'The Happiness Club' Keeps it Positive

(CBS)  To keep young people from joining gangs, Chicago is offering a more positive alternative. Rap music often earns its bad rep. But CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports Chicago's "Happiness Club"is giving rap a whole new spin.

"Our message is we're spreading happiness," said Tanji Harper, Artistic Director of The Happiness Club. "We are spreading good vibes all over."

Its 50 performers come from different races and neighborhoods.

College junior Elana Schulman said, "I'm one of the most positive people, and it is a result of the Happiness Club."

Twenty-year-old Edward Taylor grew up on Chicago's South Side and admits he thought twice about joining a club called "Happiness."

"I liked everything about it, except the name," he said.

Was it too corny?

"Yea, it was," he replied.

But now Edward raps eloquently, about believing in himself and staying out of trouble.

"All of my life, I try to live right, I try to be nice," he rapped.

The Happiness Club

The Happiness Club writes all its own songs, has recorded a music video, and even performed at the White House Christmas.

But the real payoff from all the hard work comes off stage. Over the last ten years every kid who has gone through this program has graduated and gone on to college. Since 1992, 400 kids have found happiness in this club.

"I'm not saying you gotta be happy all the time, but you take your time and listen," Edward said. "You might learn something."

They're mixing a good beat with lyrics to live by.

[dadirt]

I guess there is something else black kids can lood forward to, being basketball players, football players, rap artists, step dancers and now singers and performers. Anything but having a family unit, and education! It all starts with the family, and then education. The governments throw money into education, and it is wasted! Nothing will ever change until the family unit is re-established in all communities across the US. kids ahveing babies, kids living with grandparents while the father and mother are unemployed, with 6th grade educations, living in low income housing on welfare and al the other freebees only perpetuates these groups for generations now, and the numbers are increasing as this group increases. Shouel we feel sorry for them? the get everything for free, the kids get special services while the counties try to educate them, and by the time they are in Jr, HS or HS, they are criminals, pregnant or in a gang. It is a self perpetuating growing part of our society. The only way to stop it is to take the money away. Stop enabling them.