In 2013 Drake donated $75,000 to Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion High School. The rapper was said to be moved by a report he watched on the issues that most students in Philly are faced with. The studio is now up-and-running.
ABC News aired a segment on he school’s principal Linda Cliatt-Wayman’s efforts to change the high school. She has used tough-love tactics to help reduce campus assaults and other issues since becoming principal two years ago. Strawberry Mansion, where Meek Mill attended before dropping out, is in of the Philly’s most dangerous and poorest neighborhoods. Most students perform under grade level in reading and math.
Drake stopped by the Philly high school after a tour stop in October 2013 to donate the money for the studio. He met with a group of school officials and a select few members of the school community telling them, “This is about you. This is about your principal. This is about your future. I love you. I care about you. I want to see you succeed.”
The school’s principal Linda Cliatt-Wayman spoke on the studio saying, “We thought we were going to be ready to go in September. They’ve been dying to get in.” Due to issues with the budget and the school’s past reputation of violence, Cliatt-Wayman said it was difficult to find an instructor for the program. As of late-February part-time music teacher, Ben Diamond, has been instructing the students in the studio.
The rapper’s team assembled the studio over the summer. New keyboards, equipment, and acoustic accessories were brought in. Existing sound booths were also revamped, cleaned, and painted. After all the work was completed, the rooms sat unused for months. Even when Diamond was brought on, students showed little to no interest in the studio production class. It was not until a song created in the room was broadcasted over the public address system that students began enrolling in the program. Until the song was played, many students believed that the equipment didn’t really exist. Wayman explained saying, “You have to prove everything to them. So many people disappoint them.”
Principal Wayman stated that the equipment was not intended to be expensive, but functioning. Students including 17-year-old Josiah Showell have begun to take advantage of the studio. The junior spoke out saying, “the studio inspired me to bring out the love of music that I have inside me. Without the studio, no one would still know I do music.” Zalmir Deputy, a 15-year-old student thanked Drake saying, “I really appreciate it…because this is what we needed.”
Source: HuffPost
© 2015, Julie Aly. All rights reserved.
