Good morning! High of 80 degrees in NYC. Last day of Spring Break. Goodies in tow!
We’re feeling great and we hope you all are too. We promised to release footage from our fourth stop on the tour after accumulating 300 likes on Facebook. A BIG shout out goes to K. West from the Wadleigh Secondary School for making that happen!
Once we reach 350 likes, we’ll release the footage from the final concert. The team has seen it and it made two of us cry (I won’t tell which two, =P). So, if you like us, proclaim it to the world: http://facebook.com/HallPassTour
And now, without further ado, Period 4: Paul Robeson High School for Business and Technology
Enjoy!
Holley Monelle, Tour Manager and Host
Well, the first leg of the Hall Pass Tour has wrapped!
I have to say, it’s been a dream come true (literally). I can’t believe that just 3 short months ago, the tour was an idea that we were pitching to College for Every Student at their Program Director retreat. For about 3 years now, my goal for the direction of my music and the purpose behind it has become very laser-focused on advancing access to education.
I realize that the majority of accomplishing this goal is just basic awareness and promoting excitement around the possibilities that education provides. But doing it in a cool way? Hard.
In a nutshell, the tour rocked MY world - professionally, personally and emotionally. I connected with my community as an activist, with students as a music coach/ mentor, with the education access community as a trail blazer, and my tour team as, well, myself. I couldn’t be more humbled, proud, excited, and grateful to live this life in this skin.
Each school was unique in its own way - from staff to security to student talent. We each had a PART in putting together great, inspirational productions by using our respective talents and gifts. No one person can impact mass change on their own - it takes multiple human hearts to be selfless and on one accord. After this first leg of the pilot, I truly understand the concept that “teamwork makes the dream work.”
While the next stop for us is the Adirondacks, there’s no telling where we’ll go after. And I can’t wait.
- j.RENEÉ (@Janelle_Renee • Facebook), Headlining Songstress
Peace Peace. With the Hall Pass Tour pilot, my crew and I set out to change the lives of kids all over NYC. In my opinion, we accomplished that, but after the first show I realized that this experience changed my life as well.
All the backstage coaching, prepping, and rehearsing with these kids helped me connect with them on a personal level. I was able to see each and every person on our dream team as a young adult with dreams, aspirations, and talent beyond this world. Every pre-show I felt very lucky to be sharing a back-stage area with these talented individuals.
As everyone hit the stage, I was able to see the enthusiasm and excitement in the crowd for EDUCATION. Call and response was so uplifting! I’d say “If you’re going to college in here, make some noise!” and the kids would go crazy. I loved witnessing that first-hand. If nothing else, this pilot showed me that it is possible to use music to inspire kids academically.
- ScienZe (@dopeScienZe • Facebook), Headlining Emcee
Where do I begin…The Hall Pass Tour was so crazy to me! The students, the reception, the prep for each concert…all amazing! I really didn’t expect the tour to be so well received by the students we performed for. I would watch the shift in attitude from the crowd at every show…from the majority of the crowd being “too cool,” to them jumping on stage with j.RENEÉ and ScienZe at the end of the show!
Even the look on the student’s faces that go from nonchalant to excited when they see and/or hear something they like…I love watching that shift in attitude!
The students we worked with to open up each show were so talented! We hand picked each one of them to perform for us as the representative of the school at the particular show we had. The greatest thing is that a good few of them had 90+ GPA’s, and they all have aspirations to go to college!
I’m just happy I have the opportunity to work with such an amazing and dedicated group of individuals. We’re all entertaining the youth, while focusing on promoting education. Teamwork makes the dream work!! I’m really excited about what’s to come for The Hall Pass Tour…next stop, Adirondacks!!
- Kraff Swagger (@Kraff), Tour DJ
It’s amazing to see an idea become reality. The first time I heard ScienZe and Holley speak about the Hall Pass Tour I was down to be a part of it in any way possible. Honestly, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. From working with a dedicated team to meeting all of the talented kids that were a part of the tour.
This has been a great experience to witness from its inception and I can’t wait to continue with the tour and take it national. Thank you to whole team for bringing me on board… this is just the beginning.
- Potential (@PotentialNY), Tour Videographer
(Be on the lookout for the final two videos from the NYC pilot of the tour)
First - Happy Spring Break to all the students who’ll be enjoying time off ‘til next Wednesday! I’ll be doing the same, though I’m sure I’ll miss the middle schoolers at Global Tech Prep.
Now that the NYC pilot of the tour is complete, we’re planning out the next leg which will be a rural pilot in the Adirondacks (northern most part of NY) this June. We’re on track to take the tour to CFES schools nationwide in the fall and are extremely grateful to have had New York as our starting point.
You guys have heard a lot from me during the tour but I think it’s really important that you hear from the team as well. So, this week (starting today), be on the lookout for personal entries from Potential (tour videographer), DJ Kraff, ScienZe and j.RENEÉ.
*rubs hands together* We’ve got new footage and photos coming as well. Keep your eyes peeled!
- Holley Monelle, Tour Manager and Host
Tonight is the final concert on the NYC pilot of the tour. We’ve been swamped over the past few weeks with tour duties, job duties, personal life duties etc. There’s a million things floating around in my head but I’m extremely happy that we’re moving as a strong team, in one direction, forward.
Last week, DJ Kraff and I had a serious conversation (while sitting in the old minivan that we refer to as our tour bus) about where we go from here and I remember telling him that I believe in this initiative so much that I’m not returning to my current job in the fall. We take the tour on the road in June and there’s no looking back. Thank you to everyone who believes in this, in the advancement of education, in creating a college going culture, in us, in change. It keeps us pushing.
That said, come out to the finale tonight and rock with us from 6pm - 8pm!
Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing & Visual Arts
215 W 114th St (between 7th and 8th Ave)
Subway: 2 • 3 • B • C to 116th St.
Bus: M7 • M20 to Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. & 114th St.
Admission fees are as follows:
• FREE for all CFES scholars and children under the age of 5
• $3 with valid student or faculty ID
• $5 for all others
The students performing tonight (Brandon Bennett, Jamal Augustin, Ashley Young and Jasmine Kennedy Lee) are phenomenal. If you DON’T enjoy the concert, I’ll give you two refunds. We seriously have THAT much faith in them.
Any questions? Hit us on Twitter for an immediate response @TheHallPassTour.
See you soon!
Holley Monelle Murchison, Tour Manager and Host
