Russell Simmons, LL Cool J visit New York jail

The duo told the young prisoners to believe in themselves and focus on what’s inside them

• Image Credit: AP
• Actor and music artist LL Cool J, left, talks with Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons on a visit to speak with youth at the juvenile detention centre of Rikers Island, Thursday, July 31, 2014, in New York

A group of young people at a New York City jail complex got some words of encouragement Thursday from hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and actor LL Cool J.

The two visited Riker’s Island to mark the launch of a national anti-violence programme from Simmons’s RushCard, a prepaid debit card.

RushCard’s Keep the Peace initiative is giving grants to neighbourhood organisations. One of those is LIFE Camp, a Queens organisation that works with young people, including those at Rikers, to reduce violence.

Cool J told the audience that his rough upbringing could have had him where they are if things had worked out differently, and he encouraged them to believe in themselves.

“You can absolutely without a doubt do anything you put your mind to,” he said.

Simmons told them to focus on what’s inside them.

“It’s your spirit you’ve got to work on,” he said.

Deputy Warden Clement Glenn said partnering with programmes such as LIFE Camp is among the ways the Department of Correction tries to get young people to change their behaviour.

We’re “trying to encourage them not to come back into the system, hoping they will integrate into society and become contributing members of their community,”