About Own Your Own Universe (OYOU)

Empowering lives through accessible arts, music, and creative connection

 

Own Your Own Universe (OYOU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization based in San Marcos and Martindale, Texas, with a mission to make the arts accessible to all. We believe in the transformative power of creativity to connect mind, body, and spirit. Through inclusive, low-cost, and free programs, we empower individuals of all backgrounds and abilities to explore music, creative writing, and personal growth.

 

From youth music camps and song circles to workshops and women’s retreats, OYOU offers dynamic in-person and online experiences throughout the year. We also proudly offer specialized arts and music programming for individuals with special needs and those facing financial or health-related challenges. At our home base—Wilory Farm, a peaceful 12-acre setting in Martindale—and throughout Caldwell, Hays, and Guadalupe Counties, we foster community, self-expression, and healing through the arts.

 

Our Programs & Impact

* Youth Arts Access: We host multiple music camps for youth ages 8–19, including dedicated sessions for children with special needs. Scholarships are available to ensure no child is turned away.

 

* Creative Empowerment: Our Writer’s Nest, music, and songwriting workshops support both beginning and advanced artists. We also offer year-round classes in music and creative writing for adults and seniors.

 

* Inclusive Outreach: Through our Playing for Good initiative, we bring free and low-cost music and writing programs to libraries, nursing homes, schools, and community centers across Texas.

 

* Artistic Advocacy: We provide paid opportunities for musicians, workshop leaders, and visual artists, many of whom have faced personal health challenges and now use their art to mentor and inspire others.

 

* Community Enrichment: Our free public concert series and annual music festival create joyful, welcoming spaces where art and community come together.

 

Our Commitment to Accessibility

OYOU provides scholarships for all programs, awarded based on financial need or personal circumstances. These scholarships serve children, educators, veterans, individuals on fixed incomes, those with disabilities, and patients undergoing medical treatment. We are committed to breaking down barriers—financial, physical, or social—that prevent people from accessing the arts.

 

Our Story

OYOU was founded by singer-songwriter and epilepsy advocate Terri Hendrix, who turned to music and writing as lifelines after her diagnosis at age 21. Her personal journey shaped the foundation of OYOU: an inclusive, supportive community where creativity is a tool for resilience, connection, and self-discovery. Since becoming a nonprofit in 2012, OYOU has empowered hundreds of individuals to live their fullest, most expressive lives.

 

How You Can Help

Your sponsorship, grant funding, or donation directly supports our mission and expands our reach. Together, we can continue to provide essential access to the arts, amplify underrepresented voices, and transform lives through music, creativity, and community.

 

Thank you for supporting the vision of Own Your Own Universe.