NYPD Teaming up with Big Ocean, K-Pop's First Deaf Act, Makes Surprise Visit to Bronx School for the Deaf
In a final surprise, the NYPD teams up with the first-ever all-male K-Pop boy band comprised of hard-of-hearing members, Big Ocean, to make the spirits high and energy bright at St. Joseph's School for the Deaf in the Bronx.
The NYPD partnered with the first all-hard-of-hearing boy band of K-Pop, Big Ocean, Tuesday, to capture a moment that brought music, community, and advocacy together to surprise students at the St. Joseph's School for the Deaf in the Bronx for an uplifting experience that these kids needed, to empower a way of believing with hearing impairments while encouraging inclusivity and representation.
Big Ocean is a group of super innovators in their effort to break the fence in music. It consists of young men who are born deaf. Symbolically, they were here to break barriers; they were to do just that to encourage deaf children. They let those deaf children know that whatever dreams they had was valid enough, not considering their conditions. Through sign language, the band has been steadily gaining recognition within the international K-Pop scene as it has opened up the platform for inclusiveness and raised a community's visibility regarding deafness. According to her, their visit is part of their advocacy to bring in more visibility among the underrepresented sectors in the entertainment world.
The NYPD was represented by some of its finest in the local precinct, and these officers were committed to community outreach and support for local youth. They came not only to escort Big Ocean but also to partake in the celebration. One was reminded, of course, of the vital role that law enforcement must take in building positive relations with the young, especially those in underserved communities.
The students at St. Joseph's School for the Deaf seemed completely elated throughout as Big Ocean playfully performed some of its greatest hits, signing along to lyrics in action-packed moves that urge participation in the performance. The language that can pass through walls connected everyone in the room, deaf or able to hear the music.
On the event, members of Big Ocean shared their experiences over overcoming challenges as hard-of-hearing individuals and what really echoed with the students was actually their reflections: "Being deaf has its strength." According to the band, though being deaf has its throes, that is what makes this existence strong and bearing strength in breaking barriers. Clearly, the message this band is conveying is that how success is achievable; there are no limits when you stand for your self.
The event takes on part of a growing movement to give voice to marginalized communities especially those with disabilities, through the NYPD, Big Ocean , and the Joseph's School for the Deaf. This working together inspired the school children and brought them joy. It reminded them of the importance of diversity and representation in all walks of life, especially in the entertainment industry.
The occasion closed by with many students and faculty members going around to express thanks for the experience, many opining that would go down in memory as one of the most memorable events of the school year. For Big Ocean, it was just another step on the road to forging a more inclusive world, one note at a time. Being watched over by the NYPD showed that community support could indeed be what made dreams come true for all those children regardless of problems they may face.
