Jon Bernson is the founder and instructor of the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center's Urban Music Program, which has been providing youth with outlets for pure artistic expression since 1997. A prime example of youth development in action, the program has been featured in the SF Weekly, the SF Chronicle and in Scratch, an international award-winning film that documents the history of DJ culture and turntablism.

In addition to teaching youth the fundamentals of DJ'ing, the program also teaches youth how to sample, record and compose electronic music, as well as the basics of soundtracking and sound design. In 2003 the program added a mentoring element, which puts high school students in a position to teach younger students and gain job experience (of the good variety).

Bernson is also the songwriter and recordist behind Ray's Vast Basement, an indie musical act that combines songs, soundtracks and fiction. He is a member of the Howells Transmitter arts collaborative and has served as a soundboard to many other music programs around the country that seek fresh and unorthodox ways to inspire their youth.