The shoot for Play If Forward, with multi-platinum singer-songwriter, Cristyle, was one of the highlights of my year. The premise of the show – people with opportunities forwarding opportunities to youth at the margins of the economic mainstream – speaks to the core of what we do at One Economy Corporation as we continue to provide quality information and content that is purposeful, participatory, and with a degree of poignancy to endear and inspire.
This episode of Play If Forward shot at Carter G. Woodson Elementary and Icon Studios in Atlanta, GA, featured the uncommon partnership between America Scores, a nationally recognized afterschool program, and ASCAP – performance-rights non-profit. The purpose of the partnership is to provide kids with opportunities in programs promoting creativity and teamwork.
Let’s face it; we all know that across the country local school boards are making tough choices between covering the basics and providing a well-rounded educational experience that include arts, theatre, music, and athletic programs.
However, when budgets are tight these programs are usually among the first to go. The point most missed in the austerity is that for some kids the chance to celebrate who they are through creativity and/or competition, especially when academics fail to inspire, for these kids, expression is often that one element that keeps them in attendance.
The benefits music provides in math, or that teamwork provides by instilling focus, with a desire to accomplish the mission, are well documented. And with America’s youth falling further behind other industrialized nations, we need whatever-it-takes, all hands on deck approach if we are to secure our future.
It is our hope through this series that parents and educators, youth and mentors -present and future – will be inspired by those who have been able to either overcome challenges, or at least recognized the challenges of others and have dedicated, sometimes in the quietest ways, dedicated themselves to service.
In the words of a former student, “If you got it like that, you should do something.” That’s what our corporate sponsors and we at One Economy are doing. Whether it’s providing hardware – hardwiring whole communities, software – with our social innovation labs, and web development, or human-care through our Digital Connectors programs, the philosophy is simple, each one, teach one to empower many.
Please come back for more episodes of Play It Forward, as well as check out other purposeful media on our sites, pic.tv and thebeehive.org.
Blessings,
Allen
