WHYY
By
Makayla Coleman, 15 (left), and her brother Devon Hester, 13 (right), have been tapped for their opinions about city planning and civics. Philadelphia is targeting the Gen Z’ers for more government and civic participation. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
Devon Hester, 13, is ready to share all of his opinions with city government. He’s been practicing.
For the last 12 months, he’s been rapping about everything from police brutality to food insecurity, spitting about change and marching downtown.
Hester, a student at Wissahickon Charter School at the Awbury Campus, said as he grows up, he’s become more aware of problems in the city and racism in particular. Music has been his primary means of expression but after a year of protest and a pandemic that kept him at home, away from friends and his school, he wants to take his ideas directly to people in a position to make change.