Haiti.

Transparent:  Tell me about you.  I know you have a background in music, and a real heart for people, but give me some of your personal history.
Josh: I grew up in West Michigan as the youngest of four boys with an incredible family that always told me, “if you are happy, we support you” regardless of what ‘me being happy’ entailed.

I picked up my first karaoke machine when I was 4 and sang “Achy Breaky Heart” until the batteries died, (laughs) I was addicted from that point on.  I wrote my first song in the second grade and haven’t stopped.  I joined a band when I was 15 that I stayed with for 5 years and that ultimately proved to be my education in promoting concerts.

I played my first worship set when I was 16 and have tried my hardest to never leave my knees spiritually.  I started going to college, but to be honest found it completely useless.  I worked for a label for 2 years until they went bankrupt and then I packed up and headed to Nashville.  I’m about to turn 23 and I wake up every day thinking, “I can’t believe this is really my life.”

I work for an incredible company called Audio Space that supports me just like my family and I design and coordinate events at the Music City Lab.  I also own a full service production company and studio called The Lab Music Group with one of my best friends.  I feel truly blessed beyond anything I deserve.

Transparent:  What is Nashville.Hearts.Haiti?
Josh: Nashville.Hearts.Haiti is an event set on raising over $50,000 to build a new orphanage compound in Haiti.  We partnered up with Hands and Feet and Hope Force International to make sure we knew that the funds we raised would have a longer standing impact than just sending food and blankets.  Granted, those items are needed, but we are focusing our efforts into supporting Haiti 20 years from now.

Transparent:  How did it come about?
Josh: The event came up when one of my partners, Axel Burgos introduced me to a wonderful young woman, Autumn Bradley.  She met with us at Music City Lab and shared this “mustard seed” of an idea.  Since then, Axel and I have started a trust fund called Music Gives Trust and managed to get to where we are now.  It started with one girl’s heart here in Nashville and is now reaching lives on a global level.

Transparent:  Who’s involved?
Josh: Our lineup (in no particular order) includes: Audio Adrenaline’s Mark Stuart and Will McGinniss, Rachael Lampa, Andrea Thomas, Avenue Bank’s The Hummingbirds, Brian Cooney, Ka*Pop’s David Gallagher, Parker Welling and Charmaine.

Sponsors of our event include: Audio Space, Music Gives Trust, Stage Works, TLS Inc., XL Video, Rabbit Hole Recording, Avenue Bank, Hands and Feet, Hope Force International, Carlton Financial Group, Samick Guitars, The Lab Music Group and TONS of local businesses donating services and products.

The variety of donated auction items is really incredible. Naticakes has donated delicious cupcakes, and one organization has donated a 5 day vacation to anywhere in the world.

People keep hopping on board and offering more than I could ever ask for, so I’ll have to update this list of sponsors daily!

Transparent:  When and Where?
Josh: At Music City Labs on Friday, March 5th at 6:00.  We are located in Cummins Station, and the address is:  209 10th Avenue South, Suite 230
Nashville, TN  37203.

Transparent:  What are you hoping to accomplish with this concert?
Josh: Nashville has been writing songs about friendship, love and supporting our ‘fellow man’ for decades.  I want to see the community of Nashville come together and accomplish what we’ve been writing about! I do want to raise over $50,000 for Haiti, but more than anything I want Nashville to realize how big of an influence we really can be in the world when we come together.  I feel that this event can single handedly change how benefits are done in the near and distant future.

Transparent:  Hasn’t this been done before in Nashville?  How are you separating yourself from the myriad of Nashville music events raising money and why do you think this will be successful?
Josh: That’s funny you mention it.  There are actually a baker’s dozen of other Haiti events going on within the next month here in Nashville.  Ours is different for a lot of reasons.  First, I challenge you to find a more incredible venue in the U.S. than Music City Lab.  Did you watch the Super Bowl this year?  One of our companies in the Lab (XL Video) did that crazy awesome half time show you saw.  Now imagine that half time show in a cool facility with great sound and a great vibe, and excellent music.

We’re separating ourselves with the slogan of Nashville.Hearts.Haiti: “unity through diversity.”  We’ve taken an approach to booking our artists where we don’t care if they’re country, pop, rock, soul or Christian artists.  We care about their heart and getting behind the vision of the community of Nashville coming together and “hearting” Haiti.

I’m really driven and have been working really hard, but honestly I’ve never seen so many people, artists and companies come together so quickly and flawlessly.  I was joking the other day with Axel about how we should just let the event run itself because of how overwhelming the response from Nashville has been.

Transparent:  Where is the money going once it’s raised?
Josh: All of the money will go to Music Gives Trust, which Carlton Financial Group set up for Axel and me.  Then, Music Gives Trust will write a check (hopefully for $50,000) to Hands and Feet and Hope Force International.  Carlton Financial Group is also helping us roll funds into an annuity which will give us over $200,000 to contribute to Haiti over the next 20 years.

Transparent:  How can people get involved?
Josh: People can get involved by doing 3 things:
1. Come to the concert!  (Laughs).  Come to Nashville.Hearts.Haiti on March 5th and bring everyone you know!
2. Going to www.musicgivestrust.org and donating what they can to “heart” Haiti.
3. If anyone or any company wants to get involved, they can donate products or services that we can auction off during the event.

Transparent:  What time is the event and how much does the concert cost?
Josh: Friday, March 5th at 6:00 pm.  The suggested donation is $20 and we’ll be auctioning off items where people can win anything from tropical vacations to financial advising packages.

Transparent:  Is this a one of a kind event, or do you see carrying this on in the future?
Josh: We started Music Gives Trust specifically so we can continue to offer support to Haiti and other causes.  We feel we have some gifts in the music industry, connections, friends, venues etc.  We want to use those gifts to help others.  We’re already planning our next big event, a month long concert series in May on the riverfront.

Transparent:  How has God blown your mind during this project?
Josh: God has blown my mind in a thousand and seven ways during this project.  It went from, “Haiti is thousands of miles away and I don’t know anyone there… how and why should I make an impact?” to God moving in me to realize that because of this event, we are able to offer a brand new day for Haiti.  It’s absolutely mind boggling to me to think that a child I may never meet will have the chance of never being family-less again because of an event I’m coordinating.  It keeps me up at night and wakes me early thinking that people will be loved without me ever hugging them.

I get choked up when I think that there’s a child way down there that may get a blanket or food and think, “I’m clothed and fed… but what about someone to love me… what about a family?…”  I can’t even begin to comprehend the idea that because of one night, someone’s life will NEVER be the same.  The earthquake changed their lives in less than a minute, why can’t we change their lives in less than a day?  Love Wins!

Join me in attending Nashville.Hearts.Haiti this Friday! We can all do our part to support Josh – while he supports others!

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To learn more about Music City Trust or this event, you can e-mail Josh here:  joshw@audiospacellc.com or call him here: 615-301-8432.

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