The mission of the Kanye West Foundation, is to help combat the severe dropout problem in schools across the United States by partnering with community organizations to provide under-served youth access to music production programs that will enable them to unleash their creative ability and reach their full potential. Kanye’s vision, and thus the vision of the Kanye West Foundation, is its inaugural program, “Loop Dreams”, a music production program designed to motivate students to stay in school and graduate. The vision of the foundation is broad and not easy to attain but we are committed to the ongoing development of this program across the country and envision a day when the high school dropout rate in cities across this nation will be virtually non-existent. It is the belief of every member of our team that the opportunity to participate in the arts will motivate today’s high school students to stay in school and graduate.
“To me, the most important thing we can do as human beings is give. And we must give in proportion to what we are given...”
Dr. West devoted her full time and energy to designing the Kanye West Foundation and its Loop Dreams program. As Chair of the Kanye West Foundation, Dr. West was committed to developing the dreams that she and her son shared: to give back, to help others, to inspire and to make a difference. Dr. West, a dedicated English professor, was passionate about student success. She believed in educating the whole child.
We salute our founder and affirm that the Kanye West Foundation, the Board of Directors and staff are committed to fulfilling this mother’s dream. We have seen that the Foundation makes a significant and positive difference in the lives of young people. It is, after all, these young who will assist in the development of a world that is healthy and just for all.
Founder
Chair
Lead Counsel/VP, MySpace Music
President
Partner, Prosakauer Rose LLP
Vice President
Esq., Partner, ROAR
Treasurer
Executive Director, Rising Star Brands
President of West Coast Creative, EMI Music Publishing
Founder, Fuzz Artists, Inc, Blip.fm
CEO, Zenit, Inc.
Endeavor Talent Agency
Founder, Cool Globes Inc
Chief Executive Officer
Joseph has spent his entire professional career working in the field of education and youth development and holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from New York University. A true believer that the arts play a critical role in society and have the power to change lives, Joseph feels that the vision of Dr. West and the power of Kanye West’s celebrity will have a tremendous national impact on the lives of young people. He is excited to continue to merge his experiences as an educator, youth worker and manager, and is humbled to have the opportunity to lead this effort and fulfill the legacy and dreams of Dr. West.
Executive Assistant to CEO
Dionne N. Harmon has over ten years of experience in the youth development arena. Originally from Philadelphia, she was raised in Dallas, then moved to Cambridge in 1997 to attend Harvard University. While a student at Harvard, she was the Program Coordinator for the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program, a program that assists the Admissions Office in extending its outreach to prospective students, particularly African American, Asian American, Latino, and Native American students who for reason of history or circumstance might have considered Harvard along with other colleges and universities inaccessible.
Director of Program Operations
Aumijo S. Gomes has over ten years of experience in the field of youth development. Originally from San Francisco, he began working with young people while in high school serving as an assistant to a range of educational programs. Originally planning to pursue a career in clinical psychology, he attended The George Washington University where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in Psychology in 1995. In 1997, he was award a Masters in Psychology from The New York University.
Executive Secretary
Beverly Williams, a retired educator, joined the foundation staff in 2005 to assume the position of program director and executive secretary. She worked hand-in-hand with Dr. Donda West to develop the foundation’s signature program, Loop Dreams®. Beverly earned a Bachelors and Masters Degree from the University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond, Oklahoma). Having worked thirty-two years first as teacher, then guidance counselor, and finally assistant principal she retired from the field of education to work for the Kanye West Foundation.
Teaching Artist
Haskel Jackson, Jr., is the founder and CEO of Genesoul Productions where he develops and produces seasoned and emerging artists from all backgrounds and genres. He is an established producer, songwriter, and former singer, who has been nominated for 3 Grammy Awards, achieved 3 Gold Records, 1 Platinum Record, and has over 10 song placements with major artists.
100% of your tax deductible donation is targeted to the KWF. There are two different ways to donate: By Mail or PayPal
Download a copy of our latest annual report.
The Kanye West Foundation is seeking partners to help us implement our programs.
Spread the word of the KWF and support our goal to help combat the severe dropout problem for youth around the country. Share our work with your friends and family.
