Rapper Jim Jones
is supporting youth advocacy by teaming up with Entertainers 4 Education Alliance
(E4EA) to present the "Achieve Your Dreams Poetry Contest" encouraging
at risk New York City youth to stay in school. Six
student finalists will read their poems to Jones about why its important for them
to achieve their dreams, as Jones is achieving his. The
grand prize winner will be awarded a book stipend to pay for all of their books
during their first year of college and a summer internship with Jim Jones."I
am very excited about this event; we received hundreds of poem submissions from
students from around the city and narrowed it down to the finalists," Jones
said. "I just want students to know that they can be anything they want to
be if they believe they can. I am happy that I can make a difference."The
event will also be a forum for students, parents, teachers, and community leaders
to discuss ways to combat the extremely high drop out rate in New York City, where
the graduation rate for students is a discouraging 38.9%, according to USA Today.The
"Achieve Your Dream" contest will take place January 24th at the Magic
Johnson Theater in Harlem.Invited
guest include Busta Rhymes, Dr. Benjamins Chavis, Russell Simmons, Fredo Starr,
Remy Ma, Charles Rangel, Ebro Darden and others.In
related news, Jones’ single "We Fly High" from his latest album Hustler’s
P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment) topped the R&R/Billboard Rap
Chart, after a 19 week run. The
No. 1 success of "We Fly High" comes as the song is also the No. 1 Master
Ringtone on the Billboard Hot RingMasters Chart for the third consecutive
week."We
Fly High" has also sold over 1.1 million Mastertones and has been certified
platinum.