He may have spent Valentine’s Day engaging in an indirect exchange with his ex, but Lil Durk has also been busy making political moves. The Chicago rapper has earned his fair share of backlash due to his past legal trouble or violent lyrical content, but he’s still one of the most celebrated artists in Hip Hop. Over the last few years, Durk has seemingly attempted to shift the public’s perspective of him. He has invested in more community building, and on Instagram, he shared photos of a dinner with Chicago’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot.
Durk’s Neighborhood Heroes Foundation hosted a dinner at Gibson’s steakhouse, where over two dozen high school students met with mayoral candidates. The youngsters may not be able to vote, but they did ask five candidates about their plans for the city. A few of the students told WGN-TV about their experience.
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“Tonight is an opportunity for us to express what goes on in our neighborhood and what we want to see change,” said 17-year-old Melvin Bush. “[The election] is an important thing that determines our future and the future of our communities as well.” Another student, Phillip Jones, had questions of his own. “I want to see what they’re going to do to keep our kids out of jail and off the streets,” Jones said. “We got bigger things to do.”
On its website, the Neighborhood Heroes Foundation shared its mission. Its goal is “to empower and collaborate with everyday Heroes who are taking the lead to make positive change in the lives of those within under-resourced neighborhoods across the nation.”
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“Neighborhood Heroes believe that collaboration is not about an option to choose, but necessity to strengthen the efficiencies and effectiveness of tackling pressing issues and generate a better impact for a better world,” the statement continued. “We understand that collaboration and strategic partnership is fundamental to improving outcomes.” Check out more from Lil Durk’s dinner with the next generation of voters above.