Chance The Rapper has been campaigning for ‘most positive rapper alive’ and took another step toward solidifying that title over the weekend as he put on his Steve Jobs to deliver a key-note speech at the conference for his Social Works organization that was hosted at the Harold Washington Cultural Center Friday and live on Twitter. As part of the presentation which centered on Chicago Public School funding, Chance pledged another $2.2 million to city arts programs and announced a new awards show based around educators in Chicago.
Twenty CPS principals from around the city joined Chance onstage to make the announcement.
“These schools will receive $100,000 over the next three years with budgeting and staffing and guidance provided by CPS and Ingenuity,” said Chance.
The principals who received the money were chosen based on the financial restrictions of their schools in the midst of the massive funding gap CPS faces this year. SocialWorks, in partnership with CPS and Ingenuity created the New Chance Arts & Literature Fund to bring arts education to schools where budgets have fallen victim to Springfield’s cuts.
“As a parent and proud product of CPS, I’m committed to helping Chicago’s children have quality learning experiences that include the arts,” Chance said in a statement. “Over the past month, I’ve crisscrossed the city, from Chatham to Chinatown, Humboldt Park to Hyde Park, visiting students and one thing is clear: if we invest in Chicago’s children, we’ll change the world.”
Chance, who committed the money as part of a $1 million pledge he made earlier this year, has been lauded for his latest charitable endeavor by some of the biggest names in entertainment including newfound friend Ellen Degeneres.
SocialWorks Summit Live on @Twitter at 2:30CST/12:30PST https://t.co/GxBET43Jtx #supportCPS
— SocialWorks (@SocialWorks_Chi) September 1, 2017