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Jennifer Msumba has autism. But she refuses to let it define her. Through music, she has transformed her life. And through her YouTube channel, she is inspiring others to do the same. To help commemorate April as Autism Awareness Month, Jennifer will share her journey with autism and how she creates her YouTube videos, which attract a huge following, at her “ReBranding Autism Workshop.” She will discuss how to keep YouTube followers engaged and how to generate a following. Jennifer will also perform some of her original music. No registration required. Free for all ages. Saturday, April 13, 2-4 p.m. at the Music Compound’s Cattlemen Studio, 1751 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota. For more information, call 941-379-9100. When she first joined the Music Compound (MC) a few years ago, Jennifer was terrified to get up on stage. But once she finally faced her fears, her anxiety began to melt away. Because, Jennifer says, “I was playing music. Something about the music helped my anxiety.” She credits her MC instructor Denise Verheul and MC owner Jenny Alday Townsend for continuing to encourage her. Music helped Jennifer’s confidence grow. She even recently auditioned for “America’s Got Talent.” This newfound self-assuredness impacted Jennifer in other ways, too. She began producing her own videos; a passion, she says, that is not for the faint of heart. “It’s hard work. It can be very nerve-wracking, even for people without autism.” At the beginning, it was just videos of her playing cover songs. Now, her YouTube channel, “ReBranding Autism,” has grown to more than 9,200 subscribers. In her videos, she takes viewers along on her adventures, showing how she overcomes day-to-day struggles. “Having autism doesn't mean you can't have a full life,” Jennifer says. Her goal is to show the world the incredible power of people with autism. “Music Compound is very honored to have joined Jennifer Msumba on her journey - she exemplifies our mission to inspire, collaborate and educate,” Townsend says. “Our team is very proud of her. In her honor, Music Compound would like to donate $1,000 to Easter Seals Southwest, which offers education and support for people with autism.” (Interested in donating or matching MC’s donation? Contact Jenny Alday Townsend at Jenny@MusicCompound.com.)