BROOKLYN, NY – The first time Winner Olufade heard the drum line at Uncommon Collegiate Charter High School (UCC) during a class trip as a middle schooler, it stopped him in his tracks.
“I got goosebumps,” the high school junior said. “I thought, I have to be here. I couldn’t imagine going to high school and not being part of the drums.”
For Olufade, joining the drum line helped him find something he had been missing.
“Growing up, I struggled to figure out what made sense for me, what made me me,” he said. “When I joined the drum line and felt that community, everything clicked. It made me a better person. It gave me something to fight for.”
Olufade’s experience at UCC in Bed-Stuy, one of Uncommon’s four college-prep high schools across the borough, is part of a broader effort in which every student has the opportunity to participate in a schoolwide enrichment program. The initiative, aptly named High School Student Talent and Voice, gives students time during the school day to pursue interests ranging from performing arts and music to robotics, debate, chess, and even cosmetology. Its broader intent is to allow students opportunities to explore their passions outside the classroom – opportunities that their peers at elite private schools may have more exposure to – ideally equipping them to be more competitive in the college application process.
Earlier this month, UCC’s gymnasium transformed into a stage for the program’s annual talent showcase. Students performed dance and cheer routines, musical sets, and drum lines for classmates and staff, highlighting months of practice and preparation.
The Talent and Voice program is built directly into the school day. Students in grades 10 through 12 spend two periods each week in a project that functions much like an extracurricular activity but takes place during school hours to ensure access to all students at Uncommon Schools NYC, where 96% of students identify as Black or Latinx.
In a recent study, the Afterschool Alliance found that in 2025, 65% of Black children did not participate in after-school clubs and activities, up from 58% in 2020, naming costs and access as the main factors.
Liv Anderson, Senior Director of Student Talent for Uncommon Schools, said that design is intentional.
“We call them co-curriculars, not extracurriculars,” Anderson said. “By embedding them in the school day, we create equity and access for students who might otherwise miss out because they have jobs after school or family responsibilities.”
Across Uncommon’s Brooklyn high schools, students can choose from more than 20 projects and competitive clubs. The goal, Anderson said, is to help students develop as whole people while also preparing them for college and careers.
“We believe students should have opportunities to find their passions and develop their talents,” she said. “It helps them tell a compelling story about who they are and what they care about.”
For many students, the projects become a defining part of their high school experience. And many spend extra hours beyond the school day crafting their talents and skills, which studies show can benefit them academically and for their social well-being.
Storm Vallenila, a senior and captain of UCC’s cheer team, joined the program all four years of high school after first seeing the team perform during a visit to her middle school.
Now she helps lead the group and even choreographs routines.
“I love to dance,” she said. “Here my creativity is open. A lot of what we performed today, I helped create with the team.”
The cheer squad competes against schools across New York City and finished second in its division this year after taking first place last year.
Vallenila said the experience has helped her grow as a leader.
“Working with different people who have different ideas taught me to listen and consider everyone’s perspective,” she said. “That’s a skill I’ll take with me to college.”
Not every project can be showcased on stage, but students say they still enjoy participating in the activities.
Senior Emilio Sierra discovered chess through a project that originally focused on arts and crafts. When a teacher began introducing chess during the sessions, Sierra quickly became hooked.
“I’ve always liked puzzles,” he said. “Chess challenges you mentally and teaches you patience. You have to think about solutions when things get difficult.”
Sierra recently competed in a tournament organized by Chess NYC and earned a medal after winning multiple rounds. Due to demand, the school is adding a chess program.
Another senior, Danielle Newman, participates as a project intern. In that role, she helped coordinate the program’s logistics.
During the showcase, she helped move equipment on and off stage, organize chairs, and set up the gym for student exhibits. The role, she said, has helped her build confidence and communication skills.
“It helps me talk to people more and put myself out there,” Newman said. “I’ve become more organized and better at multitasking.”
For Olufade, the drum line has opened doors beyond school. After developing his skills, he joined Brooklyn United, a borough-wide drum program that has performed at events, including at Disney World and at the Barclays Center for a Brooklyn Nets game.
“At first, it was really scary. But when I hit one drum, everything made sense,” he said. “That’s the beauty of your drum.”
The experience strengthened his commitment to music. Olufade hopes to join a college marching band after graduation.
But the biggest change, he said, came in the classroom.
“It gave me a reason to care about my academics,” he said. “Because if my grades aren’t good, I can’t drum.”
After the showcase, Olufade reflected on how much the program changed his high school experience.
“It helped me find where I belong,” he said.
For more information about Uncommon NYC, or to enroll your child at an Uncommon High School for the school year 2026-2026, please visit: https://nyc.uncommonschools.org/enroll/
