Name: John “Iconic Ian” Harris

Age: 18

Borough Where You Live : Manhattan

Your Song On Glee: Wrote and Co produced “Sticking To You Like Glue”/ vocals on “Go Your Way”

Your Inspiration: My inspiration is the people around me. I love people who are fearless and wear what they want, say what they want, and do what they want. That right there gives me the strength to be myself.

Favorite Quote Or Song Lyric Or Poetic Line: My quotes are “You’re Smarter Than You Think,” “Never Regret Your Past For Who It Makes You Who You Are Today,” “Watch Me Swallow My Words,” “Live Your Life”

My Hopes, Dreams, And Wishes: My hopes are to save the world from blind ignorance. (When someone sounds ignorant and doesn’t know it.) My dreams are to become the most “Iconic” symbol in the entertainment industry ever. My only wish is to spend my life happy, with the people I love and doing what makes me smile

Describe The Impact The URBAN GLEE Project Has Had On You: Honestly, I never knew what it took to actually stay committed to such a project. When this project first started I remember saying, “This is a waste of time and will never go anywhere,” but of course I always say that I’m going to swallow my words. I told myself, even if this project doesn’t end up worldwide, it definitely taught me what it took to be 100 % into something that you love. Going through the days of the recording sessions and the weekly meeting definitely took some time to getting used to, but the funny thing is up until the last days closing this project out, I ended up enjoying meeting up! All the new people I’ve met and the same familiar faces that I did know, have grown on me and getting to know everyone just a little bit better is key to me, or so I’ve learned. This project will forever be engraved in my heart.

Tell Us About Yourself: My name is John Harris – stage name “Iconic Ian.” When people hear “Iconic” they usually laugh and ask where did I get that from, and I tell them, tons of research. I am African American, Italian,and Cherokee Indian. I love to do everything, literally, you name it. I’m super stoked when it comes to putting on any type of performance and will never back down for a stand off, performance-wise of course.  I was accepted to LaGaurdia Community College and am involved in the AMAS Teen Musical Theater program and will perform in a full-out off-broadway show, and on the famous Apollo Theater Stage for Amateur Night.  I have five siblings, a cat, and a turtle named AJ. I love Nicki Minaj And Love impersonating her. Chris Brown is my idol, I will make a song with Beyonce….did I forget anything?!

My Name Is Kevin Mack Jr., also known as Yung Haze and Mac Verziti. I am 19 years old. I am a recording artist and I live in the Bronx. I sang R&B, Reggae And I Rap. The songs I’m featured in on in the album are “Get Fresh” and “Go Your Way.” What inspires me to do what I do is my love for music. Music is my infatuation. I love how you can have a story or situation and make it into a song, a song that people can relate to. A way to show my inspriation and my favorite song or lyrics is through the song, “Who You Are” by Jessie J. The song is so powerful. It always picks me up when I have doubts about anything. It inspires me to strive harder to get and be what I want. I’m gonna make this real short. My hopes, dreams and wishes are to just be heard. Forget the fame. I just want to be heard and remembered for what I’ve done and accomplished. I want to inspire and be a role model. The impact Urban Glee has had on me is doing something for a cause. This project is a charity project. Yeah, it’ll probably get us out there, but the main reason for this is for charity. That’s the biggest impact in my opinion.

Tiara Zhané

18 yrs. old

Poet and Writer

Manhattan, NY

Growing up for me was anything but easy. However, I’ve found an escape in writing. Therefore my inspiration is knowing that I can inspire others with my words. Also, knowing that my two baby sisters (8 & 6) look up to me, encourages me to continue being that positive, strong role model.

Being a writer you know that choosing a favorite book, or quotation is impossible because the talent is unlimited. However, I have chosen two quotes that have meant the most, and have applied to my life the most. Of the two, one that I wrote myself a few years back was, “Don’t use the bad times as an escape to fail, but as a Reason to succeed.” Finally, it may sound cliche but FDR’s quote, “Without struggle there can be no progress” lives on today because it is the truth. Everything I’ve been through has made me the young woman I am today.

As far as hopes and dreams go, I would have to say that I just want to continue inspiring, and having that positive impact on people’s lives. I have so many skills and talents, but none of it means anything if I can’t touch the lives of others. All in all I want to tell my story which I do subliminally  through my poetry. I want to publish three books, one which will be an autobiography. I know that if people read and understand my story and where I’ve made it to so far, it will inspire them very much.

Oh, man, this Urban Glee project and working with Literacy Takes a Bow, has changed my life in so many ways. This experience has taught me that it’s okay to care, and that I don’t have to be rich or look for anything in return to help others. I would admit that before coming into this project, I was selfish to an extent, but now I feel like I can’t do anything if it doesn’t have a purpose. I have to need to help and give back.

Urban Glee NYC CD Release Celebration ~ January 16, 2012 @ 3:00 – 4:30 pm ~ Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday ~ Day of Service ~ Nuyorican Poets Café, 236 East 3^rd Street (between Ave. B & C), NYC ~ The student artists will perform their original music, and talk about their experience working on the project at the event. 

Click on the envelope to open the invitation.

“The Making of Urban Glee,” documents the project’s process and includes samplings of the students’ music expressing why, in their own words they,

“Can’t stop the music, can’t stop the revolution.”

Students from Coalition High School for Social Change in East Harlem are making a difference in their community one voice at a time. They are participating in Urban Glee NYC, a project of the arts education organization Literacy Takes a Bow. Coalition’s soon to be released CD, Urban Glee: Real Students Real Stories Real Music, features six original compositions addressing both personal and universal themes relevant to the students’ experience as members of their local and global communities. In addition to the CD, students collaborated to produce a music video for one of their tracks and participated in “The Making of Urban Glee,” which documents the project’s process and includes samplings of the students’ music making it clear why, in their own words they,

“Can’t stop the music, can’t stop the revolution.”