Hip-hop rockstar, Travis Scott, celebrated the third annual “Travis Scott Day” in a special way this year. Scott celebrated in his home city of Houston, Texas and decided to bring good news to his people. He announced the official launch of the Cactus Jack Foundation.
The Cactus Jack Foundation aims to provide educational and creative resources for the next generation of youth. Its first call to action is The HBCU Waymon Webster Scholarship program, named after Scott’s grandfather, which will cover tuition fees for HBCU students this year. For an extra personal touch, the artist personally selected students enrolled in Morehouse College, Howard University, Texas Southern University, Grambling State University (his mother’s alma mater) and Prairie View A&M University (his father’s).
“Waymon Webster was a Dean of the Prairie View A&M graduate school,” Scott said in a press statement. “My grandfather wanted me to take it all the way through college, I feel there is a power in education so to be able to give someone the opportunity to fulfill that dream as my papa thought for me is amazing.”
The foundation is amazing, but the good news doesn’t stop there. In addition Scott is in agreements for a multi-year partnership with Houston and will launch in the unveiling of Cactus Jack Gardens; a community based agriculture program across city wide elementary schools where students will learn agricultural economics and nutritional skills.
Houston Mayor, Sylvester Turner, has a great relationship with the rapper and had nothing but great things to say about the work Scott is doing for the community. “Education and mentorship equip young people with the skills they need for a successful career path. I am grateful that Travis is partnering with the City of Houston to support our nationally-recognized My Brother’s Keeper program, which provides support for boys and young men of color. I also applaud him and his Cactus Jack Foundation for investing in the lives of young men and women by providing scholarships to cover their tuition at HBCUs. If we can turn around one person in one family, that positively impacts every neighborhood, which builds on the resilience and strength of our entire city,” he stated in a press release.
The cherry on top was his final announcement of a partnership with The New School’s Parsons School of Design, which will bring a fashion design curriculum, created with the Cactus Jack Foundation, to Houston high schoolers. “Parsons is proud to partner with Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Foundation to bring fashion education to high school students who have traditionally been underrepresented in creative disciplines,” said Rachel Schreiber, executive dean of The New School’s Parsons School of Design. “Parsons and Travis Scott share a deep commitment to educating young designers who are just beginning their exploration of fashion and design. We are excited to collaborate with the Cactus Jack Foundation to offer this immersive course led by Parsons award-winning faculty.”
A big clap for Scott and his humble services for to his people in Houston.