Horizons Unlimited creates online collaboration, talent contest to expand students’ technology skills

Horizons Unlimited is a youth development and empowerment organization rooted in community service and advocacy. The DJ Project, a youth focused venture of Horizons Unlimited, is an arts and entrepreneurship youth program grounded in Hip Hop culture. The DJ Project brings culturally relevant educational and technology training opportunities to San Francisco Bay Area youth.

Challenge

The DJ Project sought to involve youth from different parts of the bay area through online collaboration. In addition, the DJ Project wanted to create a competition to strengthen the artistic and professional development of participants

Project

In 2004, ZeroDivide awarded The DJ Project with a $50,000 grant to develop a program that allowed youth from different parts of the Bay Area to create and market music online.

In 2006, ZeroDivide provided The DJ Project with another $50,000 grant to produce a youth run Hip hop arts competition: Grind and Glory. The contest was a collaboration between the DJ Project, the Bay Area Video Coalition and Youth Sounds. Based on the “American Idol” format, contestants competed for slots to participate in The DJ Project. Once selected, the winners were required to attend monthly professional development workshops in production or performance.

Results

Hundreds of Bay Area youth engaged in the project and the competition. Participants collaborated in small teams and worked virtually to produce numerous CDs. The hands-on experience of collectively producing a competition helped the young people enhance their skills in technology, professional development and positive self-presentation.

Participants in The DJ Project showed improvements in the following areas:

• Grade-point averages and overall disposition toward education
• Computer literacy and proficiency with technology through music, graphic design, word processing, database and other software applications
• Political consciousness through field trips, cultural events, and participation
• Job readiness skills, project management, setting and achieving goals, and professional etiquette
• Knowledge of entrepreneurship: marketing, pricing, organizational structure, budgeting, inventory and income statements

From this event, Uth TV created a full length pro-bono documentary that was submitted to the Sundance Film Festival.