Most Interesting People 2017: Doc Harrill

Why He’s Interesting: This DJ-turned-mentor began Fresh Camp — a hip-hop-recording summer camp — to impact students in his Glenville neighborhood. Six years later, it grew into Refresh Collective, which provides summer camps, arts education residencies and after-school programs to students throughout Cleveland’s East Side. He empowers kids to breathe fresh life into their neighborhoods by teaching them to produce powerful rap messages, plant urban gardens and more.

Revere Revolution: When Harrill was 11, his cousin played him “Paul Revere” by the Beastie Boys, which planted the shy kid on a track to perform. “It was the most powerful and articulate form of expression I’d ever heard. It caused me to search deep within myself: What do I have to say that would warrant me to stand on a stage and say it?”

Break Lessons: Cardboard. Duct tape. Boom box. While break dancing with his crew at a park in South Collinwood, Harrill used these props to teach his first students. “Little kids would always come around us wanting to learn. After we taught them some moves, I would teach them a little life lesson. There’s a Proverb, … ‘All hard work brings a profit.’ A lot of the time it might not be immediate. Sometimes it’s just character in yourself that got developed.”

Staying Afloat: The Mayfield Heights native spent a lot of time at his grandfather’s house in Collinwood. In 1984, in the mostly Italian neighborhood, Harrill was faced with the reality of racism. “I will never forget that day. They were kicking everyone out of the pool. … I looked over and saw a black father and son in the corner. It opened my eyes to seeing racism in our city and identifying it as that.”

Changing Course: Refresh Collectives’ Drop the Lead campaign, a CD and line of T-shirts that reads, “We’re all on the same side,” addresses lead poisoning and gun violence. “A lot of times in kids’ minds police brutality and gun violence almost become the same. We’re trying to interface police and teens to talk it out.”

Nature’s Path: Refresh Collective recently opened a new studio. The space includes tables and sound boxes made by students. “We want to build a control room but use all-natural wool, leather and wood to make it.”

Chip Clip: Harrill has a 5- and a 7-year-old at home. In his free time, he hangs out with the kids and works on his own lyrics. His song, “Garbage in the Trash” is one of their favorites. “I try to keep it simple about things in the community we want to change. I can’t believe how many Doritos bags are in my yard every day, so I wrote this to kind of be humorous, but at the same time, it’s serious.”