MILWAUKEE – The old Department of Natural Resources building at North Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in the Bronzeville neighborhood will be the future home of the Bronzeville Center for the Arts.
This week, some children from the city had the opportunity to imagine what the new center could look like.
“They should be big windows so you can see inside and feel like going inside,” said Alaynah Williams, one of the campers.
Brendan Jones/TMJ4
She designed it with plenty of open space and a main stage where major artists could perform.
However, the program has a special twist: the children are introduced to architecture from a hip-hop perspective.
“Our mission is to increase the number of minorities in this profession,” said Michael Ford.
Watch: Kids learn about hip-hop and architecture in a single summer camp.
Milwaukee children receive lessons in hip-hop and architecture
Ford founded the Hip Hop Architecture Camp.
Currently, less than two percent of architects in the U.S. are black and less than one percent are black women. He believes programs like his camp could change those statistics.
But what role does hip-hop play?
On the fourth day of camp, all participants went to the future location of the Bronzeville Center for the Arts. It served as the backdrop for their music video.
Brendan Jones
The campers wrote a song about their lives and their architectural experience. The chorus was: “I am black, I am brave, I am not afraid to make a change.”
“It means we have confidence, we are strong and we can do this,” said Ny’cerion Jackson, who rapped the song’s third verse.
Brendan Jones/TMJ4
Ford says architecture around hip-hop gives kids of color a familiar way to access the space. He believes more diverse architecture could change the world.
“It’s not just about what the world looks like when we have more diverse designers, but also about what problems we can solve through architecture,” Ford said.
Talk to us:
Hi! At TMJ4 News, we listen to our audience and address the things that really matter to you. Have a story idea, a tip, or just want to chat about this article? Contact us using the form below. For more contact options, visit tmj4.com/tips.
It’s time to pay attention to your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error // Send a news tip
