Rainbow DJ Lab
A free DJ class for Chicago kids and families at Rainbow Beach Park, proposed by Ras Tafari Inc. and not running yet.
Welcome, families
Rainbow DJ Lab is a free DJ class run by Ras Tafari Inc., a Chicago not-for-profit and 501(c)(3) public charity. Children learn to mix music on real DJ controllers in small groups, with coaches who think out loud, plenty of movement, and no grades or tests. The course ends with a showcase that families attend.
The Lab is the free DJ-class part of Full Spectrum at Rainbow Beach, a proposed year-round music and culture program at Rainbow Beach Park (3111 E. 77th St., Chicago, IL 60649). In the class app, you'll see the course called "Rainbow DJ Academy." It's the same course.
Status: Proposed. The Lab is not running yet.
- The Chicago Park District has not approved or permitted the program.
- No class dates are set, and no staff have been hired.
No class runs until every launch requirement is met. You can follow each item on the launch checklist.
We are publishing this site now so families can read every policy, ask hard questions, and tell us what's missing before anything starts.
The three things every parent asks
1. Will my child be safe?
These are policies Ras Tafari Inc. commits to. Formal board adoption is itself a launch requirement, so the board has not voted on them yet.
- Two screened adults, always. No adult is ever alone with a child out of sight.
- No more than 6 children per screened adult (12 children to 2 adults).
- Every adult passes a Chicago Park District background check before their first class, run by the Park District under its own rules. That includes sound and stage crew who are on site.
- Concerns about any adult go to the Park District: the Rainbow Beach Park office, (312) 745-1479, or any Park District staff member. See Report a concern.
- Every adult completes Illinois DCFS mandated reporter training before working with children.
- Your child goes home only with an adult on your authorized-pickup list, after a photo ID check. Every release is logged.
- Restroom buddy system, with an adult waiting at the entrance. Staff never enter a stall area with a child.
- Headphone volume is capped on every laptop, and earplugs are free. The Lab's safety lead controls the main-speaker volume.
- Clean lyrics only. Every song is a radio edit, checked when crates are built.
Read the full picture in Safety, starting with the Youth protection policy.
2. What will my child learn?
The Lab runs year-round, every Tuesday from 4 to 6 pm. Children join any Tuesday and work through 14 Missions, two for each color of the rainbow, at their own pace. Children go from "load and play two songs" to building and playing their own 10-minute set for a real crowd. Along the way they practice counting beats and phrases, matching tempo by ear, mixing without muddy bass, writing clean wordplay, and handling mistakes calmly. We call a mistake "Data!": the DJ names one reason it went wrong and tries again.
See the Curriculum for every session, or The journey for what your child will experience week by week.
3. What does it cost?
Nothing. There's no tuition, and all equipment is provided: controllers, laptops, headphones and earplugs. You don't need to buy anything.
Ras Tafari Inc. is seeking grants and donations for its DJ gear, which will belong to the Lab's programs. No Ras Tafari Inc. officer, director or staff member is paid for work on the Lab today; any paid role needs approval by directors with no stake in it. See Financial transparency and the conflict of interest policy.
Find what you need
| Section | What's there |
|---|---|
| About the Lab | The curriculum, age groups, accessibility, language access, who teaches |
| Enroll | How registration will work, schedule, location, weather, illness, FAQ |
| Forms | Registration, emergency contacts, medical, pickup, consents |
| Safety | Screening, sign-out, emergencies, behavior, hearing, how to report a concern |
| Families | Handbook, orientation, open-door policy, how we keep you informed |
| Privacy | What data we collect, who can see it, how long we keep it |
| Performing | The showcase and what comes after, including how to opt out |
| For kids | Pages written for your child to read |
| The journey | Before day one through graduation and after |
| Governance | The board, launch checklist, insurance, agreements, public reports |
Already enrolled? The family and coach portal and the live class app are where class happens.
Contact
Stephen Henry, President of Ras Tafari Inc. and the Lab's lead and family contact
- Phone: 872-255-9333
- Email: stephen@selassiefest.com
- Mail: Ras Tafari Inc., 1401 E. 71st St., Chicago, IL 60619
No question is too small. If something on this site is unclear or doesn't match what you've been told, please tell us.
In an emergency, call 911. To report suspected child abuse or neglect in Illinois, call the DCFS Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873). You don't need our permission. See Report a concern.