Kanye West’s charity, Donda’s House, is well aware of the ongoing youth violence crisis on Chicago’s South Side.
The organization is teaming up with St. Sabina Church to launch “Got Bars?,” a program targeting the city’s youth through music writing and recording.
According to WBEZ (a Chicago radio station), Donda’s House and St. Sabina Church will offer the 10-week course to 15-24 year olds, for whom there aren’t enough recreational activities.
Donda’s House co-founder, rapper Rhymefest, will lead and direct the studio sessions with the youth.
Donnie Smith, the charity’s executive director, says the program will give the youth better problem solving skills. “Art instruction and particularly music instruction leads people to become better problem solvers, more flexible,” he said. “There are just as many outcomes that come from the study of music and particularly music writing.”
When the course is complete, an album of the songs written and recorded by the students will be compiled.