when they hear our music .
[ Chandler ] I think Naomi captured it all . We ’ re out on an assignment , and I don ’ t think it was intentional , I think all Maverick is a collective and a collection of assignments that God has given each of these people in our own respective and personal ways coming together . Now it ’ s this thing that says you don ’ t have to be qualified or affirmed by larger industries . You just do what the Lord assigned to you and there is an audience for your assignment .
[ WM ] And your distinctive regarding the critical importance of diversity is to be applauded . Your stated purpose involves a “ plurality of strong diverse voices carrying messages that can help shape the world ”. This includes reaching out to afterschool programs , prison reform outreach , creative entrepreneurship , housing needs , and full community involvement . What a marvelous vison ! Tell us about your collective and the Maverick City Music Initiative . I understand that you ’ ve qualified for non-profit status in all of this .
[ Chandler ] We have a whole side of Maverick City Music Initiatives . Our founder has a little brother , CJ , who along with his wife , literally house eight kids who were not in the most favorable conditions and in a really bad state before they took them in . We purchased a car for them , we daily have consciously given them things that they need . We let them hang out on the recordings , they ’ re some of the most fun and talented kids . Some of the kids write poetry , they rap , it ’ s really amazing . The sad thing is that it ’ s opened my eyes to who is there and to some gifts that you won ’ t uncover unless you go to the dirt or what seems like the untouchable areas . I ’ m glad that we have the opportunity and the heart that God has given us and the grace to go into these bad areas in Atlanta . Areas that I wouldn ’ t go in . Areas that people of privilege or status wouldn ’ t go into , but now that we ’ re in the hands of Jesus and Jesus is like , “ Hey , forget your status . Help people who may not be able to help themselves . Take what I have given you and impart it and let me show you what I ’ ve hidden among spaces where people won ’ t go .”
And there are treasures there . So that ’ s what we ’ re about - not just the initiative but all of what Maverick City Music does is aimed and geared toward allowing the people who are overlooked being able to have a space where