>> Renee: HIP-HOP ARTIST COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER DEVINE CAMERA CAN LIGHT UP THE STAGE AND EYES OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE HE INSPIRES.

A FEW MONTHS AGO LEXINGTON MAYOR LINDA GORTON MADE HIM DIRECTOR OF ONE LEXINGTON, A PROGRAM THAT WORKS TO MOBILIZE CITY GOVERNMENT AND RESOURCES AGAINST VIOLENCE.

I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THIS EFFORT, HIS MUSIC MASHUPS AND MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE.

THAT'S NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CONNECTIONS TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

DEVINE CAMARA IS A MASTER PERFORMER, ACTIVIST AND INSPIRATIONAL FORCE IN THE CENTRAL KENTUCKY COMMUNITY, HE IS NO STRANGER TO THIS STAGE AND I'M EXCITED TO CATCH UP WITH HIM ABOUT HIS NEW WORK ROLE AND HOW HE IS JUGGLING SO MANY COMMUNITY PROJECTS FROM COAT DRIVES TO HELPING YOUNG BLACK WOMEN FIND THEIR VOICE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.

GOOD TO SEE.

>> YOU TOO, AS ALWAYS.

>> Renee: WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE YEARLY CATCH-UPS TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ARE AIBLE TO SIT STILL AND BREATHE AND I HOPE YOU FIND THIS INTERVIEW AS A TIME TO CHILL AND TALK, RIGHT BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THE GO ALL THE TIME.

YOU ARE EVERYWHERE.

I ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE.

I WANT TO LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND FOR MY CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN AND SHOW THAT'S WHAT MOTIVATES ME EVERY DAY.

>> Renee: OF YOU WILL THE TIME WE HAVE SPOKEN, I HAVE NEVER ASKED YOU ABOUT YOUR NAME.

>> YES.

>> Renee: RICHARD SPAULDING IS YOUR REAL NAME.

>> IT IS.

>> Renee: WHERE DID DEVINE CAMARA COME FROM?

>> DEVINE WAS A NICKNAME EVEN BEFORE MUSIC.

THIS IS ALL THE WAY BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I HUNG AROUND A GROUP OF FELLOWS WHO WERE PART OF THE NATION OF ISLAM, I DIDN'T DRINK, DIDN'T SMOKE AND SO THEY GAVE ME THE NAME DEVINE WHICH MEANT SEARCH FOR PURITY IT WAS A NICKNAME.

THEN WHEN I GOT INTO MUSIC, I THOUGHT DEVINE WAS A PRETTY COOL NAME AND CAMARA IN ONE OF THE SWAHILI DIALECTS MEANS TEACHERS AND SO DEVINE TEACHER IS HOW I GOT THE HIP-HOP NAME.

>> Renee: YOU ARE IN ALL THESE PROFESSIONAL SPACES.

YOU ARE NOT CALLED RICHARD BY THE MAYOR.

>> NO, BECAUSE DEVINE CAMARA IS WHO EVERYBODY KNOWS.

>> Renee: YOUR BRAND.

>> IT STARTED WITH MUSIC AND SO I TRANSITION EVERYTHING FROM MUSIC AND SO THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE KNOW.

>> Renee: YOU ARE MORE THAN A HIP-HOP ARTIST, MORE THAN A RAPPER.

YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT.

SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS YOU ARE AND HAVE BEEN EVER SINCE YOU CAME ON THE SCENE.

SO ARE YOU GLAD THAT MUSIC HAS BEEN WHAT HAS REALLY GOTTEN PEOPLE'S ATTENTION BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO BE JUST KNOWN FOR THAT.

>> BECAUSE HAVE YOU TO GO BACK TO THE HISTORY OF WHAT HIP-HOP IS ABOUT.

IT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH COMMUNITY AND IT GAVE ME MY VOICE BECAUSE BY NATURE I'M SOCIALLY AWKWARD, A LITTLE SHIER BUT HIP-HOP REALLY GOT MEE OUT OF MY SHELL AND HELPED ME FIND AND CULTIVATE MY VOICE AND SO IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT HIP-HOP WAS MY START, MY ORIGINS.

SO YEAH, IT IS A BLESSING THAT IT STARTED WITH HIP-HOP CULTURE.

>> Renee: WE ARE GOING TO CIRCLE BACK TO MUSIC AND TALK ABOUT THE BLACK GIRL PROJECT WHICH I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT 1 LEXINGTON AND THE DAY THE MAYOR WAS STANDING THERE WITH YOU.

WE HAVE A SNAPSHOT OF YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND SHE HEYED THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

YOU KNEW IT WAS COMING, BUT THE CONVERSATIONS LEADING UP TO IT.

YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE AND YOU HAVE A VERY STRONG PLATFORM.

ARE THEY GETTING WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD GET OUT OF A DEVINE CAMARA IN THIS ROLE AND WHAT EXACTLY IS 1 LEXINGTON BURPED TO DO.

>> SO I THINK BRINGING PLEA IN WAS A UNIQUE TIME SMED I THINK EVERYTHING IS ON GOD'S TIME AND COMING OFF OF THE 2020 THAT WE HAD, WHERE WE WERE AS A CITY, AS A SOCIETY, I THINK IT ALL KIND OF BUILT ITSELF TO THE MOMENT OF ME TAKING THIS JOB.

I HONESTLY BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THE STEPS WERE ORDERED.

AND SO ONE LEXINGTON IS AN INITIATIVE WHERE YOU CONNECT RESOURCES WITH PEOPLE, WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT THIS HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE, I DON'T WANT TO SAY PRESSURE BUT RESPONSIBILITY TO IT BECAUSE MY JOB IS TO KEEP NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING VIOLENCE SPIKE NOT JUST IN LEXINGTON BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT AND SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN LEXINGTON.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE VIOLENCE WE HAVE SEEN AS OF LATE SO HOW CAN WE CONNECT THE RESOURCES, CONNECT THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND THAT ARE DOING GOOD WORK WITH THE PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE IT SAFER?

IT'S WORK THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO DOING GREAT WORK SO HOW CAN I LEVERAGE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND NOW THESE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY?

AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE JOB IS ABOUT.

>> Renee: AND IT'S GROOD GOOD BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S COVID RELIEF MONEY BUT SO MANY THINGS TIE INTO THAT.

HOW DOES COVID AFFECT OR TIE INTO VIOLENCE?

DO YOU THINK IT'S MADE IT WORSE?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE CORONATION LAYINGS BETWEEN COVID AND THE UPTICKS IN VIOLENCE.

LEXINGTON HAS ITS ISSUES BUT WE ALSO KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS WEST OF US IN LOUISVILLE, I MEAN IT'S NOT JUST THE FATAL SHOOTINGS.

IT'S THE NON-FATAL SHOOTINGS.

THE NUMBERS ARE TREMENDOUS.

SO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE HERE IN LEXINGTON?

>> I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IN SOCIETY WHETHER IT IS A PANDEMIC, WHETHER IT IS SOCIAL UNREST, WHETHER IT'S AN ACTUAL DISASTER PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY UNDERSERVED ARE ALWAYS GOING TO GET IT 10 TIMES WORSE USUALLY THOSE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, THEY'RE FROM UNDERSERVED SECONDERS IN OUR CITY-- SECTORS AND WE HAD A GLOBAL PANDEMIC WHERE A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS, NOT JUST TO SCHOOL BUT RESOURCES THAT WERE HELPING THEM DEVELOP IN LIFE.

SO YOU SNATCH ALL THOSE RESOURCES AWAY, YOU SNATCH OUR SCHOOLS WHICH HAS BEEN A SAFE HAVEN FOR SO MANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND YOU TAKE AWAY THE PERSONAL CONNECTION AND INTERSECTION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND MEMBERS, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG REASONS.

BUT THEN ALSO I THINK THE SOCIAL UNREST REALLY KIND OF DIVIDED OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO IN THAT DIVISION, I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION AND I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THAT.

BUT I THINK WE STILL ARE AND SO I THINK ALL OF THAT PLAYS A PART IN SOME OF THE SPIKE THAT WE ARE SEEING.

>> Renee: AND YOU HIT ON IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT OKAY, IS THIS THE NATURAL OUTREACH OR THE BYPRODUCT OF THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON RACE AND EQUALITY THAT WAS HELD AND YOU WERE A PART OF THAT AND LOTS OF LEXINGTONIANS WERE.

IS THIS GETTING AT WHAT THE COMMISSION SAID MUST ACTUALLY HAPPEN?

WELL, YOU KNOW, ANY TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS IS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE ISSUES, THOSE SPIS BARRETTES SO I THINK IT'S 50-50, REALLY THE PIE IS PROBABLY SPLIT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, BUT SOME OF THAT IS COMING FROM THE SYSTEMIC DISPARITIES WE HAVE SEEN FOR A LONG TIME.

IT'S JUST HIGHLIGHTED IN 2020.

NOW EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT.

MAYBE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

BUT THE OTHER PART IS WE ARE SEEING A CULTURE SHIFT WITH THE ACCESS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, THROUGH THE INTERNET.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PERVERSION OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL LIKE HIP-HOP CULTURE AND WHAT IT HAS BEEN LIMITED TO TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, I THINK WE ARE SEEING A CULTURE SHIFT THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A GRIP OF.

OUR YOUNG WOMEN ARE BEING DEGRADED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND FASHIONS.

YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS THAT WE NEVER HAD ACCESS TO AT AN AGE WHERE YOU CAN'T QUITE NAVIGATE THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE TAKING IN AND SO GANG CULTURE, WE SEE SOME OF THE TIKTOK CHALLENGES GOING O.

HOW CAN WE GRAB THE REINS BACK AND USE THIS ACCESS, TECHNOLOGY AND PROGRESSION IN A WAY THAT CAN BUILD PEOPLE UP.

>> Renee: THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUR RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS.

I SAW A TIKTOK VIDEO BUT DID YOU VERY WELL.

>> I'M NOT A TICK TOCKER BUT I HAD TO LEARN.

>> Renee: AND WERE YOU DOING THIS WITH FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND YOU HAD A YOUNG MAN STANDING THERE, YOU DROPPED YOUR PAPERS AND HE CAME AND HELPED PICK THEM UP.

NOTHING HEROIC NECESSARILY BUT JUST NOTICING SOMEBODY ELSE WHO HAS A NEED AND BEING THERE TO FILL IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO BE THE ANTIDOTE TO THE BAD SIDE OF TIKTOK AND ALL THE OTHER PLATFORMS THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO?

>> SURE.

I THINK ONE THING THAT I HAVE KIND OF GREW TO UNDERSTAND IS, A LONG TIME AGO, I MADE THE PERSONAL CHOICE TO SAY I'M GOING TO BE BETTER.

I WANT TO BE THE CHANGE.

BUT YOU CAN'T JUST PREACH THAT.

HAVE YOU TO MEET YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE IN ORDER TO INSPIRE THEM TO BE THE CHANGE AND SO YOU KNOW, I WILL BE 41 THIS MONTH AND SO I JUST COME FROM A DIFFERENT ERA.

BUT THESE YOUNG KIDS COME FROM A DIFFERENT ERA.

SO HOW CAN YOU MEET THEM AND TIKTOK IS NOT SOMETHING I DO A LOT OF, BUT THEY LOVE IT AND SO HOW CAN YOU COME DOWN, NOT NECESSARILY TO THEIR LEVEL BUT WHERE THEY ARE AND THEN ASPIRE FROM THERE.

AND SO I'M LEARNING BUT I'M LOVING IT.

YOU HAVE TO JUMP IF AND JUST SAY I'M GOING TO PUSH THESE KIDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

WHETHER IT SEEMS A LITTLE CRINGEY AS MY 10-YEAR-OLD STEP CORNER WOULD SAY OR A LITTLE CORNY STILLS, BUT I THINK WE CAN MAKE THE RIGHT THINGS COOL.

>> Renee: RIGHT.

>> IF WE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

>> Renee: THEY'VE HEARD OF YOU, RIGHT?

SO TO BE AROUND YOU, OH MOO I GOSH.

THEY'LL DO WHATEVER IS CORNY OR CRINGEY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE AROUND YOU.

I GUESS BECAUSE WE THINK THE NATURAL INCLINATION IS TO GO TOWARD THE BAD BUT WHEN THEY'RE GIVEN THE OPTIONS TOWARDS THE GOOD, THEY GRAVITATE TO THAT.

>> I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

I USED TO... JAY ALEXANDER IS MY FRIEND SO LET ME SAY THIS.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO POPULAR HIP-HOP STATIONS, I ALWAYS FELT LIKE THEY GAVE US TWO GLASSES OF WATER SOMETIMES.

A MUDDY GLASS OF WATER AND A WATER WITH SOME OTHER STUFF IN IT, RIGHT?

AND YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO DRINK THE MUDDY GLASS OF WATER, RIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN.

BUT WHAT IF YOU WERE GIVEN THAT CLEAR CLASS OF WATER.

YOU ARE GOING TO CHOOSE THAT EVERY TIME BUT IT'S NOT OFTEN AN OPTION.

SO REALLY IT'S JUST ABOUT ENGAGING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, GIVING THEM ANOTHER OPTION AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY OF THEM TAKE IT.

AND SO THEY JUST DON'T HAVE IT WHEN THEY'RE LISTENING TO THEIR MUSIC, THEY'RE STREAMING.

IT'S NOT TOO MUCH POSITIVE STUFF OUT THERE IN HIP-HOP CULTURE ON THE MAINSTREAM.

>> Renee: THAT'S RIGHT.

AND YOU ARE CHANGING THAT IN ANOTHER WAY, YOUNG BLACK WOMEN.

I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE BLACK GIRL PROJECT.

SIX BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMEN.

>> YES.

>> Renee: WHO I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL THEY ALL KNEW EACH OTHER BUT THEY SOUND LIKE THEY HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOREVER.

SO TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> YES, I TAUGHT A HIP-HOP AND CLEERP CLASS AT U.K. AND LEADERSHIP CLASS AT U.K. FOUR YEARS AGO.

WE WERE TEACHING CLASSES DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THE CLASS GOT INTERRUPT RUPTED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE PREMISE OF THAT CLAT IS WE-- CLASS IS WE LEARN ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE, HIP-HOP CULTURE AND BRING THE TWO TOGETHER.

WHERE THE STUDENTS CREATE MUSIC ABOUT AN UPLIFTING THEME AND THEY GIVE THE PROCEEDS AWAY TO A NOL LOCAL NON-PROFIT.

WHEN THAT GOT INTERRUPTED LATER THAT YEAR, I GAINED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CORNERSTONE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND I SAID YOU KNOW WHAT WE GOT TO GET SOME KIDS IN THE STUDIO.

AND I THINK WITH THE PASSING OF MY DAUGHTER, WITH BREONNA TAYLOR AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON.

ME BEING A GIRL DAD, I SAID-- AND WE WERE KIND OF SEEING THE ASCENSION OF STACY ABRAMS AND SO HANNAH DRAKE, A POET IN LOUISVILLE.

I SAID I REALLY WANT TO CULTIVATE THIS SPACE WHERE COLLEGE, BLACK WOMEN CAN MENTOR YOUNGER BLACK GIRLS THROUGH MUSIC AND GIVE THEM A PLATFORM TO SPEAK.

SO I KIND OF CULTIVATED THIS SPACE, BUT THEN I STEPPED BACK BECAUSE ME AS A MAN, IT WASN'T FOR ME TO COME IN AND SAY HEY, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO SPEAK ON.

I WANTED THIS TO BE BLACK WOMEN SPEAKING ABOUT BLACK WOMEN.

AND SO IT WAS UP WITH OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS I'VE EVER BEEN A PART OF.

WE CREATED SIX ORIGINAL SONGS; TOUCHING ON EVERYTHING FROM YOU KNOW, WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A BLACK WOMAN GROWING UP, BEING THE ONLY BLACK WOMAN IN A SPACE, TALKING ABOUT BREONNA TAYLOR, TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW YUCK BLACK GIRLS ARE OFTEN, YOU KNOW, TREATED LIKE ADULTS AND JUST SO MANY THINGS THAT THEY TOUCHED ON AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

>> Renee: WELL, THEY LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE BONDED.

WE ARE SHOWING SOME PICTURES OF THEM AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE BEING VERY HONEST ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY, I MEAN TRYING TO PUT THAT IN A SONG CAN BE CATHARTIC AND LIBERATING, I WOULD THINK, TO SAY OKAY, I'M SHARING MY STORY.

AND YOU SEE HOW HAPPY THEY ALL LOOK, LIKE WE ARE GOING TO MAKE OUR WAY IN THIS WORLD.

>> THAT'S IT.

>> Renee: AND WE ARE GOING TO DO IT OUR WAY.

TAKE CONTROL OF OUR NARRATIVE, OUR STORY, OUR TIME.

>> AND I THINK BLACK ENTERPRISE.COM PICKED UP ON IT AND POSTED IT AND TO SHOW THEM THAT BEING HONEST, YOU KNOW, BEING POSITIVE, YOU KNOW, THEY KEPT IT CLEAN.

THEY TOLD THE TRUTH.

>> Renee: EVEN THOUGH IT WAS TOUGH SUBJECTS.

>> IT WAS.

THEY TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE, JUST EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THERE THROUGH SO.

SO YOU CAN BE REAL AND RAW AND YOU CAN ALSO PRESENT IT IN A WAY WHERE EVERYBODY CAN RELATE.

SO MY 10-YEAR-OLD STEP DAUGHTER CAN LISTEN TO IT.

MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD CAN LISTEN TO IT AND EVEN MY MOM LOVES IT.

AND SO TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THAT AND IT'S SOMETHING NOBODY CAN EVER TAKE FROM THEM.

IT'S THERE.

AND SO IT WILL ALWAYS BE THERE.

>> Renee: WHAT IS THEIR NEXT STEP?

>> THEY PUSH ME BECAUSE I TOLD THEM, I THINK WE NEED A BLACK WOMAN TO KIND OF TAKE THIS OVER AND THEY SAID NO, Mr. DEVINE, YOU ARE PERFECT.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO MENTOR AND SO THE GIRLS WANT TO CONTINUE IT.

I THINK I'M GOING TO BRING A COUPLE OF THEM BACK TO KIND OF TAKE MY PLACE AND BRING IN SOME YOUNGER BLACK GIRLS AND TO KEEP THIS THING GOING BECAUSE I THINK THEY NEED THIS SPACE.

AND I THINK THIS COULD GROW TO BE EVEN BIGGER BE WHAT IT WAS.

>> Renee: SURE.

I CAN SEE THEM ON THEIR OWN TALKING CIRCUITS, SPEAKING CIRCUIT AND MIXING ALL THESE MEDIUMS TOGETHER.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND IT'S GOOD FOR OUR YOUNG BLACK BOYS TO SEE THESE YOUNG BLACK WOMEN TALKING ABOUT REAL THINGS THAT ARE HURTFUL AND PAINFUL, BUT HOW THEY OVERCOME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND TWO ALSO IT INFORMS THEM A LOT OF YOUNG BOYS, I MENTOR HUNDREDS OF THEM AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THEIR ACTIONS AND WORDS CAN HAVE ON WOMEN.

A LOT OF YOUNG WOMEN DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE VOICING SOME OF THE PAIN THAT THEY FEEL AND SO A LOT OF THESE YOUNG BLACK BOYS DON'T KNOW.

AND SO TO HAVE THIS HIP-HOP PROJECT, WHERE THEY WERE SO SPEAKING ON THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE, WHEN I PLAY THAT PROJECT FOR A LOT OF OUR BOYS, YOU CAN JUST SEE THE LOOK ON THEIR FACES LIKE WOW, I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

>> Renee: AND THEY MAY COME FROM HOMES WHERE THEIR MOTHER ALWAYS HAS TO BE STRONG AND SHE IS NOT GOING TO SHOW VULNERABILITY.

ONE SHE DOESN'T HAVE TIME AND SHE IS TRYING TO BE STRONG AND BE THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE SO TO BE ABLE TO SAY MAYBE IT HELPS THAT YOUNG BOY TO SAY MOM, LET ME SEE YOU.

LIKE WHAT IS YOUR STORY.

AND I JUST THINK THAT HELPS THOSE FAMILY BONDS SO MUCH.

I MEAN WHAT DO THE GIRLS TELL YOU ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE GROWN PERSONALLY FROM THIS, NOT JUST IN THEIR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION BUT HOW THEY HAVE COME TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

>> I'LL TELL YOU THIS TO KEEP IT JUST TO REALITY.

ONE OF THE GIRLS REACHED OUT AND WANTS TO CREATE A PROGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF GUNSHOTS AND SO, BUT IT'S ON THE HEELS OF OUR MENTORING PROGRAM SO SHE WILL BE A SENIOR THIS YEAR AT U.K.

SO SHE IS LIKE DEVINE, IS THIS A WAY THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH ONE LEX.

ONE OF THE EIGHTH GRADERS WHO IS A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL IN LEXINGTON, SHE REACHED OUT AND SHE IS GOING TO DO A VERSE FOR A SONG THAT I'M WORKING ON, KIND OF STOP THE VIOLENCE, KIND OF FLIP OF MARVIN GAYE'S WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND SO WE ARE WORKING IN THAT CAPACITY.

ANOTHER YOUNG GIRL, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT WITH HER AT ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND SHE HAS TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT IT HAS HAD IN CULTIVATING HER VOICE.

ONE OF THE OTHERS GIRLS WHO GRADUATED LAST YEAR SENT ME A SONG LAST WEEK AND SAID Mr. DEVINE, THIS IS WHAT I'M WORKING ON.

HOW DOES IT SOUND?

HERE WE ARE A YEAR LATER AND IT'S STILL HAVING ITS IMPACT, YOU KNOW, JUST BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH THIS EXPERIENCE MEANT FOR THEM AND ALSO ME AND ALSO ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT WILL GET A CHANCE TO LISTEN.

SO WRFL.

IT'S IN ROTATION THERE.

AND BEAUTIFUL THING.

>> Renee: THAT'S GREAT.

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL THING HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER AND THERE WAS THIS MASH UP BETWEEN YOU AND THE LEXINGTON PHILHARMONIC AND WE HAVE SOME PICTURES OF THAT EVENT.

I DIDN'T GET TO MAKE IT BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF TOWN BUT I HEARD ALL ABOUT IT.

I MEAN HOW DID THAT IDEA EVEN COME ABOUT AND WHAT DID THE AUDIENCE THINK OF HIP-HOP MEETS THIS KIND OF CLASSICAL FINE ART FORM?

>> SO I WAS-- A FEW YEARS AGO, MY FAVORITE HIP-HOP ARTIST NAZ WHO I ALWAYS LOVED BECAUSE OF HIS SOCIAL COMMENTARY AND POETIC STYLE, HE HAD DID A CONCERT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER AND HE DID IT WITH A FULL ORCHESTRA.

AND I JUST THOUGHT MAN, THAT'S THE COOLEST THING.

I WONDER IF I COULD DO SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT IN LEXINGTON BUT MY MENTALITY WAS A LITTLE DEEPER BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS THINKING YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.

HOW MANY YOUNG BLACK KIDS THAT MIGHT LIVE IN EAST END OR WINBURN THAT WANT TO PLAY AN STRUCTURE BUT MAY FEEL IT'S NOT FOR THEM OR THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS?

HOW MANY WHITE KIDS WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIP-HOP CULTURE BUT MAYBE THEY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT AND THEY FEEL IT'S NOT FOR THEM AND THEN MIRROR SOCIETY.

HOW WE OFTEN MISS EACH OTHER BECAUSE EITHER THE MEDIA OR SOCIETY SAYS YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO LIKE THIS PERSON BECAUSE... AND SO I SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MUCH MORE THAN A MUSICAL MATCH UP.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER THAT PROBABLY HAVE NEVER SPENT TWO HOURS TOGETHER BEFORE.

>> Renee: THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IT WAS-- THE MUSIC WAS INCREDIBLE.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

BUT IT WAS THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

IT WAS THE INTERSECTION.

IT WAS THE UNITY.

IT WAS THE MAYOR TELLING ME I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS DIVERSE OF A CROWD TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF MAYBE A GANG.

>> Renee: OR MLK DAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Renee: SO THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING ANNUAL THING?

>> SO WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

WE WANT IT TO BE.

I KNOW THEY PLAYED IT AGAIN AT THE VIRTUAL ROOTS AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL.

THE YOUTUBE VIDEO IS OUT NOW.

WE HAVE PLANS OF DOING A FULL ORCHESTRA BUT COVID-19 HIT SO WE HAD TO ADJUST SO YES, I THINK WE WANT TO PLAN TO TOGETHER TO DO THIS MORE AND MAYBE EVEN INCORPORATE MORE ARTISTS.

>> Renee: SOME OF YOUR OWN ARTISTS FROM THE BLACK GIRL PROJECT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Renee: SERIOUSLY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Renee: IF YOU THINK OF PEOPLE LIKE LIZZO WHO IS AN AMAZING, I I YOU CALL IT FLAUTIST.

IF HAVE YOU EVER SEEN HER PLAY THAT THING, IT IS AMAZING AND SO I THINK OFTEN YOU PIGEON HOLE PEOPLE THINKING ALL THEY CAN DO IS WRAP RAP.

THEY DON'T HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR OTHER THINGS OR VICE VERSA, SO TO EXPOSE THEM, I THINK THAT'S AWESOME.

AND TO THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO SAY LOOK WHAT THESE KIDS CAN DO.

>> AND I THINK IN HAVING THAT DIVERSITY OF TASTE, CREATES MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR POSITIVITY TO BE POURED INTO YOU BECAUSE HIP-HOP AND EVEN ROCK AND ROME, IT MOVES IN SEGMENTS.

WE HAD IN THE EARLY 2000, AND ARE SURGENCE IN A POSITIVE WAY.

IT WENT TO THE TRAP RAP AND WENT HERE AND WHEN YOU HAVE DIVERSITY IN MUSICAL GENRE, WHEN HIP-HOP IS NOT FILLING THE HEART THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO CLASSICAL, ALTERNATIVE, R&B, SO IF THAT IS NO THE GIVING YOU WHAT YOU NEED, I ALWAYS TRY TO GET KIDS TO LISTEN TO ALL TYPES OF MUSIC AND OPEN YOUR SOUL UP BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH BEAUTY OUT THERE THAT YOU MISS WHEN YOU PIGEON HOLE YOURSELF AND THAT'S LIFE, NOT JUST THE MUSIC.

BUT JUST LIFE AND SO I THINK THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT'S TO COME BETWEEN THAT PARTNERSHIP.

>> Renee: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL YOUR CHARITABLE OTHER THINGS BETWEEN THE COAT DRIVES.

I MEAN HOW MANY IRONS ARE REALLY IN THE FIRE, BREAK THEM DOWN FOR US.

>> SO, WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I'VE HAD TO TAKE A LITTLE STEP BACK.

BUT WE ARE DOING THE WE ARE ONE POEM PROGRAM AND SO WE ARE CHALLENGING STUDENTS TO WRITE ANTIVIOLENCE POEMS AND WE REWARD THEM WITH THE LATEST STREET WARE, CHAMPION, NIKE, JORDAN.

SO WE JUST DID THAT WITH 758TH GRADERS AT LTMS.

WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THAT AT WILLIAM WELD BROWN AND WIN BURN AND OTHER SCHOOLS.

THE LUNA LIBRARY IS THRIVING.

WE HAVE GIVEN AWAY ALMOST 1500 BOOKS IN JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.

AND SO WE JUST GAVE AWAY 75 LAST WEEK.

>> Renee: SO PEOPLE DONATING THE BOOKS OR HOW DO YOU GET THE BOOKS?

>> THEY ARE.

IF PEOPLE GO TO BELIEVE IN FOREVER WEBSITE, THERE IS A TAB FOR THE LIBRARY.

WE HAVE A WISH LIST.

YOU CAN ORDER AND SHIP TO US OR YOU CAN DONATE MONETARILY AND WE PURCHASE THE BOOKS.

WE HAVE ANOTHER SURPRISE WITH THE LUNA LIBRARY BUT I'M GOING TO HOLD OFF.

IT'S NOT CONFIRMED YET.

$OKAY.

IT'S NOT REAL ESTATE TO DRINK YET.

>> Renee: WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO COME TO FRUITION?

>> HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

YOU WILL BE THE FIRST PERSON I LET KNOW.

>> Renee: PLEASE LET US KNOW.

>> I WILL.

AND OBVIOUSLY OUR COAT DRIVE.

>> Renee: WHICH GETS BIGGER EVERY YEAR.

>> IT DOES.

>> Renee: AND THIS IS SERVING KIDS AND FAMILIES NOT JUST IN CENTRAL CENTRAL KENTUCKY BUT OUTSIDE.

>> WE SERVICE KIDS, LEXINGTON AND SURROUNDING CITIES BUT WE DO EASTERN KENTUCKY AS WELL.

AND WE BUILT A RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOT OF WONDERFUL INDIVIDUALS, A LOT OF SCHOOLS OUT THERE, AND AGAIN, NOT JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP THOSE KIDS BUT WE WANT TO TEAR DOWN SOME WALLS THAT DIVIDE US.

AND SO ALWAYS BEEN A CULTURAL DIVIDE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, LEXINGTON AND THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE STATE, AND SO WE WANT TO BRING THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER.

THEY'RE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, TOO.

>> Renee: HOW MANY THOUSANDS OR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COATS, I GUESS, I SHOULD SAY.

>> AND WE ARE UP TO ALMOST, WE'VE GIVEN AWAY ALMOST 13,000 COATS IN THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS.

THIS IS OUR EIGHTH YEAR AND WE ARE AVERAGING AROUND, NOW THAT WE HAVE PICKED UP, RIGHT AROUND 2800, 3,000 COATS A YEAR, BRAND NEW COATS.

>> Renee: BRAND NEW COATS.

PEOPLE CAN GO TO YOUR WEBSITE AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT.

>> WHERE TO DRO P THEM OFF, THINGS TO DO TO HELP.

WE PARTNER WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

NOW SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS COLLECT COATS AND JUST POUR INTO OUR COAT DRIVE.

SO IT'S REALLY TURNED INTO A COMMUNITY COAT DRIVE, TO BE HONEST.

IT'S NOT REALLY JUST BELIEVING IN FOREVER.

WE WORK WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS AND EVEN MACY'S AND MYERS AND WAL-MART ALL PARTNER WITH US AND THIS IS REALLY, I THINK I TALKED TO JASON WELLS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF AND SO THEY WANT TO HELP THIS YEAR WITH THE COAT DRIVE AND SO IT'S GROWING AND IT'S BRINGING MORE PEOPLE TOGETHER EVERY YEAR.

>> Renee: SO WHAT ELSE?

I MEAN IN THE COUPLE OF MINUTES WE HAVE LEFT REMAINING, SURELY YOU'VE GOT YOUR PLATE FULL.

>> I DO.

>> Renee: BUT AS YOU THINK ABOUT HOWEVER MUCH TIME YOU HAVE WITH MAYOR GORTON AND IT MAY BE A LOT LONGER THAN WE WERE TALKING BEFORE WE STARTED ROLLING, YOU KNOW, THAT SHE IS GOING TO SEEK REELECTION.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOU CAN SAY AT THE END OF WHAT EVER TIME THAT MAY BE, WHETHER THAT'S FOUR, 10, 12 YEARS FROM NOW AND SAY THIS IS WHAT DEVINE CAMARA DID FOR THIS INITIATIVE THAT STARTED, THAT YOU STARTED.

>> I THINK FOR ME, IN REGARDS TO ONE LEX, OBVIOUSLY WITH ANYTHING I DO, I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW I GAVE IT MY ALL.

I PUT EVERYTHING INTO IT WHEN I WALK AWAY FROM IT.

BUT I THINK ONE INTERESTING THING AND THIS IS A PERFECT THING TO CLOSE ON THAT I THINK I'M REALIZING THAT I'M CHALLENGING MYSELF WITH IS THAT I THINK WHEN I WAS KIND OF COMMUNITY ACTIVIST DEVINE JUST OUT THERE OPERATING WITH MYSELF, IT WAS EASY FOR ME TO GALVANIZE TROOPS TOWARDS THIS MOVEMENT.

WITHOUT BUT I THINK NOW THEY'VE LET ONE OF US AT THE TABLE, WHEN I SAY ONE OF US, A GRASSROOTS BROTHER, SOMEONE WHO WORKS THE FRONT LINES.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT ME LIKE, ALL RIGHT DEVINE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR US NOW.

AND I DON'T WANT THE COMMUNITY TO VIEW THIS AS DEVINE IS GOING TO SAVE US.

I NEED EVERYBODY.

TO ME, ONE LEXINGTON LITERALLY MEANS ALL OF US TOGETHER.

>> Renee: FOR THOSE WHO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A GOVERNMENT JOB THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE SITTING PRETTY AND JUST, YOU KNOW, PUT YOUR FEET UP, YOU ARE ABOUT THAT WORK, RIGHT?

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS I'LL NEVER 15 I IT PUBLICLY, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS I STILL DO THAT MY WIFE IS LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE STILL DOING THAT.

I ALWAYS DO IN PART TO KEEP ME HUMBLE BUT ALSO TO KEEP MY MIND WHERE I WAS FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS SLEEPING ON AN AIR MATTRESS.

WHERE I WAS 10 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS A STRUGGLING SINGLE FATHER TRYING TO FIND A WAY.

I NEVER WANT TO LOSE THAT FEELING BECAUSE ONCE I LOSE THAT, I LOSE TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I AM FIT TO SERVE.

SO YES, I MAY HAVE A GOVERNMENT JOB.

BUT IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF SACRIFICE TO GET HERE AND AS GENUINE USED TO SAY, I'M STILL THE SAME OLD G. >> Renee: SAME OLD D, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Renee: I LOVE YOU BROTHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.

YOU REALLY ARE A PUBLIC SERVANT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Renee: AND YOU ARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Renee: WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK, ANOTHER CHECKUP AND CHECK IN.

GO TO BELIEVE IN FOREVER, HIS WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DEVINE CAMARA AND ALL THE GREAT WORK HE IS DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, PODCASTS WHATEVER.

WE ARE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.

IN THE MEEB TIME, TAKE GOOD CARE