Kanye West and the charity he co-founded, Donda's House, is working with a church in West's hometown of Chicago to offer a program teaching at-risk youth how to write and produce their own songs.
Donda's House, the charity named after West's late mother, will team up with St. Sabina Church on Chicago's South Side. The program will last 10 weeks, and will teach students between the ages of 15-24 how to use studio equipment to produce music. Rhymefest, a hip-hop musician who won a Grammy for co-writing "Jesus Walks" with West, will oversee the studio sessions. Donnie Smith, the executive director of Donda's House, says that the program offers learning opportunities not often afforded to youth.
"Art instruction and particularly music instruction leads people to become better problem solvers, more flexible," Smith said. "There are just so many outcomes that come from the study of music and particularly music writing."
The program will also focus on other issues that affect youth from poor backgrounds. A former NFL player (not specified), will be on hand to offer advice on exercise and nutrition. Donda's House hopes to expand the "Got Bars" program to offer similar camps dealing with other art forms, including drama, dance and art. If the program is successful in Chicago, they aim to taker it nationwide.
At the end of 10-week program, the charity will offer an EP featuring songs produced during the program. West has garnered some negative press recently for incidents including his assault of a paparazzo at LAX, but this seems to more than make up for it.
Qualifying students can apply for the camp up until August 2.
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