It Takes a Village. Will You Be Part of Ours?
There is a version of this story that could have ended differently.
Three brothers came through DRUM The Program during one of the hardest seasons anyone has lived through. COVID had shut everything down. Virtual learning had failed them. They were falling behind. Statistically, the outcomes for young men in their situation are not good.
But someone stayed present. A community showed up. And today, one brother is in college on scholarship. Another is working in construction. The youngest is training to become an electrician. All three are still drumming.
That is what this work does. And it does not happen without people like you.
Why We Are Raising Funds
DRUM The Program is hosting our Juneteenth Summer Camp, June 15 to 20, 2026. For six days, youth will gather for a full cultural immersion experience rooted in West African drumming, dance, yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, gardening, and wellness.
Every child who attends will receive transportation, full program access, and the opportunity to perform on stage at the end of the week.
Our goal is to raise twenty thousand dollars to ensure that no child is turned away because their family cannot afford to participate. We believe access to transformative cultural experiences should not be determined by income. That is the whole point of this work.
We need your help to make it real.
How Your Money Is Used
Every dollar raised goes directly toward making the camp possible and accessible. Here is where your contribution goes:
Instructor fees — paying experienced West African drumming, dance, and wellness practitioners
Transportation — ensuring no child is left out due to lack of transport
Equipment and supplies — drums, materials, gardening supplies, wellness resources
Venue and operations — the physical space and everything needed to run six days of programming
Scholarships — covering or reducing fees for families who cannot afford full participation
This is not a campaign with excessive overhead. It is a direct investment in young people's lives.
Ways to Give
We have designed multiple ways to contribute because we understand that generosity comes in different forms. Every level of support matters.
Sponsor a Youth — $700
For seven hundred dollars, you fully sponsor one child's camp experience for the entire week. This covers their registration, transportation, all materials, and full program access, giving them access to a life-changing week of cultural immersion, creative expression, and community connection.
At the end of the week, you will know that one child stood on a stage and found a part of themselves they did not know existed because of you.
Businesses and individuals are both welcome to sponsor a child. If you are a business, your sponsorship can be recognized on our social media, website, and event materials.
Sponsorship Opportunities
We offer meaningful sponsorship tiers designed to recognize your generosity and amplify your impact. Whether you are an individual, a small business, or a corporation looking to invest in the next generation, there is a place for you in this work.
Silver Sponsor
$1,500
Business name featured on event t-shirt
Recognition across our social media platforms
On-stage acknowledgment at the Juneteenth Jamboree
Gold Sponsor
$3,000
Logo featured on marketing materials
Social media spotlight
Invitation to visit the camp and witness programming in action
Platinum Sponsor
$10,000
Premium logo placement across all marketing platforms
VIP access and seating at the Juneteenth Jamboree
Exclusive opportunity to experience camp programming firsthand
Why This Community Needs You
We are living in a moment where many young people, particularly African-American youth are growing up without access to their cultural heritage. The spaces that once passed down these traditions, the drumming circles, the dance troupes, the community arts programs, have disappeared from many neighborhoods.
What fills the gap matters. And too often, what fills it does not affirm who these children are.
DRUM The Program exists to change that. West African drumming and dance are not just art forms. They are acts of identity. They are a return to something ancient and alive. When a young person learns these traditions, they are not just learning a skill. They are learning who they are.
We have seen it change children. We have seen it change families. We are asking you to help us scale that change.
What Happens If We Hit Our Goal
If we reach our twenty thousand dollar target, here is what becomes possible:
Every registered child attends at no financial barrier
Transportation is covered for all participants who need it
We bring in additional specialist instructors to deepen the programming
We build the foundation for a sustainable camp that returns every year
This is not just a one-time event. Every dollar you give this year helps build something that comes back stronger next year.
A Message From the Founder
I go first. And then you go.
— DRUM The Program Founder
That has been my affirmation since before DRUM The Program had a name. I show up first for the work, for the community, for the mission. And then I invite others to join.
Today, I am inviting you.
This art form is not something I teach. It is something I returned to. And I have spent over twenty years walking this path so that one day, I could bring it home to the youth who need it most.
That day is now. June 15 to 20, 2026. And we cannot do it without you.
Whatever you can give, give it with the knowledge that it lands directly in the life of a young person who is waiting for exactly this.
Donate or sponsor at
