Contributed by Scott Lipscomb

Pharell Williams does a little bit of everything. His latest endeavor, opening private schools for low income families in his home state of Virginia.

“If the system is fixed and unfair, then it needs to be broken,” Williams said in a news release. “We don’t want lockstep learning where so many kids fall behind; we want bespoke learning designed for each child, where the things that make a child different are the same things that will make a child rise up and take flight.”

The first school will be in the Norfolk area for grades 3 through 5.

The Virginian Pilot reported “Called Yellowhab, yellow after Williams’ nonprofit and “hab” after the name of the Mars habitat in the movie “The Martian,” the school will be tuition-free for at least the first year. The costs of attendance will be covered by philanthropic support.”

“Williams’ nonprofit has offered summer programs and other educational opportunities throughout Hampton Roads for years, but settled on Norfolk for the site of the first school because of its deeply entrenched housing segregation and the city’s plans to redevelop three public housing communities through its billion-dollar St. Paul’s redevelopment.”

These schools not only are meant to give these children a top notch education but also a safe space for them to explore their interests and discover a love for learning.