4.21 Atlanta Hip-Hop Duo EARTHGANG, Young Middle School to Announce Community Garden/Outdoor Classroom Project, Thursday

ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of Communications and Public Engagement
130 Trinity Avenue SW | Atlanta, Georgia 30303

 

Ian Smith, Executive Director
404-802-2855, office
404-603-6934, cell
ian.smith@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Seth Coleman, Media Relations Manager
404-802-2891, office
404-406-5570, cell
seth.coleman@atlanta.k12.ga.us

   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     

April 21, 2021

 

EARTH DAY 2021 EVENT  

Atlanta Hip-Hop Duo EARTHGANG, Young Middle School to Announce Community Garden/Outdoor Classroom Project, Thursday

 

ATLANTA — Grammy nominated Atlanta duo, EARTHGANG will announce their community garden project in partnership with Jean Childs Young Middle School this Thursday, April 22nd kicking off at 2PM ET. The announcement and community event will take place at the garden site, a short distance from the school in Southwest Atlanta, GA. The announcement and community event falls auspiciously on Earth Day as the pair continue to invest in community led initiatives and programs. In attendance this Thursday will be Olu and WowGr8 (EARTHGANG), APS Superintendent Dr Lisa Herring, Jean Childs Young Middle School staff and students, Council Member Andre Dickens, land donor Dona Franklin, and more.

 

When asked about the initiative, EARTHGANG’s Olu shared “It’s nearly impossible to focus on education, mental health and financial stability when you don’t have the basic necessities of proper food, shelter and protection. This project is a gift to future generations.” While WowGr8 added “Sustainable living grows more important with each new generation.  Promoting agriculture to youth is essential for changing the scope of what our community considers acceptable nourishment.” Speaking on the partnership with the duo, Young Middle School Principal, Ronald Garlington shared “Young Middle School is grateful to EARTHGANG for their commitment to making the Young Middle School Community Garden a reality. Via this garden, students will be provided hands-on learning and problem-solving opportunities, increased environmental awareness and frequent occasions to build strong connections to their community!”

 

Students at Jean Childs Young Middle School reported food insecurity to be one of the biggest barriers to their success in a 2019 student survey. Atlanta’s own EARTHGANG hopes to inspire healthy eating and activity, lifelong learning and address food insecurity in the community by restoring a plot of donated land and establishing a robust community garden that will seek to strengthen the local community and provide learning to Jean Childs Young Middle School students and their families. Students will make connections between core curriculum and the benefit of growing and eating healthy food and maintaining good diets. Students will both develop life skills as well as increase environmental awareness.

 

EARTHGANG first met on a field trip in 9th grade at Benjamin Elijah Mays High School in Southwest Atlanta, GA. They formed a music group shortly thereafter and joined J.Cole’s Dreamville Records, releasing critically acclaimed albums and extensively touring the world bringing their brand of Atlanta hip hop to global stages earning multiple Grammy nominations along the way. Even with all the accolades and success the pair has not forgotten their commitment to the planet and community. Just last year, they banded with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and politician Stacey Abrams to drive out voters for both the national and state elections. They continue to do the work with the announcement of this community garden.

 

The community garden will be funded through the Atlanta Public Schools Foundation. All contributions are 501c3 tax deductible and will go directly to this garden project. To donate to the fundraising efforts, please visit https://gofund.me/55c84660

 

WHAT:           EARTHGANG & Jean Childs Young Middle School Community Garden Announcement + Community Event/Groundbreaking

 

WHERE:        Young Middle School | 3116 Benjamin E Mays Drive, SW

 

WHEN:           Thursday, April 22 | (2 p.m.) Announcement; (2:45 p.m.) Groundbreaking

 

Attendees will include: Olu and WowGr8 (EARTHGANG), APS Superintendent Dr Lisa Herring, Jean Childs Young Middle School staff and students, Council Member Andre Dickens, land donor Dona Franklin, and more.

 

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About Atlanta Public Schools


Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving approximately 51,000 students across 87 schools and five programs. The District is organized into nine K-12 clusters with 64 traditional schools, 19 charter schools, six partner schools, two alternative schools and five alternative programs. To learn more about Atlanta Public Schools, follow us on social media – Twitter (@apsupdate), Facebook (Atlanta Public Schools), and Instagram (apsupdate) – or visit us online at www.atlantapublicschools.us.

 


About EARTHGANG

 

The Grammy nominated, Platinum selling duo debuted on the scene with a string of EPs and quickly garnered a reputation for their eclectic style and infectious live energy. Marrying lean, sharp-eyed lyricism with Southern-fried soul, every song arrives fully formed, hitting hard and landing jokes while also delving deep into political issues. Meeting J.Cole at one of their live shows, the pair were promptly signed to his Interscope Records joint venture, Dreamville Records. Since the signing, EARTHGANG have become a force in the music space releasing bodies of critically acclaimed work like debut album, Mirrorland; Spilligion, the collaborative album with their Spillage Village supergroup as well as the Dreamville compilation, Revenge of the Dreamers III, which earned the pair two Grammy nominations as well as their first #1 album status. EARTHGANG are also revered live performers having toured with J. Cole, Billie Eillish and playing to sold out venues and festivals both stateside and internationally. Throughout it all, they remain true to their mission to think global and act local — finding time to exercise community led initiatives in their hometown of Southwest Atlanta and in 2020 mobilizing thousands of voters, ultimately helping to flip the state of Georgia through direct collaboration with former First Lady Michelle Obama, Governor Stacey Abrams and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. This year, EARTHGANG are ready to ascend to the next level of their artistry with the announcement of their sophomore studio album, Ghetto Gods. The album is a reminder of the godhood present in all of us, and a study in how our environments create our reality, which, through dedication, faith and belief can be transmuted into whatever we desire. With this release, EARTHGANG are swiftly becoming a force to be reckoned with far and wide.

 


About Jean Childs Young Middle School

 

Young Middle School was originally established in 1950 and renamed for Jean Childs Young in 1994. Young was an advocate for equal access to education across the U.S. and the wife of former Ambassador and Mayor, Andrew Young. She was a leader dedicated to the children’s rights movement and served as the chairwoman to the UN in 1979 for the International Year of the Child. She was an educator who believed that ALL children deserve equal access to educational experiences and a purpose filled life. Approximately 850 students from the surrounding Southwest Atlanta communities attend Young Middle School.  More information: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/young