Travis Scott launches safety initiative after Astroworld tragedy: ‘I need to step up’

Travis Scott has launched an initiative centering on occasion security after 10 individuals have been killed on the rapper’s Astroworld music pageant in Houston final yr.

On Tuesday, the “Sicko Mode” hitmaker unveiled Undertaking Heal, a multipronged marketing campaign encompassing an HBCU scholarship fund, a artistic design training program, psychological well being sources and a coalition working to make dwell occasions, equivalent to Astroworld, safer for attendees.

“I’ve been taking the time and house to grieve, replicate and do my half to heal my neighborhood,” Scott — whose authorized identify is Jacques Berman Webster II — wrote on Instagram.

“Most significantly, I need to use my sources and platform transferring ahead in direction of actionable change. This will likely be a lifelong journey for me and my household. Whereas it’s simple for firms and establishments to remain within the shadows, I really feel as a frontrunner in my neighborhood, I have to step up in instances of want.”

Along with the Grammy nominee’s philanthropic Cactus Jack Basis, functions at the moment are open for the Wayman Webster spring 2022 scholarship, which is able to award $10,000 apiece to 100 college students at traditionally Black faculties and universities who’ve a grade-point common of three.5 or greater and are experiencing monetary insecurity. The scholarship is called after Scott’s grandfather, who attended and taught at Prairie View A&M College, an HBCU.

Moreover, the “Goosebumps” artist is increasing his Houston-based CACT.US Youth Design Heart to incorporate a artistic design training program for center and highschool college students involved in style, artwork, expertise and music.

In a transfer extra straight relevant to the Astroworld tragedy, Scott will provide psychological well being sources for younger individuals — “particularly in lower-income communities of colour” — together with a free crisis-care hotline and a peer psychological well being training program.

And at last, Undertaking Heal will fund the U.S. Convention of Mayors Activity Power of Occasion Security, bringing collectively authorities, public security, emergency response, healthcare, occasion administration, music and expertise personnel to work with Scott to “aggressively give attention to new applied sciences and improvements that provide methods to deal with the challenges posed by large-scale occasions.”

“My crew and I created Undertaking Heal to take a lot wanted motion in direction of supporting actual options that make all occasions the most secure areas they will probably be,” Scott stated.

“I’ll at all times honor the victims of the Astroworld tragedy who stay in my coronary heart endlessly.”

Scott’s announcement comes a number of months after Astroworld concertgoers starting from 9 to 27 years outdated died from compression asphyxia amid an enormous crowd surge throughout Scott’s headlining set. Shortly after the present, 125 Astroworld victims filed a lawsuit towards Scott, Apple, Stay Nation and Drake, who additionally carried out on the pageant.

In November, Scott supplied to cowl funeral bills for Astroworld victims — a gesture that was rejected by the household of 9-year-old Ezra Blount, the youngest individual killed on the pageant. Although they believed Scott felt “regret,” Blount’s family members refused to take part in what they perceived as “a photo-op story” for the musician.

“Giving again and creating alternatives for the youth is one thing I’ve at all times performed and can proceed to do so long as I’ve the prospect,” Scott stated Tuesday.

“This program will likely be a catalyst to actual change and I can’t wait to introduce the remainder of the expertise and concepts we’ve been engaged on. See you all so quickly.”