Justin Merow Knows The Future Is All About YOUth

The nonprofit work of Justin Merow has vaulted to him to hero status here on the Auraria Campus. Divine America, the company Merow founded last year, continues work on its mission to inspire American youth culture to achieve more through education and the arts. Merow is also associated with Mile High Divine Club, an non-profit on-campus group founded with the purpose of hosting community events. The organizations have already helped numerous young people from Denver achieve goals and Justin Merow is surely one of the most prominent persons on Auraria campus.




The Future is All About YOUth Event
On Friday April 29, 2011, Mile High Divine Club in association with CODA, Inc will be hosting the “The Future Is All About YOUth.” This family friendly event will be held at Auraria Campus in Tivoli Room 640 and the Tivoli Commons from 5:30- 8:00 pm and there will be no cover charge for this free event. The Future Is All About YOUth is a “Positive arts showcase and campus event designed for the college community to encourage youth to continue to utilize talents in creative and positive ways while also providing the greater Denver community the capacity to gather in support of what’s taking place.” For more information visit Divine America at www.mhdivine.com or search for “The Future Is All About YOUth” on Facebook.
The Future Is All About YOUth will be along the lines of a talent showcase or poetry slam. Young people from local nonprofits and after school programs, as well as college students from the Auraria Campus are participating in the program to help promote positive relationships and education. The event will allow local musicians, artist, youth performers, community leaders and college students to showcase their talents on stage. Spectators will be able to see a fashion show, live music, spoken word poetry, visual art, dancing and whatever else the creative participants are able to come up with. If you want to perform or enter your artwork, or are a part of a youth/art organization, email mhdivineclub@yahoo.com for information.

Merow, Kanye West Have Similar Lifestories
Walk-ins are welcome to attend the gala, but come early to the festivities because the first 200 guest will receive free copy of The Future Is All About Youth Compilation Promotional CD. Organized by college students of the Mile High Divine Club, the album features various musical artist and sounds ranging from hip-hop to hard rock. In June, Divine America will then release The College/Life Graduate CD available for sale, which is a response to the 2004 classic CD The College Dropout by Kanye West. From mhdivine.com: “The theme of the album expresses that people can be successful in their pursuits without dropping out of a path of education to achieve their dream.”
A car accident in 2003 left Justin Merow in a coma for nearly three weeks. The following year Kanye West released the song “Thru The Wire” about his own car crash, which helped to inspire Merow to serve as a role model for young people. “Kanye’s CD had an inconsistent message, and I knew I could do more to change culture,” said Merow. Surviving this adversity gave him a renewed focus and dedication to complete his education. Merow got the confidence and credibility to start Divine America in 2010 upon graduating from the Metropolitan State College of Denver with degrees in Marketing and Management.

Divine America Mission
The company is designed to “check America. To critically examine where are our communities are going? It’s like you diss your hood by going to college” said Merow in reference to the contrasting atmospheres of college campuses compared to the lifestyle of the inner city. Peer pressure causes some youth to feel that they should not strive to be better, when the reality is that young people would be better off in the long run by leading their peers down a path towards success. “Where is the outcry against educational budget cuts, against the drop-out rate? The public is losing sight of our real power” [Divine America] seeks to donate money in a real way,” said Merow.
From mhdevine.com: “The company seeks to create a comprehensive voice for students between middle school and college ages to provoke leadership within society. Devine America is involved in the distribution and sale of music, fashion, and visual artwork. Of all revenues received, Divine America provides 20% to Denver Public Schools Art Resource Council, 20% to college students through various Student Organizations (Mile High Divine Club), and 10% to local nonprofit Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado.”
The Denver community will support the efforts of Divine America because the company is providing valuable community service. Over time, Justin Merow will make a difference in the lives of countless young people by getting them involved with after school programs that emphasize education and the arts.