Source: Prince Williams/Getty
Vice President Kamala Harris participated in a panel discussion with Quavo at an honor ceremony Take off in Atlanta, Georgia.
On Tuesday (June 18), Vice President Kamala Harris joined Quavo for an event honoring the life of the late Migos member Takeoff in Atlanta, Georgia. The inaugural Rocker Foundation Summit was also attended by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who declared it “Take Off Day” on his 30th birthday. The event was held at the Carter Center and featured a “fireside chat” between the rapper and Vice President Harris among other discussions throughout the day.
The conversation was moderated by Gregory Jackson, Jr., the Special Assistant to the President and Acting Deputy for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and follows a landmark meeting between the two last year.
“I am a victim… [but] I got a second chance,” Quavo said during the speech that focused on community violence intervention and the importance of youth support systems. “When I saw [Takeoff] laying there, I felt like I was seen laying there. So when I do something like the Rocket Foundation, I just wanted to uplift his legacy and keep his name alive. That's why we're here.” At one point, Vice President Harris addressed Quavo and the panel: “Translating that pain and sadness into something that's about creating strength and empowerment in the community — including our young people — is an extraordinary thing. You have chosen to use your celebrity and the gifts you have as an artist to speak and work meaningfully with action. You are an incredible leader — a national leader at that.”
Mrs Davenport, also known as 'Mama Rocket', was overcome with emotion as she addressed the crowd, expressing how “incredibly proud” she was. “I miss my son every day and wish he was still here on this earth.” Programs launched by the Rocket Foundation include the Sparks Grant program, an initiative that helps community organizations fighting gun violence. The program will direct $100,000 in funding toward their efforts. “I feel like a lot of people just announce foundations and keep them going for non-profits or even financial issues,” Quavo he said. “But I'm on the ground. I'm actually working. We make things. We get results. We raise real money. We go to the actual communities where the problem was an issue.”
