Hip-Hop For High School Dropouts

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Dedicated leaders and unwavering foregoers of youth advocacy, the Youth Development and Research Fund (YDRF) will launch a hip-hop CD compilation entitled: Strength of a Nation 2 (SON2) through Alive and Free Records (AFR), a division of YDRF that is dedicated to promoting and producing original music to inspire and uplift the Hip-Hop Generation. Targeting out-of-school youth between the ages of 14-24, Strength of a Nation 2 will include hip-hop music from aspiring rap artists from youth and workforce development programs throughout the nation. Through this project, YDRF is seeking to reach a population that many educators deem as unreachable.

Strength of a Nation 2 (SON2) -"No One Deserves to Be Left Behind" is a project inspired by thousands of out-of-school youth in the struggle trying to get up out the struggle. The unique venture will serve as a key component in combating rising high school drop-out rates and decreasing levels of youth unemployment, while concomitantly serving as an offset to the current trend of hip-hop music that often glorifies the thug lifestyle.

Commencing in September 2006, registered programs can start submitting tracks from students with a satisfactory level of participation. All hip-hop tracks should focus on the challenges faced by out-of-school youth while achieving their personal, educational, and occupational goals. Each month, YDRF will post reviewed, submitted tracks on www.YDRF.com for listening pleasure. Registered programs will receive YDRF signature activities to use in conjunction with selected songs. These activities will focus on raising student awareness of issues that affect their socio-economic life chances. One of the tracks will be selected based on a review team of YDRF PSWs and staff to receive a $500 developmental scholarship* and be scheduled to appear on the SON2 Project to be released in June 2007.

"We feel that Strength of a Nation 2 will be successful in providing a national outlet to help promote life, freedom, and future economic opportunity. Moreover, it is a great platform to get youth involved in speaking about the issues that affect their future economic success", states YDRF President, Edward DeJesus.

With a network of more than 1,000 youth service organizations in 38 states, YDRF anticipates more than 200 programs will register for this very important effort with more than 10,000 youth directly impacted by the contest.

SON 2 is already creating a buzz among the Youth Service Community. Eugene Bell form Madera California states," our youth are excited to be part of such an activity."

On another note, DeJesus is hoping that youth who are not out-of school and not enrolled in a program will use this opportunity to seek educational and employment services. "We have 5.4 million out of school youth in the U.S.," DeJesus remarks. "Yet we only have 250,000 program slots, which many remain unfilled." DeJesus and his team at YDRF are using SON 2 as a way to connect those youth who are disconnected with the programs and services that they need the most.