This fall in Chicago’s Union Square Park, Donda’s House, a nonprofit organization designed to expose inner-city kids to arts education, and Common’s Common Ground Foundation hosted the annual AAHH! Music Festival.
Common Performs at Aids Health Care for HIV Prevention Concert
On August 6th, 2015 Common blessed the stage at the Aids Health Care “Vote 2 End HIV” event at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The event was sponsored by Reed for Hope Foundation, LoveHealthy.Org and AID Atlanta and served as not just a concert but a rally that will build on the successful “AIDS Is A Civil Rights Issue” national public awareness campaign created by AHF in 2014. That campaign brought together Rev. Al Sharpton, the National Action Network, local churches and community groups to honor the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1965. Its purpose is to foster dialogue on ending HIV and sexual stigma within black families, and encourage community-wide testing and treatment.
For more information about the cause and additional footage from the event, log onto:
Contributor: @Iam10Zin
Photo: @RayCornelius
Common’s ‘Glory’ Fundraiser
Hip Hop artist/actor Common is having an “Evening of GLORY’ fundraiser which will benefit the students of his Common Ground Foundation.
MC Lyte Releases New Song “Dear John”
Female emcee, MC Lyte just released her new song in September 2014, “Dear John.” The track features rapper Common. This song is more than a comeback single, Lyte is empowering males to carry on through adversity. The song is written as a letter to highlight the struggles men face and how to overcome those challenges. “Dear John” debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard chart. MC Lyte’s upcoming album is due out some time this year.
Listen to “Dear John” here.
Common & Kanye West Partner to Create Jobs for Chicago Youth
In April, Black Youth Project reported that Common’s Common Ground Foundation and Kanye’s Donda’s House teamed up with the Chicago Urban League to create more than 20,000 jobs for teens in Chicago.
Common stated at a press conference, “Obviously, one of the biggest reasons our kids are going through what they’re going through is because of poverty. I was doing an event in the neighborhood and there were some kids from Englewood and I said, ‘Man, what do y’all really need? What’s gonna stop this?’ And they were like, ‘We need money. Man, if we could work.’ They want a chance.”
This partnership will result in the launch of the AAHH! FEST, according to FUSE, that will take place this year in Chicago on September 20-21.
Looks like these two Chicagoans have not forgotten where they’ve come from and are doing their part to empower and inspire teens in Chicago.
3rd Annual Common Ground Foundation Awards Gala 2013
Rapper Common hosts the third annual Common Ground Foundation Awards Gala and Fundraiser, his nonprofit organization’s signature event, at the Four Seasons (6 pm). The event raises funds to support the group’s mission of exposing youth to get opportunities and experiences through creative arts. 120 E. Delaware Pl., 773-295-1915;