I.S 117 I NEED MY RESPECT & LET IT BURN

We are proud to present another meaningful collaboration with I.S. 117. “I Need My Respect & Let It Burn” is an original song created by middle school students that explores the powerful connection between learning, respect, and passion. When respect is present, learning can flourish—and the spark of passion can ignite.

Through this project, students learned the art of songwriting and storytelling through music under the guidance of Thrive Collective teaching artists Jason Roberts and Jamell Ogbonna. Their creativity, voices, and experiences came together to produce a song that reflects both personal growth and collective expression.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Martin for being an exceptional partner and to New York City Council Member Pierina Sanchez for making this opportunity possible.

For many of the students, this was their first experience hearing their voices recorded on a microphone and seeing themselves featured in a music video. The process of collaborating to write, record, and produce an original song and video opened new possibilities and demonstrated the power of courage, collaboration, and community.