Chicago, IL – Vic Mensa‘s love for the people of his hometown Chicago took on another life last week as the INNANETAPE rapper helped raise money and awareness in honor of National Youth Homeless Month.
Mensa and the SaveMoneySaveLife Foundation joined Covenant House in Bronzeville by hosting a “sleep-out.” The event was live-streamed and the foundation raised over $15,000 to assist Chicago’s homeless youth and Covenant House. According to SaveMoney, 75 percent of Chicago’s homeless youth are Black and the demographic is three times more likely to contract and die from COVID-19 than their white counterparts.
The Chicago artist took to Instagram last week to give a personal touch to the mission, showcasing how many of Chicago’s homeless youth have to fend for themselves amidst the deadly pandemic.
“Waking up on 47th street this morning was kinda surreal,” Mensa wrote on Instagram on November 20. “So many of us go our whole lives in arms length distance of people living on the streets but a single night in their experience is almost unfathomable. It just made me think about days I’ve been low, depressed and tired of struggling, days when I felt glued to my bed. And it made me imagine what it would be like for an individual that feels that more than they feel anything else. Huge thanks to everyone who supported the Sleep Out and made donations, brought food or just showed up to kick it.”
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Mensa has held over 50 give back events since the COVID-19 pandemic and told local affiliate Fox 32 he gained the idea of assisting from an associate when he was getting rid of a few items.
“I was throwing away some old bedding,” Mensa said. “And one of the brothers in the alley behind my crib said, ‘Hey do you have some coats in there?’ Every winter we give away coats. I said I am going to go check and see if I have the right size. It made me want to prioritize homelessness this winter.”
Mensa’s love for Chicago is well-known, all the way down to the Southside tattoo inked along his neck. Last year, he teamed with Lupe Fiasco, Lil Rel, Don C, Dreezy and more for 312 Day, a celebrating of all things Chi-Town.