"Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say: This is my community, and it is my responsibility to make it better."
- Studs Terkel

Many Kids are Crushed by the Competition

The unemployment rate for teens ages 16-19 is 15.8%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor - more than three times the rate for the entire American workforce. "Competition from foreign immigrants and older workers for jobs previously held by teenagers has steadily intensified," according to Mark Zandi, Moody's chief economist.

This competition, combined with a lack of marketable skills, often results in discouragement and cynicism which leads to truancy, crime and, ultimately, jail. Incarceration and gang-related murders are on the rise among males ages 15 to 21. From 1983 to 2003, violent actions involving young women increased from 200 per 100,000 to 750 per 100,000. Many people associate these trends with the music of today's youth. Pradagi programs are ideal for grammar- and high-school students, to help direct them before they are lost to the streets of Chicago.

Success Through Education and Cultural Awareness

Pradagi-Foundation, NFP helps students achieve cultural awareness through music, fashion, art and entertainment. Our future lies with these students and it is our responsibility to teach and lead by example. Our goal is to educate 150 to 200 students per year.

Students learn how consumer trends in the arts and entertainment fields affect the current values of certain urban cultures in America. Students also learn to analyze, predict, and influence how genres of music effect targeted demographic areas. By accepting responsibility for influencing social change through the arts and entertainment fields, students become consciously aware of the outcomes.

Keep it Real and Keep it P.U.R.E. 4 the Way We Live