For the first time this year, award winning gospel recording artist Darius Brooks offered a SDM Jam Session Music Camp, a week-long vocal and empowerment camp, at Rainbow/PUSH Coalition headquarters.
For the first time this year, award winning gospel recording artist Darius Brooks offered an SDM Jam Session Music Camp, a weeklong vocal and empowerment camp, at Rainbow/PUSH Coalition headquarters.
Grammy Award-winning Brooks worked with 37 participating teens, providing them with vocal training and assisting them with life skills.
“Growing up on the West Side of Chicago with 14 sisters and brothers, my anti-violence initiative was my love for music. I spent most of my time singing and playing the piano,” Brooks said.
“My urgency to develop this program was sparked by the growing number of young people killed by violent crimes in Chicago this year alone. Our youth need motivation, support and an opportunity to believe in themselves.”
The program was launched by Brooks’ non-profit organization, SDM Inc., and attracted youth from as far away as downstate Peoria, who claimed that without the camp, they would not have done very much this summer.
“If I were not here this week, I would probably be at home doing nothing,” said Chrissi Warren, a junior at Woodruff High School in Peoria.
“I fit in here, and everyone is really nice. I am learning the technical parts of singing, and I’m also gaining more confidence.”
She performed "I Believe," a song made popular by American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino.
In addition to providing teens with something productive to do, two youth received scholarships to attend next year’s Summer Institute at UCLA.
The west coast school sponsored one youth, SMD paid for another.
“This is the first annual SDM Jam Session, but we can’t wait for next year,” said Shea Howell, marketing director of Brooks’ record label, Journey Music Group.
“Next year, we plan to add instrumentation, and we want the kids to put together the entire show from singing to production.”
SDM provides mentoring and training for individuals interested in music careers and offers scholarships.
In photo: Youth participate in Darius Brooks’ SDM Jam Session Music Camp held at Operation/PUSH headquarters. Photo courtesy of Operation/PUSH
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