COLUMBUS, Ohio — Many gathered for the sixth annual Chicken and Beer Festival on Saturday, enjoying food and live music.
Eric Rollin organizes the event to raise money for his nonprofit, Use Your Ears.
Rollin, a local musician himself, started the program with the goal of teaching youth to record, write, perform and monetize their music.
In addition to learning music, young people also learn positive ways to express what they are going through.
“We give them a chance to express themselves. A lot of times, the youth we come in contact with don’t have that. They don’t get those opportunities,” Rollin said. “We give them an opportunity to express themselves, whether they be angry, sad, happy -- whatever that emotion may be, we give them an outlet.”
Several of the young musicians took their talents to the stage at the festival, including 15-year-old Aden Cooper.
Cooper, who started rapping as a kid, goes by the name "Prince Waffle 87" on stage.
“I write about everything: school subjects, what is going on in the world, what is going on in my personal life, telling someone else’s story that can’t tell it themselves,” he said.
Cooper has already used music to get through some tough times.
“I lost my dad a few years ago. It helped me with that. I was struggling in school for a minute behaviorally and music started helping me more express [and] put my negative energy to something positive,” he said.
Columbus leaders have been touting the importance of getting young people involved in positive activities, and through Use Your Ears, Rollin is looking to do exactly that.
“I am hopeful this type of work starts making a difference and an impact and we get some support because we need it,” Rollin said.
Right now, there are about 10 participants in the program, all between the ages of 10 and 24.
Rollin is currently connecting with youth in Columbus but looks to expand the program in the near future.