Singer Chante Moore To Perform Benefit Concert At Baltimore Public School

BALTIMORE (WJZ)— A popular singer is coming to Baltimore and will lend her voice to help students.

Kai Jackson reports Chante Moore will perform a benefit concert next month to help the Bluford Drew Jemison Stem Academy.

R&B singer and actress Chante Moore is effervescent and all smiles as she talks about being in Baltimore.

Next month the music star will perform a concert at the Bluford Drew Jemison Stem Academy in West Baltimore-- a school focused on educating urban males in science, engineering, technology and math.

"I know people who talk about saving the entire world. I always say one person at a time. Starting with our children is a beautiful way to begin that," Moore said.

Bluford Drew Jemison used to be Walbrook High. A school with a rich Baltimore tradition, in recent years it had fallen on difficult times academically, and struggled with providing a safe learning environment for children.

School leaders say that dynamic has changed.

"I think Bluford is special," said Monica Dailey, Bluford Drew Jemison Academy. "I believe we're still the only all-male public school in the state of Maryland for urban males. But we don't have selection criteria, so we don't fit the city-wide definition."

The school's name is a hybrid.  A combination of astronaut Guyon Bluford, blood plasma pioneer Dr. Charles Drew and astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison.

Moore, who lives in California, is also a mom. She says she believes in the school's mission because she has an 8-year-old son.

"It's supporting this beautiful school that is just for boys," Moore said. "I was really excited about that because I have a son who is 8, and if I could put him in something like that that would be ideal. But anybody supporting black men and getting them early is really important."

Stem Academy is a public school, so this fundraiser will help offset the money that need and do not receive from the public system.

An evening affair with Chante Moore is Saturday, Aug. 13 at Bluford Drew Jemison Stem Academy West campus. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

For tickets call 410-740-4818.