Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc has built a career that spans music, philanthropy and entrepreneurship. The lessons that shaped his work began long before international hits like “The Man” and “I Need a Dollar.” Studying language and consciousness gave him a deeper understanding of how people communicate, and these insights still find their way into his songwriting decades later. Today, Blacc also uses his platform to champion social good, an effort he says was partly inspired by the civic engagement he saw modeled by USC professors and programs. The project reflects his longstanding belief that music can serve to tell the stories of people working to help their communities.