Dream It.  Do It.  Tell It.  This is what the Concert Corps is all about - and we're putting the systems in place to make it easier for each part of the process to happen and inspire others to follow our lead.  There's a common thread in all of this, too... FISH!  Confused?  Read on to learn about some of the people, places, and things we think are pretty darn cool.

DREAMERS - City Year & Pepperidge Farm 

Service requires VISION - to see things not as they are, but rather as they should be.  Pepperidge Farm, one of City Year's National Leadership Sponsors, recently created the new Starfish cracker.  The vision of City Year is that one day, the most commonly asked question of a young person will be, "Where are you going to do your service year?"  By building their brand and raising revenue, Pepperidge Farm is helping City Year get closer to making their dream a reality. 

DOERS - Pike Street Market

Service requires ACTION - to turn ideas into reality and make the impact on an individual, community, or the world.  We can learn a thing or two from the fine folks at Pike Place Market, who tirelessly bring service with smile to their customers in Seattle.  In our service, it's about going the extra mile and showing people how much fun it is to actually get out there and make the magic happen!  Do a quick search for "Pike Place Fish" on YouTube.com and see for yourself...   

STORYTELLERS - Big Fish

Service requires PRIDE - to acknowledge the difference you've made by carefully crafting your message, sharing your story, and inspiring others to take action.  This may feel a little weird, but trust us... unless people hear from YOU about the difference you're making, they'll assume you're just wasting your time, energy, and resources.  Like Edward Bloom in the movie Big Fish, be proud of your unique experiences - even (and especially) if you feel misunderstood... you never know who you'll inspire in the process of telling your story!

The Concert Corps is excited, and extremely grateful to be partnering with maax, Inc.  From all of us at 300 Bedford Street in Manchester, we hope that you'll join us in sharing our vision, action, and pride through music and the joy of community service... 

MAAX, INC.

Meet Jeb Gutelius.  He and his brother Luke started a clothing design and manufacturering company called maax.  They are the official merchandisers of some of our favorite Concert Corps artists. 

The Brothers Gutelius are great guys who take the time to give back to their local communities through organizations like the Steppingstone Foundation, the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation, and Manchester Youth Leadership.  They also graciously offered to house the Concert Corps in their factory on Bedford Street.  Cool, huh?! 

Jeb believed in the idea of the Concert Corps.  He had friends who served with AmeriCorps through City Year in Boston and thought it was neat that the New Hampshire site was located in the offices of The Timberland Company in Stratham.  When the Concert Corps was looking to break out on our own, Jeb offered the maax factory as potential officespace.

We dreamt it, maax is helping us do it, and we're going to do our best to share our story with you every step of the way.  Whether it's through this website, up on the Concert Corps blog, or recorded on our podcast, you can be sure to keep tabs on how we - and others - are changing the world through music.  It's all coming soon right on this very webpage!

maax, too, has a fish connection.  Their logo is a fish.  A bluefish to be exact - from Bluefish River, which flows through Duxbury, Massachusetts.  The Gutelius Family's garage was very close to the Bluefish River growing up.  In the spring of 1999, Jeb & Luke started selling visors to local Duxbury kids from the garage.  From such humble beginnings, maax has grown and built their brand around quality and personal relationships.