Our Mission

Own Your Own Universe (OYOU) is a 501 C3 non-profit organization based out of San Marcos and Martindale, Texas. We also provide some of our services statewide. Our mission is to transform lives through music and the creative arts. We do this by offering dynamic, year-round in-person and online programs for people of all ages and abilities.

Because accessibility starts with affordability, the OYOU keeps our events free or low-cost. We also maintain a robust scholarship program to ensure no one is turned away. Every program empowers individuals to explore music, creative writing, the arts, and personal growth in a supportive and inclusive community.

We are especially proud of the fact that all of our programs are accessable for individuals with special needs, those facing financial hardship, and people navigating health challenges. Whether at our home base at Wilory Farm in Martindale, throughout Caldwell, Hays, and Guadalupe counties, or across Texas, OYOU fosters creativity, connection, and healing.

In 2026, our programs continue to grow. OYOUth, our flagship youth initiative, now includes four summer music camps for ages eight to nineteen, with dedicated sessions for children with special needs. Scholarships ensure every child has access, and our reach continues to expand across the Hill Country and into rural and at-risk communities statewide. The OYOU also now offers the “OYOUth Writer’s Nest,” a hybrid songwriting and performance program available online and in person.

Our Creative Empowerment programs include the Writer’s Nest and Bucket List Songwriting workshops, which support both beginners and seasoned artists through six-week sessions online that culminate in public and online group concerts, for adults ages twenty and up.

We also provide year-round creative writing, music, and art workshops for youth, adults, and seniors, both online and in person. Many of our online sessions also focus on mental health, wellness, and practical tools designed to enhance quality of life.

Now in its twelfth year, our annual Women’s Retreat continues to offer inspiration, creativity, and renewal at a low cost. Unlike anything else in Texas, this program provides sponsorships for women facing medical challenges, caregivers, hospice workers, teachers, and social workers.

Our OYOU Song Circles, held monthly for ages twelve and up, offer low-pressure, high-joy gatherings where songwriters, singers, and musicians of all levels can share music and build community.

OYOU SongBuddies serves verbal and nonverbal adults with special needs and seniors in assisted living through songwriting workshops that culminate in a celebratory public concert.

Through our “Playing for Good” initiative, we bring free and affordable programs to libraries, schools, senior centers, and community centers across Texas.

Our Artistic Advocacy work provides paid opportunities for musicians, workshop leaders, and visual artists—many of whom have overcome personal health challenges—to share their gifts and mentor others.

Community enrichment remains a cornerstone of OYOU. Our free Snowbird Concert Series, established in 2014, and our annual Tammi Fest music festival create joyful spaces where art and community meet.

Our monthly podcast, “Own Your Own Universe with Terri Hendrix,” offers thirty-minute episodes released on the first Tuesday of each month on all major podcast platforms. The podcast highlights stories of resilience, creativity, and purpose that inspire listeners to see possibility in the impossible.

Our commitment to accessibility guides everything we do. We work to break down financial, physical, and social barriers that keep people from accessing the arts. Scholarships are available for every program and support children, veterans, educators, individuals with disabilities, people on fixed incomes, and those undergoing medical treatment.

OYOU was founded by singer-songwriter and epilepsy advocate Terri Hendrix, who turned to music and writing as lifelines after her diagnosis at age twenty-one. Her personal journey of resilience and creativity shaped the heart of OYOU: a community where art empowers healing, connection, and self-expression. Since becoming a nonprofit in 2012, OYOU has helped hundreds of individuals discover their voices and live more expressive lives.

Your generosity makes our work possible. Donations support scholarships and keep programs and events free or low-cost, allowing us to expand our outreach. Sponsorships help bring free concerts and workshops to the communities that need them most. Grants and partnerships amplify underrepresented voices and create opportunities for artists to thrive.

Together, we can continue to transform lives through music, creativity, and community.