In 1996, when people were mourning the death of Tupac Shakur, Power 105.1 radio personality, Déjà Vu started The Flava Unit, a non-profit community-based organization. The group consists of high school teenagers that want to make a positive change in society through community service. 

“The goal is for teenagers to put the PlayStation down and get out the house,” said Déjà. “Teens get caught up in drama. They don’t construct their minds to think of something [and] drama happens when kids are left to their own devices.”

“We took the mic and the kids and got them involved. Flava Unit is in every market I’ve been in: Alabama, Missouri, Massachutes, Virginia and now New York,” said Déjà.

"Solicited over the air, participants of the Flava Unit group have only one requirement—they must be enrolled in high school. After being interviewed and selected, they work for free during the school year. Although the organization receives a large amount of applicants most students think the affiliation with the well-known radio station means they don’t have to do “real” community service. After three weeks the group size dwindles.

The Flava Unit staff encourages the volunteers to perform tasks that may include cleaning lockers at a local community center to picking up debris in community gardens in the city. Most recently the student volunteers arrived at the radio station at 6am to meet Déjà for the AIDS Walk.

But it’s not all work and no play. Once the group was leaving the radio station, with Déjà when they saw Jay Z parked in his Bentley. He waved. They waved back. It was a close encounter scene, but they loved it, according to Déjà.

“There are benefits for students working behind the scene – the ones that got up to meet me at the station for the AIDS Walk, showing that type of dedication at 6am…those children met x, y and z,” she said, reluctant to drop celebrity names. “We have movie night and have been to TRL.”

Listeners of the station have sent various types of treats including tickets to Six Flags, Great Adventure, record labels have given tickets to shows and meet and greets with entertainers.

“You can tell who’s dedicated and who is here for perks,” she said. “But at the end of the semester two high school participants are awarded $1000 scholarships during a banquet we put together.”

Although Deja takes no credit for the success of past participants, she is rightfully proud of their accomplishments. “One student from Birmingham has a PhD, two students in St. Louis are Howard [University] alum, one student is on their way to law school and some students have started their own centers,” said Déjà.

"I’m not sure where I get the passion from working with young people [but] in my high school yearbook, at 17 years old, I knew I wanted to work with teens,” she said during a recent phone interview. “Just like when I was eight years old, I knew I wanted to be on the radio.”

Known for having a vibrant, colorful on air persona, Déjà (a form of her real name) ceased the opportunity to be on the radio and work with teenagers when she relocated to Alabama, where she worked for WHBJ as a music director. She figured the radio station could get young people involved by getting them to volunteer. It would satisfy the public radio station’s requirement to complete hours of community service and allow Déjà to spend time with young people who in turn would learn to give back to their communities.

With family ties heavily invested in the church, she admits her parents weren’t community activists, yet Déjà realized the importance of giving back to the community at an early age. “Instill it when they’re younger, as teenagers, and maybe it will give them food for thought later in life,” Déjà said.

The goal is to have a Flava Unit in every market. However, in order for that to happen it would have to be financially independent.

“Because it’s not funded once I leave, it goes with me. The goal is to have branches across the nation but funding is grassroots until maybe a Russell Simmons gets involved,” said Déjà. “Until then we are establishing a 501 status, for non profits, and I will continue to fund along with the help from the radio station.”

In the end, Déjà, “wants students to continue to apply to Flava Unit and to follow their dreams… setbacks occur, but you can’t let them deter you dreams.”

“If I didn’t take the job in Birmingham, I would be in Florida,” said Deja. “…you never know until you try.”

-Jacci Leslie