Independent hip hop artist, Kota the Friend, donated $10,000 to PATHS High School at the Thomas Jefferson Campus. The donation is earmarked to support the school’s dance program’s trip to Basel, Switzerland next month. The dance program will visit Basel, Switzerland for 10 days, where they will train and perform at the Braswell Arts Center.
This opportunity for students to train and perform internationally could be a life-changing experience, offering them unique educational and cultural perspectives.
Kota the Friend stated on his Facebook page, “I became a writer, hip hop artist, musician and producer because of the arts programs that existed in the New York City Public Schools system, so I know firsthand the importance of the arts in school. I’m committing $10k to support the dance program at Performing Arts & Technology HS, in East New York, Brooklyn. They are raising funds to take their student dancers to Basel, Switzerland to train and perform at the Braswell Arts Center for 10 days. Asking my friends to support this initiative for the performing arts. Please donate what you can using this GoFundMe link https://gofund.me/9c4fddfd.”
The Braswell Arts Center is headed by its founder, and Brooklyn native, Armando Braswell, who grew up in Bed-Stuy. Braswell posted a message on his Facebook page, encouraging people to support the students and their opportunity to travel and train abroad.
The PATHS Dance program is led by Mrs. Marcella Jones, who previously taught dance in middle school at JHS 258 in Bed-Stuy before joining PATHS at the Thomas Jefferson Campus in 2005. The concept of bringing Brooklyn’s student-dancers to Basel, Switzerland, originated during a visit by Braswell, a former student, to his former teacher at the Thomas Jefferson Campus over two years ago. During this reunion, they reminisced about how dance had propelled Braswell from Brooklyn to a global stage as a professional dancer. This nostalgic exchange evolved into a plan to expose Brooklyn’s students to the expansive opportunities of international travel and dance education.
Due to budget cuts in the arts programs in NYC public schools Kota the Friend and his FLTBYS brand are preparing to create an arts foundation to raise funds and support the arts throughout New York City, and beyond. Kota the Friend attended Brooklyn’s public schools from elementary through high school. He was introduced to the trumpet in a music program in the 4th grade while at PS 282 in Brooklyn. His excellence in playing the trumpet in elementary school allowed him to successfully audition for entry into JHS 113 and Brooklyn High School of the Arts, in Clinton Hill, and Prospect Heights, respectively.
Message from Armando Braswell
For those interested in contributing, visiting the GoFundMe page for PATHS Brooklyn to Basel. Every bit of support counts, whether it’s through donations, spreading the word, or even offering words of encouragement to the students and educators involved. These actions not only help in material ways but also show the students that there’s a community believing in their potential and rooting for their success.
