Children of the Sun: Radiant Kid's Music Matter Workshop @ WonderRoot

Children of the Sun: Radiant Kid's Music Matter Workshop @ WonderRoot
Originally uploaded by kwadwojuma

I talk to youth around the Westside of Atlanta (Historic Westside) often about opportunities, goals and aspirations. While there isn't much opportunity and these children haven't had a chance to understand the benefit and the process of setting goals, they still dream. These kids aspire to be Rappers, Doctors, Firemen, Singers, Teachers like any other 11, 12 or 16 year old. How will we help them get there? What happens to their dream deferred? We're seeing the after effects of deferred dreams explode onto our Westside neighborhoods. Drive down Simpson Road. Matter of fact, I dare you to walk down it- in broad daylight, even. Check out Bankhead. Ride over to the less traversed side of Washington Park. There is a rhythm to this side of town: Church, Liquor Store, Funeral Home. That triplet returns to coda over, and over- measure after measure of heart breaks. On Friday the Radiant Kids Artists Collective, a group of musicians, writers and graphic artists took our first step in our walk with these Youth to write our own melody.