Common, Rhymefest Collaborate to Help Create Jobs for Chicago’s Youth
![“I don’t have all the answers but …if we can help our young people get some of these jobs, I guarantee you it will help with some of the violence. This is our time right now, this is our time to change, [and] we have to be the change.” – Common](https://epmgaa.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/croppedphotos/2014/04/16/Common_1_t670.jpg?b3f6a5d7692ccc373d56e40cf708e3fa67d9af9d)
Rap artists Common and Rhymefest, founders of the Common Ground Foundation and Kanye West’s Donda’s House, respectively, announced the launch of their latest collaborative project, The Chicago Youth Jobs Collaborative, a coalition of public, private and nonprofit agencies that advocate for the creation of youth employment. The announcement was held during a press conference at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave last week.
“I don’t have all the answers but this is our first step,” said Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, a native of Chicago's south side. “If we can help our young people get some of these jobs, I guarantee you it will help with some of the violence. This is our time right now, this is our time to change, [and] we have to be the change.”
Rhymefest who co-founded, Kanye West's Donda's House with rapper Kanye West, has aspirations of helping Chicago "heal."
“We’ve been having violence too long unanswered, we’ve been having joblessness too long unanswered, for the people brave enough to try and present solutions it’s time to step forward,” said Che “Rhymefest” Smith. “I think the hope is now that we can heal the city. You bring us together for one agenda, you talk about the agenda, well, the agenda is collaboration and I think from that all things are possible.”
Andrea Zopp, president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, who accompanied the rappers during the conference, stressed the importance of their initiative.
“That need for a job doesn’t end in September,” said Zopp. “This program will also include some of the other things that we do, not just jobs; it’s mentoring, it’s support, they know that there is a group around them supporting their success so that they know that there is a future for them in this City.”
The City of Chicago supports The Chicago Youth Jobs Collaborative, whose target audience is between 16-24 years of age, and plans to create 22,000 jobs for young adults this summer.
“The mayor has been a big fan of the work that Common has been doing and Rhymefest, as well as of the work the Chicago Urban League does,” said Ken Bennett, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement, who also attended the event. “We believe in stepping up. We’re committed to this and also other programs that are going to help our youth and the other citizens of Chicago.”
The annual AAHH! FEST, a music festival benefitting the Common Ground Foundation, Donda’s House, and Arts Education in Chicago Public Schools, was also announced during the press conference. The festival takes place during the weekend of Sept. 20th at Jackson Beach, 6300 S. Hayes Dr. Tickets will be available for the AAHH! FEST on May 1.
For more information visit www.thinkcommon.com or www.TheChicagoUrbanLeague.org/youthjobs.
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