Your Donations in Action: Compton’s Centennial High Jazz Band

Throughout Dissect Season 1, we collected donations to benefit Compton’s Centennial High School music program. This was Kendrick Lamar’s alma mater, a school he’s since donated money to in an effort to keep off the streets and in the music studio.

On Friday, April 7th, the Centennial High Jazz Band traveled to Palo Alto, California to perform in the World Strides competition. After their performance, they went sightseeing in San Francisco.

For many of the kids, the trip was the first time traveling such a distance  outside of Compton. Dissect funds were used for those kids could not afford the trip on their own, but were able to attend due to our support.

I had the opportunity to travel to Palo Alto, see the performance, and meet the band afterwards. Band director Manuel Castaneda was very gracious, and the kids themselves were very polite and appreciative. It was a beautiful experience, something I’ll never forget.

Thank you to all the Dissect listeners who donated to this cause. You helped to provide a memorable life experience for those would otherwise could not have attended. Small acts, big rewards.