Jon Bernson is the founder and coordinator of the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center's Urban Music Program (UMP), 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 acclaimed international film that documents the history of DJ culture and turntablism.

UMP teaches youth how to DJ, sample, record and compose electronic music, as well as the basics of mixing and sound design. Three times per year, students contribute to a compilation cd of original music called 'Beacon Beats'. Volume 21 is due for completion this December. 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). Since 2008, the program's advanced participants have been making experimental and avant garde music under T H E M A Y S moniker. Their debut cd 'K N O W F I' is available through the east bay record label Gigante Sound.

Outside of UMP, Bernson is the songwriter behind several musical acts, including Ray's Vast Basement and Window Twins. He is a member of the Howells Transmitter arts collaborative and has written original music for dozens of plays and films.