Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am and his i.am Angel Foundation have extended their partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District and will add more than 400 robotics clubs starting this summer at middle and high schools in underserved communities. The Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. The Grammy-winning rapper launched his i.am Angel Foundation in 2009 which helps students living below the poverty line in his hometown of Boyle Heights and the surrounding area.
“For me, it’s a pay it forward. Because when I was in the projects, somebody came up with the school lunch program. So, what do I get out of it? I get to give back because I was a recipient of someone’s good doing,” the “Boom Boom Pow” rapper told ABC’s Los Angeles’ Channel 7 News.
Will.i.am uses the foundation to establish STEAM education-centered programs for youth in his old community. The i.am Angel Foundation offers after-school programs and coding workshops to introduce students to the different facets of science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. The extended partnership will provide 12,000 students the opportunity to expand their knowledge in STEM education.
“We are expanding it across L.A. Unified to meet the needs of our kids and inspire at an accelerated pace of achievement,” Monica Garcia, a school district board member told the station.
The Black Eyed Peas frontman also stated he wished this type of program existed when he was growing up.
“Yea, I love music. I have awesome memories. We have accomplished things we could never imagine when I was riding my bike through the projects. If I was 15 years old right now, I am doing robotics because that is the ultimate level of creating,” will.i.am further commented to Channel 7 News.
