By Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

Jan. 16, 2012

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Sixteen-year old Filipino American performer JD Charisma’s song, “I Have A Dream” speaks about peace and equality, two things African American leader Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for in the 1960s.

Charisma had a tough childhood. As a Filipino kid who loved hip-hop, he got bullied by classmates in a suburban neighborhood. He said, “I went through a lot of hating. People would throw food at me, kick my backpack, push me, hit me. It was because I was different. I wore different types of clothing.”

He said it got so bad that he wanted to take his own life. “I was at a very dark place,” he said. “I was suicidal, depressed. I felt everyone was against me and I was against the world.”

He turned his life around and focused on the one thing that keeps him alive–music.

Two years ago, he began coming to the Unity Gathers Many Xperiences (UGMX) studio in San Jose, California — known as a talent studio with deeper goals. The studio is a refuge for at-risk kids.

Mike Robinson founded UGMX in 2006. Now, hundreds of kids and their supportive parents come here every month. He said, “To see the energy that they bring to the table, to help the youth — that’s our main mission.”

His brother, Johnny, said another goal is to show the youth that music can be positive. He said, “Music is so corrupt. We wanted to stop the n-word, all the violence, the disrespect against women.”

The Robinson brothers said by teaching what’s right to the kids, they are developing the country’s future leaders.

For Charisma, being part of the UGMX studio has been a life-changing experience. He released his own album, with 18 original songs in 2010. He plans to complete another one by next year. Charisma has also performed in charity events, raising money for cancer patients, local schools and victims of disasters in the Philippines.

He said he no longer has hate in his heart, even for people who hurt him in the past. He said, “Wherever I am, I’m a positive person. I show love to everybody.”

You may contact Henni Espinosa at henni_espinosa@abs-cbn.com for more information.