Atlanta-based rapper Gunna, in partnership with the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), has launched a groundbreaking philanthropic initiative. The Gunna x BMAC 30349 Guaranteed Income Program has seen 30 families from Fulton County, Georgia, start to receive $1,000 a month for one year, a stipend that is shaping up to be a saving grace for so many who were barely scraping by.
For most of them, life before the stipend defined by constant financial stress. Take the Johnson family: Latasha Johnson, a single mother of two, juggled several part-time jobs just to keep the lights on. The constant pressure to provide often meant sacrificing time with her children; even then, rent, utilities, and food were hard to come by. Latasha’s is not a unique story; many a story in this 30349 ZIP code has faced similar challenges, just trying to fight their way through the daily grind of poverty.
For families such as the Johnsons, this stipend of $1,000 monthly has brought relief. With this added income, Latasha could cut her hours at work to face her children and be with them more.
“It feels like I can finally breathe,”
She says.
“Do not always have to be worried about how we’ll get through to the end of the month.”
Other families have put the money toward overdue debts, secured stable housing, and even found money to pay for healthcare that was previously out of reach. It has afforded them opportunities besides financial stability. Some recipients have enrolled in vocational training programs, using the extra funds to pursue education that can lead to better-paying jobs.
For the Davis family, a stipend means their teenage daughter can finally afford to attend a summer coding camp—a dream that seemed impossible before. Another effect is that the initiative by Gunna had further been added to the aspirations of hope and ambition in the community. Parents, who felt locked in by poverty, could now see a line in their children’s future favoring a turn that was more secure and highly prosperous.
Receiving support from a well-known Rapper like Gunna has deeply resonated with the families involved. For many, it’s not just about the money; it’s about the recognition and validation that someone from their own community cares enough to invest in their futures.
“It’s inspiring to see someone who grew up in the same neighborhood give back in such a meaningful way,”
says Michael, another recipient.
“It makes me feel like we’re all part of something bigger, like we belong to a community that looks out for each other.”
