CLEVELAND — Sherica Isler-Daniels is the founder of Universal Love ENT a nonprofit that uses arts to help young people discover positive influences. She’s also known as the hip-hop artist Sureli, but she left the music scene behind to give back to kids here in her hometown of Cleveland.
"I wanted to be a positive influence for the youth. I wanted to create multiple programs so that children can learn through art, and I did that," Isler-Daniels reflected. "The reason that I created it was to have a platform to talk about the different things that you don't typically get a chance to talk about. Negative influences on social media, music and the media in general."
Isler-Daniels' programming offers a variety of arts education, leadership training and social and emotional development, and says she felt it was important to help young people understand that everything they see and hear on their screens is not necessarily reality. Her personal journey is a real-life example of rising above those negative influences.
"There was a time when I was the typical music artist of what we hear today at the time, being this popular hip hop artist. I remember making a song that was a little raunchy and my children was like, mom, we don't like that," she recalled. "So it made me just recognize what it is that I was really doing involving music, and I wanted to turn that into a positive and use it in a positive perspective."
But the creativity is just one element of her programming, these young people are also learning skills that will follow them into adulthood.
"What I learned in the Peacemakers program is that it's not good to be like disrespectful," said participant Morgan Hughes. "It's not good to court fights only because this world really needs more love and respect for each other,"
"To me, it's all about leadership and a whole bunch of other things like dancing and expressing good music," said Miracle Hughes.
"What I love about the Peacemakers program is respect," added De' Angenique Thomas.
With more programming contests and even a talent show on schedule, Universal Love ENT is here for the long run, offering programming through CMSD schools and libraries and spaces throughout the city.
Isler-Daniels says the importance of good out outlets for youth can't be overstated.
"I think that it's very important that parents tap into different programs for their children so that they can get exposure to as much positive influences that they can, because it's going to not only help the parent, it's going to help the child, and obviously it's going to help our future because they are the future."
You can learn more and connect with Universal Love ENT directly here.
