The Fulfill The Dream program began at Social Justice High School almost three years ago. It started when Roberto and Mr. Crye (math teacher) began dreaming about giving youth space to think about their lives, share stories, learn about Hiphop, and how to use it as a tool to create change. The program started out small as it meet about twice to three times a month for about 2 and a half hours. Meeting during the colloquium time of school, or life skills time, the youth watched video’s, met local artists, discussed issues going on in life and created art.

The group started out doing small performances for the school and eventually expanded to include other schools on the Chicago West-Side. CCA joined the Fulfill The Dream family as Phenom partnered with Crystal Williams, the guidance counselor at CCA high school. The group met every week, and also discussed life and what could be changed for the better. This group also started creating pieces, and later partnered up with the SOJO group to create a community wide event called the Hip-hop Revival.

The second year, the movement expanded to Manley High School. All three schools continued to develop their critical analysis of their realities while using their creative genius through Hip-hop to challenge and make change. The three schools started to collaborate and organize monthly open mic sessions.

The three schools went off and organized the Hiphop Revival II-leaving a legacy. The event brought in legendary artist Kurtis Blow, and also help breaking battles, MC battles, graffiti battles, and had local performances by artist such as Figureheads, Phenom, Iomos Marod, ANT, and others. Youth still meet and are now working on mentoring younger youth, and doing a creative research project where they use data as a tool to allow their voices to not only be heard by officials but also respected. Click here to meet a few of the leaders from each of the three schools: SOJO, CCA, Manley.

Year three allowed us to expand into Pedro Albizu Campos High School in Humbodlt Park. This was the first time that the Fulfill The Dream curriculum was taught as an entire course. Connecting with the aspects of performing arts, this class allowed youth to have a critical foundation to look at social issues while addressing them creatively through the arts. These youth were instrumental in the development of an open cipher at Batey Urban which allowed youth an opportunity to come together to share their stories through the elements of hiphop. This gathering was a major catalyst in the development of Youth Voice Nation, a book that was developed by youth themselves.

Please Check Out:

• http://www.thafirehouse.org/
• http://www.lvlhs.org/m/