Special Supplement to The Glendale Star and Peoria Times
CAREER & EDUCATION 021 OPPORTUNITIES SPRING 2 [Your complete guide to local career and education]
INSIDE This Issue
AIRMAN & FAMILY READINESS ........... 6 Stop in and see all the services that Luke has to offer
BUSINESS ALLIANCE COMMITTEE .......... 11 The Peoria Chamber BAC is on the move
GLENDALE ELEMENTARY ...... 14 Pandemic has strengthened us all for a new beginning
Career Success Schools teams with hip-hop program BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Executive Editor
M
emo Arrubla discovered his love of hip-hop culture as a young child in the 1980s — and it saved
his life. In 2015, the Phoenix Police Department sergeant parlayed that knowledge into the nonprofit Beat Street AZ, an intuitive approach to complementing his two biggest passions — hip-hop and youth mentorship. “We work with at-risk youth,” Arrubla said. “We partner with a lot of schools and organizations.” The Gilbert resident has now teamed with Career Success Schools, which helps students earn their high school diploma and work on their career of choice through training and activity-based strategies. A school spokesperson said when they discovered Arrubla’s program, they were impressed by its focus on hip-hop and its culture. After all, first impressions are everything. School officials said Arrubla is relatable, as he’s young enough to understand the students’ problems. Arrubla focuses helping children earn their diplomas, stay in school or return to school. Taking all of this into consideration, Career Success Schools said it was only natural to partner with Arrubla. Arrubla said he feels strongly about being a positive influence and a role model for youth. In 1999, he started mentoring children through Mentor USA in New York, where he served for seven years as
an NYPD officer. Arrubla worked in rescue and recovery during 9/11. In 2006, he transferred to the Phoenix PD. Five years later, with the Phoenix PD, he founded the Youth Academy, which was designed to build bridges between law enforcement and youth. “As an officer, we protect and serve. I have a passion for both, based on my own personal upbringing,” he said. “I started Beat Street AZ because I wanted to formalize it and do something a little more than going to a classroom and speaking to classes.” With Beat Street AZ, Arrubla uses four elements — breakdancing, Memo Arrubla founded Beat Street AZ, which helps DJing, graffiti and emceeing. at-risk youth feel passionate about school and learning “Through each element, we pro- again. (Photo courtesy of Memo Arrubla) vide a course that touches on said element,” he said. “With DJing, we show In the end, the students in the program them the turntable. Through that class, we will perform to show what they’ve learned introduce them to music engineering and from Arrubla. production. The classes, Arrubla added, go much “With graffiti, we show why it’s crimi- deeper than hip-hop. nal and also how it’s not criminal. We dive “It’s a little bit more than that,” he into graphic design and teach them how said. “We embed certain life skills within to do graffiti. With the DJ Den, we teach those courses. We cover financial literathem music production, and with the em- cy, job readiness, college readiness and cee stage, we talk about form, flow and nutrition.” cadence. The real curriculum is effective Arrubla can relate to these students and community.” the program. He “dabbled in the elements” With Career Success Schools, Arrubla growing up and said he feels the hip-hop will teach the DJ and emcee classes two culture saved his life. hours a day, once a week for nine weeks, Team...continued on page 2 first and second semesters.
Career Success Schools
ARE REDESIGNING AND REIMAGINING EDUCATION TODAY!
602-285-5525 csschools.com
CSS Schools will be partnering with BEAT STREET AZ to provide hip-hop classes and music at ROBERT L. DUFFY HIGH SCHOOL for this school year.