Tag Archives: Chicago Public Schools

Rapper Common Makes Surprise Visit to Chicago High School

Common praising Dunbar Academy students for their good grades and attendance. Photo Courtesy: @ChiPubSchools Twitter

Common praising Dunbar Academy students for their good grades and attendance.
Photo Courtesy: @ChiPubSchools Twitter

In between doing press for new movie “Run All Night” and organizing a fundraiser for his Common Ground Foundation–which he and new musical sidekick John Legend performed for—Common squeezed in a mentoring session.

Last week he spoke to honor roll students at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy in the South Side of Chicago. The rapper congratulated them on their excellent grades and I’m sure they tossed praise his way for his recent Oscar and Grammy wins. Even if he didn’t bring the trophies for a show-and-tell. Tsk Tsk what a wasted opportunity that could be used to illustrate what the kids possibilities look like. And have them hold it in their hands so they know it’s real.

Oh well.

Instead he chatted with the teens about his past and the value of education.

All issues he covers in his Common Ground Foundation that emphasis’ leadership, money management and artistic expression. Skills that are sharpened the most during high school years.

A few days after the classroom visit, Common held his “Evening of Glory” fundraiser. And posted highlights on the org’s YouTube page.

Christina Milian, Sway and Chance the Rapper ‘Get Schooled’

chancesway

In honor of MLK day of service, Chance the rapper and Sway visited Malcolm X College in Chicago to help donate $100,000 to Chicago Public Schools.

Chance, a Chi-town native, took part in the first annual Get Schooled, Get Connected Challenge event.

The educational initiative was in celebration of the whiz kids that aced a series of “quests” related to digital literacy and college prep.

The future techies were awarded laptops, gaming consoles and fitness gear for completing over 50,000 quests. And if free swag isn’t enough of a motivator, Internet Essentials presented a $100,000 check to divide among six high schools used to boost digital literacy in schools through new computer labs and WiFi coverage.

christinamiliaswayChristina Milian made a surprise appearance to the event.

“It means a lot when celebs come to the city and give back to a community they aren’t from,” says Chance, recently named “Outstanding Youth of the Year” by Chicago’s mayor, Rahm Emmanuel, for his activist work in combating youth violence in Chicago.The “Acid Rap” rapper received a plaque for his good works last year.

At the Get Schooled, Get Connected event, Chance talked to kids about how he used the Internet to build his music and brand and social media to boost his network.

Great way to honor MLK, Chance.