1 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: Good morning, peep Sena. Welcome to Okay f Daily with 2 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: Meet Your Girl Danielle Moody, recording from the Long Island 3 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:22,599 Speaker 1: Home Bunker. Folks, I'm really excited about the interview I 4 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: have coming up next. You know that whenever I have 5 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: the opportunity to speak with educators, I'm always so happy 6 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: to do so because I think that teachers, not only 7 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: because I am a former educator, but teachers are just 8 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: so disrespected in this country. And we know that we 9 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: know a country based on what it is that they value, 10 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: and the fact that teachers continue to have to do 11 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: bake sales or take money out of their own pockets 12 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: in order to buy school supplies for children, or just 13 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: get any type of respect and are not demonized for 14 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: wanting to teach the truth about the founding of this nation, 15 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: or who should be celebrated as the heroes and the 16 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: patriots in this country. Not to mention, folks, not to 17 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: mention the fact that being a teacher in these United 18 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: States means that you're putting your own life at risk 19 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: of gun violence because of the consistent and unrelenting mass 20 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: shootings that happens in our nation's schools. So I'm really 21 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 1: excited to be able to get into this conversation with 22 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: men Deep Setti, who is a teacher at June Jordan 23 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: School of Equity in San Francisco and received an amazing 24 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: grant from Save the Music, the Jay Dilla Music Technology 25 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: Grant last year as a way to engage young people 26 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: in the arts in music. You know, not to mention 27 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: write the attacks that we have seen on curriculum, the 28 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: fears that teachers have of even uttering the words gay 29 00:01:55,720 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: or talking about any type of difference whatsoever. The arts 30 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: and music is always right on the chopping block in 31 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: our nation schools because it's not considered as important as STEM. 32 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:12,359 Speaker 1: It's not considered as important or needed. Meanwhile, I think 33 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: that what we all understood, particularly at the height of 34 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: the pandemic, is how important art, music and connection is 35 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 1: to our day to day lives. One of the things 36 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: that I'll talk to Setti about is, you know, basically 37 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: I don't know about you all, but during quarantine, if 38 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,679 Speaker 1: I wasn't in one DJ's live on Instagram, I was 39 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: in another DJ's live. I got through being in quarantine 40 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: and dealing with all of this uncertainty by dancing around 41 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 1: my apartment by dancing around my home by being able 42 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: to connect with other people that just needed a release. 43 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: And that is what I think that the arts and 44 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: music allow for, is that released. And so for me, 45 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: you know, I wish that in this country that we 46 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: looked at music and the arts as essential rather than 47 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: as an elective something that is, you know, a nice 48 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 1: to have, but you don't need. What does a society 49 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 1: look like without music makers, without artists, right, it is 50 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: devoid of passion, of innovation, of beauty, and those are 51 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: all the things that are necessary, particularly when times are difficult. 52 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: And so I love this conversation with Setix because one 53 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: we get into the importance of just kids having the 54 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: space to be able to express themselves, right, to not 55 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:48,279 Speaker 1: be shut down, and to find different avenues to express 56 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: the trauma that is this moment in our lives. You know, 57 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: I think about it often that we as adults have 58 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: the language, have the ability to kind of roll with 59 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: the punches, and even for us the last several years 60 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: under the Trump administration, dealing with a global health pandemic, 61 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: the unrelenting gun violence that we see on a day 62 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: to day basis, with mass shootings, we lose our own 63 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: words and our own ability to want to get out 64 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: of bed. So imagine now dealing with those compacted crises, 65 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: and then also going through hormonal changes and society, trying 66 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: to figure out where you fit in your school, in 67 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: society and your community, and then on top of that, 68 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: dealing with all of these issues. So I think that 69 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 1: the work that Mundeep is doing with the June Jordan's 70 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 1: School of Equity and that other educators are doing like him, 71 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 1: aren't necessary and should be lifted up and applauded and 72 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: frankly replicated, particularly now. So coming up next my conversation 73 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: with teacher rapper musician mand Deep Seti. Folks, I'm very 74 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: excited to welcome to okay f Daily for the very 75 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: first time, um Mand Deep Seti aka Seti X, who 76 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: is a teacher at June Jordan's School of Equity in 77 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: San Francisco and also a rapper musician. Seti, I want 78 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: to start off our conversation today with kind of talking 79 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: about the many attacks that teachers have been under um 80 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 1: by the far right, by conservatives, and you know where 81 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: you see the role of the arts of music education 82 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 1: in our school systems, particularly now when you know curriculums 83 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 1: are being overturned or narrowed. What role do you see 84 00:05:55,640 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: that music and the arts play in a child's education. Well, 85 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: it's so great to be here with you on woke 86 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 1: af Thank you Danielle for having me um. I think 87 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: number one as a teacher. You know, one thing that's 88 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 1: very clear, especially after the pandemic, is that we are 89 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: essential workers. Right, So teachers are essential workers. And one 90 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 1: on one hand, it was being propped up like you know, 91 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: so much love for the essential workers. But then if 92 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 1: you look at the back end, the statistics of what 93 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,280 Speaker 1: teachers are paid, what they have to deal with not 94 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 1: only with supporting our students, but also the rise of 95 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: school shootings, the rise of violence, the rise of conservative 96 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: overturning of you know, basically ethnic studies, that's going on 97 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: in the schools where students are actually getting to learn 98 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: who they are and what real history actually is. So 99 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: I think that's that's important to remember, is that teachers 100 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 1: are essential workers and that they are the ones that 101 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: are with our young people every day basically figuring out 102 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: what the future is going to look like, you know 103 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: what I mean. And so where arts comes into plays 104 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 1: the crea of mind, which is something that is supposed 105 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: to be nurtured through a human experience. But we know 106 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: that school systems don't necessarily cater to the arts first, right. 107 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: It's always something as an elective or something you get 108 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 1: to choose at the end of the day. And so 109 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 1: for me, as a teacher who's heavily invested in arts 110 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: based learning, I've learned and seen firsthand that arts based learning, 111 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: project based learning using tools such as music, visual are 112 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: using tools including technology, creates a whole different experience for 113 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: students where they feel welcome in the classroom, they feel 114 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: safe in the classroom, and most of all, they feel 115 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: the ability to be themselves. And that's where learning happens. 116 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: Because if they have this wall up of protecting themselves 117 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: throughout the day, then it's harder to reach the true 118 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: self of learning. So I think that arts based learning 119 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: and education allows for students to really open up to 120 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: new ideas. Yeah, and I just you know, I want 121 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: to echo something that you said about teachers being essential workers, 122 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: you know, And I've been thinking about this a lot, 123 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: um And I am a former educator. As folks who 124 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: listen to Woke a f no UM, I taught first 125 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: and second grade UM special education and general education in Washington, 126 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: DC before I went into education policy. And you know, 127 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: what I will say is that you can tell what 128 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: a country values by who is making the most money. Right, 129 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: And when we look at teacher salaries and we look 130 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: at many strikes that we've seen happen across the country 131 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 1: in different cities and in different places, you know, teachers 132 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: are probably the most undervalued position, right that has such 133 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: as such as such a consequential position though in a 134 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: child's life, right, Like, I know that, you know you 135 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 1: must have a story, as I have a story. You know, 136 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 1: what was that teacher that turned you on to music? 137 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: That turned you on in a way that kind of 138 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: that that changed the trajectory of your life? Straight up? No, 139 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: I have that teacher. And that teacher miss shout out 140 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: to miss mystery. She was a brown educator, so I 141 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 1: saw myself in her. I was like, Okay, this is 142 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: South Asian person of uh you know what I'm saying, 143 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 1: South Asian descent. We can I can connect with that. 144 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: And then she had a project will basically allowed us 145 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: to like, instead of writing an essay, you could write 146 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,439 Speaker 1: a song. And that was my introduction into from poetry 147 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 1: into music. Which propelled me into a full time career 148 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 1: until I became shifted over to education to tour and 149 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: make music and hip hop music and share that with 150 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: the world. So I mean, for me, that was life changing, 151 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: and I'm trying to like take that to the next 152 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: level with what I'm doing. So, you know, I'm a 153 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: hip hop artist, but now I'm a full time educator, 154 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 1: So I'm bringing that into the classroom. And our courses 155 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: are designed to give students real life skills so that 156 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: they can use the technology, get paid internships, and yes, 157 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: disrupt the um kind of white supremacy and white privilege 158 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: that exists within even the creative community and the creative 159 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: economy as well as the tech economy, you know what 160 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: I'm saying. So we're in San Francisco. We're fighting against 161 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: rapid gentrification. We're an outer mission, you know what I'm saying, 162 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 1: Like people who work at these tech companies are buying 163 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: houses that our students, you know, the neighborhoods are students 164 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: live in, and these are now over million dollar houses 165 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: and we're still in neighborhoods that are fighting against you 166 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying, These financial economic turmoil that's been 167 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: happening for years. So there's a lot going on with 168 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: our students, and so music definitely plays a large part 169 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: in a multitude of ways of their healing and of 170 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: their kind of their voice. In twenty twenty one, you 171 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: were the recipient of the Saved Save the Music grant 172 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: from Jay Dill, and I want you to talk a 173 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: bit about that, but then also my frustration that we 174 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: need grants in order to save the music because our 175 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: schools and the arts are not being funded in a 176 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: way that makes it secure. So speak to speak to that. Yeah, 177 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:05,839 Speaker 1: So when I arrived at the school that I work 178 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: at now, there was no music program. And so if 179 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: that blows my mind, because we're in an area of 180 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: San Francisco and the Bay Area which is known for 181 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: changing the way that independent music, independent hip hop work, 182 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: it lives in the US and the world, and so 183 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: we're in this mecca of music business and music technology, 184 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: but we have no music program at our school. So 185 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 1: in that sense, you know, there was a It was 186 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: an eye opening experience for me. But as a musician, 187 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 1: I looked at out there and I found this resource 188 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: and shout out to save the music because they believed 189 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: in me. When basically no one else did, and they 190 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: allowed us to apply for this grant, which we received, 191 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 1: the Jay Della Music Technology Grant, which is named after 192 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: the late hip hop producer Jay Della James Dewey Yancy 193 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: at a Detroit and who changed the sound of music 194 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: and so for us to be able to carry on 195 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: his legacy is such an on her. And we recently 196 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: hosted Ma Dukes, who is his mother, who came by 197 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: and got to see the work that our students are doing. 198 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: She listened to their music, and she told us that 199 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: at the end of that that she wished that there 200 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: were more schools like this and more programs like this 201 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: because she saw the value of music that was taking 202 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,439 Speaker 1: place and how it was changing lives right in front 203 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: of her. So it's really a blessing to have this 204 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: grant and to have these resources. But I think that 205 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: it is a It has been a wake up call 206 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: for our district and for other programs to see like, 207 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:33,959 Speaker 1: oh wow, like investing in the arts actually does make 208 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 1: a difference, because I think for years people ignored that. 209 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: Can you explain, like paint a picture for us about 210 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: how you are utilizing music in the classroom and what 211 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: your and what this program actually looks like and the 212 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: ways in the different ways, the innovative ways that you 213 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: are that you are educating youth. Right, So, we know 214 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: that a lot of our students are used to the 215 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 1: iPhones or Android, and so we decided to go work 216 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: with Save the Music to create iPad based curriculum. So 217 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: we use iPads. We two students how to make music 218 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: on Garage Band. So for students who have music experience, 219 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 1: they can step in right where they are if they 220 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: have music theory or instrument experience. And for a student 221 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 1: who has absolutely zero experience making music can also feel 222 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 1: on day one that I can do this too through 223 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: different tutorials and formulas that we use through Garage Band. 224 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: And so this accessibility is the main key for our 225 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: program because we know that technology is not accessible for 226 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:36,680 Speaker 1: a lot of our students. You know what I'm saying. 227 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: Seventy five percent of our students qualify for a free lunch, 228 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: So that shows you their economic situation. And at the 229 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: end of the day, most students don't have a device 230 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 1: at home, whether it's a computer or an iPad. Right, 231 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 1: they may have a phone, but that's about it. And 232 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: so we're allowing students to get on these devices and 233 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: to basically learn the same skills that you would pay 234 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: to learn at any music program at maybe NYU or 235 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 1: any sort of private program that exists in Los Angeles. 236 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: This is the same skills, the same equipment that these 237 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 1: professionals are using. So that's the main thing that our 238 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: program is revolutionizing is the accessibility. And then those students 239 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: who may have iPhones, they can also you know, air 240 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: drop the file onto their phone. They can check out equipment, 241 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: they can take it home and continue to work on it. 242 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: We have microphones and headphone students can check out, and 243 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: so when you come into our classroom, you'll see a 244 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: multitude of things. You'll see students making beats. You'll see 245 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: some students on the turntables learning how to DJ. You'll 246 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: see some students in the vocal booth working on singing 247 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: or rapping. And at the end of the day, we 248 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: want them to express themselves, to be able to use 249 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: that play space as a place of healing, as a 250 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: place of safety and trust, so that they can just 251 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: be who they are meant to be. You know, I 252 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: love this so much. I love your program. I love 253 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: the work that you're doing, particularly with you know, notably 254 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: marginalized students. And I want to talk for a moment 255 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: out how the pandemic, how the pandemic remote learning just 256 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: impacted young people, young people that you know, your students 257 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: that you come across, and how you know your program 258 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: might have helped them kind of cope with this situation, 259 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: with the uncertainty that we were all struggling to deal with. Definitely, 260 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: it was a tough time and to be honest, music 261 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: definitely saved a lot of us during that time. And 262 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 1: so for us our students, you know, they had cameras off. 263 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: You know, we don't know what's going on at home, 264 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: and so on one hand, teachers are upset why are 265 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: the cameras off? But at the end the other hand, 266 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: it's like, well, you know, this is a very interesting 267 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: experience that students are like being taught at from their 268 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: home and we're asking them to show us their home. So, 269 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: you know, I think for me, I was able to 270 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: I was able to use it to an advantage actually 271 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: because now that students are on their device, they can 272 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: use the programs that I was using online and there's 273 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: no like actions because you're on the device that you're 274 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: using to make music, so I try to flip it 275 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: into a positive and I saw more engagement from students 276 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: that normally wouldn't be engaged in other remote learning. Right 277 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: I'm hearing students are not coming to these other classes, 278 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: but they would come to our beat making class. We 279 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: were able to collaborate online. Students were able to share 280 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: their screen and show their process. And at the end 281 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: of it, we held a music production showcase where we 282 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: invited people from all over the world to come see 283 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: and hear these students. And I think it was definitely 284 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 1: like life changing for myself and for other students, because 285 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: you know, we're all stuck at home, but we have 286 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: this point of connection that's so deep, and that music 287 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: technology just brought us together. You know. I think about 288 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: myself and the ways in which you know, d nice 289 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: had created an entire life, you know, very much so 290 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: a life saving community, you know, by djaying from home 291 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: and going on Instagram live. I think about so many 292 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: other DJs that I got to experience, and you know, 293 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 1: during particularly those those initial days of being in quarantine 294 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 1: and not knowing what's going to happen, and just and 295 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: I realized at that point it set to like how 296 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 1: important one. How important connection is right that we have 297 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 1: all taken, uh, you know, taken for granted because of 298 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: what social media has also provided, but also taken away 299 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 1: in terms of personal contact. But then recognizing the way 300 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:31,439 Speaker 1: that you you needed music, you needed gathering space in 301 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: order to be able to even um, move through, to 302 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: get out of you know, to get out of bed 303 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: in the morning. And so when I think about myself 304 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: and how I was dancing out around my you know, 305 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,880 Speaker 1: apartment in space, and I think about you know, your 306 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: your young students, um, and what a lifeline it was 307 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: for them. Um, you know, what are some of the 308 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,679 Speaker 1: I guess, what are some of the stories or you know, 309 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: things that you can share in terms When people think 310 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 1: again about music education or aren't they think of it 311 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 1: as an elective? So explain why it isn't, why it 312 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,439 Speaker 1: shouldn't be looked at as an elective and instead of 313 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: it should be viewed as essential. Right. I think that 314 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 1: there's two ways to answer that question, and the first 315 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: is that the experience is essential for students to have 316 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 1: art and music right. And one story I have as 317 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:24,479 Speaker 1: a student who transferred from another school and they were 318 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 1: not integrated into the community at all, they felt completely outcasted, 319 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: and they took my music class just because they had 320 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: no other choice, right, that was the only open elective, 321 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: and so they ended up getting placed in my class. 322 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 1: Fast forward two years, this is my best student. This 323 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 1: student is performing at multiple venues in San Francisco, getting 324 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: opportunities through our program, through Save the Music and our partners, 325 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: and this student is now pursuing a professional career in 326 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: music and getting internships where they're getting paid right. And 327 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: and then the other side of that story, or the 328 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: second answer to that question why it's essential is because 329 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:05,159 Speaker 1: later on finding out that the student who is an 330 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 1: African American youth from the neighborhood is lives in a 331 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: group home, right, and it's not inch, it's not in 332 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: touch with their family and does not get the support 333 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: from their family, And all of a sudden, this music 334 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: program has provided a platform for them to express themselves, 335 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: for them to find support for them to be who 336 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: they are, right, And so there's healing going on, multigenerational 337 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: healing going on. There's you know, equity in action with 338 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: students getting industry level pay rates right that they reserve 339 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 1: instead of having to work at you know, retail salaries 340 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: or whatever it is or free right. As we know 341 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: in the creative industry, a lot of us work for free. 342 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: It's like we can get them paid right away. And 343 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 1: I know that you put in work. I know I 344 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: put in work for free before we were ever given 345 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 1: a platform or create our own platform, right, and that's 346 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: just what we do. But now we have the opportunity 347 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: to present students with financial stability at such a young 348 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: age if we can create those skills. And I think 349 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: that's what arts education is about. It's not just about 350 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: you know that having a good time. It's about real 351 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: skills that can translate into real opportunities. And it's also 352 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: about real healing. Yeah, And I just you know, and 353 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: I love the fact too that you're placing your students 354 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 1: in places where they can actually get paid, because many people, 355 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:26,719 Speaker 1: you know, would roll the rise and say, well, I 356 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: intern for free, and that's you know, and that's part 357 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 1: of the experience. And I think to myself that comes 358 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: from a point of privilege, right, being able to to 359 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: to decide that you're going to work for free because 360 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,679 Speaker 1: the knowledge is going to be payment enough means that 361 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 1: all your other needs are met. But when you're talking 362 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,919 Speaker 1: about young people that are, you know, potentially living in 363 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: group homes or in between homes or what have you. 364 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: That money, right can go towards so much, and so 365 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: I think that it's important to lift that a well. Definitely, 366 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,239 Speaker 1: I think that it is a place of privilege, you know, 367 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 1: And I can say myself at times that I've been 368 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: able to be an artist because of certain privileges that 369 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: I've been born into or been raised with, right, and 370 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 1: so my perspective understanding that is really the key to 371 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: understanding their perspective. If you know who you are, then 372 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 1: you can understand who others are. Right. And so I'm 373 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 1: at a place where I try to meet the students 374 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 1: where they are, and I think a lot of folks 375 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: in our community don't understand that these students at a 376 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,479 Speaker 1: young age are financially already self reliant. So they may 377 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: not be independent like lived at home. They still live 378 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: at home. You still have a mom or dad or 379 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 1: whoever caretaker Grandma's around, But at the end of the day, 380 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: the financial flow is not happening through the family. It's 381 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: happening independently. And if students need to take care of 382 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: young ones or get to a certain place, like say 383 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: they need to get to a free internship, they need 384 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 1: to pay for of US or an uber there like 385 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 1: there's a financial gap. So it is important to provide 386 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,159 Speaker 1: these opportunities to students. And I mean, I think that 387 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: that is the way moving forward to kind of you know, 388 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 1: enable them in that way as well the setting. You know, 389 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:13,159 Speaker 1: last question for you, what are you hoping? What are 390 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:17,400 Speaker 1: what are your hopes for this program? For you know, 391 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,880 Speaker 1: for for June Jordan's School of Equity where you are, 392 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:24,959 Speaker 1: and for music and the arts. I guess in our 393 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 1: school system and our public education system at large. Well, 394 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 1: you know, I'm working with Martha Diez and the Hip 395 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,119 Speaker 1: Hop Education Center in New York and we're doing the 396 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:37,399 Speaker 1: hip Hop Education and Equity Pilot grant in s fus D. 397 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: And I think that for me, that is the future 398 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: of education. And that's what I hope for the future 399 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: of education is to bring in the hip hop education 400 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:47,880 Speaker 1: and equity element. However that may be whether it's through 401 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: uh B boying or a street art or djaying or 402 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:54,880 Speaker 1: m seeing or singing, but some sort of like hip 403 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,919 Speaker 1: hop element meeting the youth where they're at. We already 404 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: know hip hop culture is youth culture and has been 405 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:04,919 Speaker 1: the dominant culture in the youth. It's time to embrace it. 406 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,439 Speaker 1: It's okay if folks don't know about hip hop culture 407 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 1: and need to learn about hip hop culture, that's what 408 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 1: we do. Fifth element of hip hop is knowledge. We're 409 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: here to break it down. And that's how I learned 410 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 1: about hip hop culture. Someone brought me into the fold 411 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,959 Speaker 1: through all the different educational aspects that hip hop offers. 412 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 1: And so I think, you know, we say each one 413 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: teach one. I think that if we can inspire other 414 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: educators and other hip hop artists to come together and 415 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: bridge the gap, I think that, you know, I mean 416 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: that knowledge and education will grow in tenfolds in our 417 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,679 Speaker 1: communities if we embrace the languages and the music and 418 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: culture of our communities and use those in our educational spaces. 419 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 1: And so you know what I'm saying, I'd love to 420 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: see more POC educators out there just holding it down. 421 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: Shout out to all of those, you know, coast to 422 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,439 Speaker 1: coast and worldwide that are already holding it down. We 423 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 1: see you, and we recognize you, and I just want 424 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: to be another one of those beacons of light that 425 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 1: we all can be. You know, what I mean, SETI, 426 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: I just want to thank you so much for the 427 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: work that you're doing, for the light that you're bringing, 428 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 1: for the innovation that you have for tomorrow's leaders, and 429 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 1: give you the opportunity to tell folks how they can 430 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:19,120 Speaker 1: learn more about about this, about your program, if they 431 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:21,480 Speaker 1: want to introduce something like this in their own schools, 432 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:24,639 Speaker 1: if they want to follow you and your music. Please 433 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:27,160 Speaker 1: tell the folks how they can get in touch. Definitely, Well, 434 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: you can check me out. My name is SETI X. 435 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:33,400 Speaker 1: I'm on Instagram and Twitter as well, just at SETI 436 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 1: underscore X that stands for Sounds of Extraterrestrial Intelligence. You 437 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,880 Speaker 1: can follow our music program on Instagram at Music Tech 438 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 1: SF that's Music tec HSF and of course Big Love 439 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 1: and big shout out to Save the Music for supporting 440 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 1: our program giving us that Jadala Music Technology Grant, Big 441 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 1: Love to my dukes. Make sure you follow official j Dilla, 442 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: Save the Music and my Dukes on social media and 443 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 1: check out Save the Music dot org for more information 444 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 1: about the Jay Della Music Tech Grant. Set the X, 445 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: thank you so much for making the time for woke 446 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: F and I hope that you'll join us again. Oh definitely. 447 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 1: It was such a pleasure to be on here with you, 448 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:12,280 Speaker 1: Daniells and just had felt so natural and normal to 449 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: have this beautiful conversation. So we'll catch up more for sure, 450 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 1: and big love to the woke f family. Thank you. 451 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 1: That is it for me today, Dear friends on woke 452 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,400 Speaker 1: f as always, power to the people and to all 453 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 1: the people. Power, get woke and stay woke as fuck.