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In New York the academy’s five-person staff had shared office space with War Child USA, the American branch of a British organization started to provide relief and opportunities for kids in war-torn countries. They’d been doing some work with local kids in youth detention centers, and one of their volunteers suggested to Hardman that Red Bull bring in DJs to instruct these troubled youngsters. “At the time our plates were full handling all of the details of the Red Bull Music Academy,” he says. “But I thought it was a great idea and I kept it at the back of my mind, and when I was in between jobs it seemed like something that Chicago could definitely support.”
The organization plans to start locally, setting up permanent installations at the Night Ministry’s Open Door Youth homeless shelter and three locations of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. Each place will be outfitted with a DJ booth, two turntables, a mixer, and an assortment of hip-hop, house, and techno records. Some of the city’s busiest DJs, including Mark Grant and Jesse de la Pena, will lead six-week classes for two to four students each; Hit the Decks is hoping to line up as many as 40 teachers. At the completion of each course the students will have the option of extending their training in weekly mentoring sessions with other DJs. They’ll also be allowed to practice on the equipment when it’s not being used for classes.
