Peace, y’all.

I wanted to reach out to the Think MTV community to talk about some issues that are real important to me.

I grew up in the home of an educator. From an early age, I learned about the importance of reading and writing. I learned that words are powerful. It’s not a surprise that I wanted to be a hip-hop artist and use the rhymes I write to make people think.

Once I saw the magnitude of influence that my words and actions carried, I decided to launch Common Ground Foundation as a way to give back to young people, many of whom remind me of me as a kid: smart, creative, and hungry to be acknowledged and make a mark on the world.  I’m proud of the work that my foundation does which includes life, career, and educational mentoring to teens and developing programs to fight illiteracy.

But there’s so much more that needs to be done.

Check it: Did you know that 2^nd or 3^rd grade reading levels are sometimes used to determine future prison enrollments? Disturbing, right?   

It’s realities like these that motivated Common Ground to launch The Corner Book Club. It’s a dope way for young people to read important books that deal with issues close to their hearts and minds and then talk about what they’ve read with other teens around the country—all online.  

This month’s book pick is War Child by Emmanuel Jal. This cat’s story is intense. He was once a child soldier who survived genocide in Sudan.  And now he uses the power of hip-hop music to tell his truth and tell the world about the atrocities that he faced and that his birthplace still faces. Check out more about his memoir at The Corner.

I encourage all young people ages 13-18 to join The Corner. It’s free and easy to become a member and be part of community of teens who just like you.

Educators, librarians, youth service providers, and parents, I urge you to encourage the young people in your lives to join as well.

In coming weeks, Common Ground will talk more about The Corner and provide more ways for you to become involved in my foundation’s mission to develop and empower urban youth in our country.

Together we can combat illiteracy, ignorance, and other social ills that teens face, all through the power of words.

You down?
 
Common