The bright hot autumn sun burned down into Compton, Californiaright onto the shoulders of a busy nine year-old boy. The boy was respectful, working on speeding up his chores for his mother so he could play ball with friends. The boy eyed the last sight of leaves and thought last one, then Im done. He heaved the blood over the pot and pulled backand stiffened in impact as the rake revealed two automatic hand guns, still warm, hidden in the leaves.
To this day Fred Martin does not like leaves. Buried under high scores of leaves are where the Compton gangs he grew up with hid their gunsat the good house of the Church familyFreds family. The police never searched there; his mother was a minister. Soon enough at ten years age Fred, a music prodigy, found himself playing organ in church on Sunday morningshe later figured the music carried him off from the leaves.
Thirty years laterand that same Fred, through his Urban Entertainment Institute, has taught thousands of inner-city kids music, song, dance and language. He plant in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and works at keeping kids out of gangshelping them see the self expression and self awareness made possible through the arts. He helps them strike and uncover their talentsoften times saving a spirit in the process . Its incredible to see what these kids can do if we have them a prospect says Martin.
The kids are responding well. Some of Freds students have gone on to win awards, record songs, and perform publicly. And most have skirted gang life. Chavonne Morris-Stewart and Aletha Mills are both alumni of the UEI that have gone on to promising careers in the music industry. They have toured the earth with Jackson Browne and are featured vocalists on his latest CD. They`ve also performed for President Obama.
Throughout the 70-minute live performance, Mary Mary, Reuben Cannon, Norman Lear, and Dr. Maya Angelou all united in via Cisco video links to offer praise, encouragement, and inspiration for the children. You can be successful said Cannon, if you feel your passion, do your best, and hold yourselves. Dont let anyone tell you that you cant. The kids performed dance routines, music ensembles, sang songs, and did poetry readings.
Public Education
A collaborative poem written by Destiny Campbell, Denisse Cotto, Maryama Sillah, Lydia Villa, and Ms. Watson
Dr. Maya Angelou watches students from DreamYard Prep perform "Public Education".
P is for public. Public Education.
Where learning begins at the metal detector
detecting what cant be brought in,
never scanning deep enough to decode the pain.
If the car could actually see what we add to school,
it would go the alarm:
[this is a generation full of dreamers.]
Ron Chandler, CIO of the LAUSD looks on as Reuben Cannon addresses students from his role in Atlanta.
It was astonishing to see the kids perform said Ron, and equally amazing to see how Ciscos technology was capable to rend it all together. The video, collaboration, and networking tools powered each siteallowing the students in Los Angeles to see in real-time the reactions and applause from kids in Chicago and New York. And Chicago & New York rotated through their performances, delighting the Los Angeles students watching from the new Robert F. Kennedy High School.
With Cisco TelePresencewe can give more kidsand get them involved and occupied in these critical after hours school programs, said Fred. They can connect, and they can perform. All they need is a stage.
With Cisco, today the point is getting bigger for inner-city schools.
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