Courtney Luciana Photos
Rapper Dustystaystrue back at Barnard Thursday after a national tour.
Five hundred students gathered in the courtyard of Barnard Environmental Science and Technology School roared with excitement Thursday morning as Dustystaytrue’s “Never Change” blared from the speakers — and the rising rapper himself arrived on scene.
“Barnard’s Big Brother!” read a sign fifth-grader Zhanne Goins held at the gate.
Duststaytrue, a Barnard alum known as Xavier Segarra back in the day, had returned to the city from opening for Toosii on his “Thank You For Believing” tour.
The South Coast Music Group recording artist, who is 22, said he decided to return to his elementary stomping grounds because of the strong impact that the faculty and his peers had on him. He grew up around the corner from Barnard, on Judson Avenue. He said he wants the youth to realize that no matter what, everyone has a fair shot at achieving their goals.
He brought gifts to the event: Tables were filled coloring kits, galaxy slime, and school supplies. Barnard’s literacy department was also able to secure a book through local donations to pair with each child’s gift.
Dusty with Rosa Velasquez, Kimberly Phillips, and his brother Corey Wallace.
“I grew up here. I came to this school. I remember being their age,” Dustystaytrue said. “I started music since I came here. I was playing the trumpet here for the band. I always had that love for music so I put down the instrument and started using my voice as an instrument.”
“I think it’s cool that he’s coming to our school today,” Goins said. “It inspires me because when we get older we can be something successful. When I grow up, I want to be either a scientist or the president.”
Dustystaytrue said his rap career essentially started in high school but that he remembers going home after the school day at Barnard and writing raps. Some of his fondest memories are from inside Barnard’s cafeteria, where he and his friends would have rap battles and make beats on the lunch tables.
By his second year of attending Gateway Community College, Duststaytrue started seeing his hard work pay off. Once his music started getting traction and buzz, he decided to run with music full time.
“I’m grateful for every opportunity that has been presented to me, because a lot of people from where we’re from don’t get that opportunity,” he said. “So I wanted to come back to my school and show these kids that they can do the same thing that I did.”
Rosa Velasquez and former student Xavier reunite Thursday.
Barnard educator Rosa Velasquez was one of the staffers Duststaytrue pointed out as having had an enduring influence on him.
“Barnard was a real formative time for me and my youth. She was a part of the reason why Barnard really made me who I am today,” he said. “For Velasquez to be here still doing what she does even after 10 years is kind of crazy.”
Velasquez, who is now the math coach at Barnard, said that Dustystaytrue was one of the most caring kids in her class. She remembered that he loved to play around and make everyone laugh.
“He loved music, gym, and playing basketball,” Valasquez said. “He’s a true success story for all of the kids. It’s heartwarming to see your students leave you and do great things. It makes being a teacher worth it.”
Kimberly Phillips, another math coach at the school, added that she was touched by Dustystaytrue reaching out to the school to donate gifts.
“I remember seeing him as a teenager working at Chuck E. Cheese. and he was still the same, sweet kid. He always had a smile on his face,” Phillips said. “It warms your heart as an educator because you never know if you’re making an impact. And here he is, 10 years later, giving back to kids that he doesn’t even know.”
“It’s not about the presents that he’s going to give the kids, it’s the idea that someone who was at the school has made it,” said Principal Robert McCain (pictured). “ It shows what a great city this is, and your heart just fills when things like this happen. The teachers get to see the fruits of their labor. Especially for elementary teachers, you rarely see the kids once they leave. I just talked to a teacher who said, ‘This is what makes me want to stay in teaching.’”
Students lined up to grab a gift one at a time to grab their gift from Dustystaytrue.
“I love my gift!,” a second-grader screamed, while sporting her new coloring kit and The North Police book.
“This is the best gift ever, because it’s from a student that came here!” exclaimed Noamie Velez, another second grader. “And we got to get books to help us read. I’m going to read it every day!”
Dustystaytrue spent the remainder of his time at the school reminiscing with Velasquez and other staff members. Not many realized that he had lost a family member that morning, but showed up anyway.
“Sometimes you feel like it’s over,” Dustystaytrue said. “What’s happening every day in New Haven is kind of crazy, and I’m glad that I can be a voice for the youth. What’s happening here isn’t something that shouldn’t be normalized but you have to appreciate every moment.”