VERSAILLES, Ky. — A Woodford County community activist is working with kids through an unconventional method: hip-hop music. 

Devine Carama produces socially conscious hip-hop music, striving to impact the lives of others and serve the underserved. He also started a non-profit called The Plannery which does community service, including a coat drive. 

"I've just always dedicated my adult life to that. It's something I'm really passionate about. And at the end of the day, that's what's going to bring us all together is community service and community engagement," said Carama.

Given recent protests in Minneapolis and Louisville, Carama sees an opportunity to unite.

"Let's have that difficult conversation that we've been sweeping under the rug for the last several years, which is the reason we're still having instances like what happened in Minneapolis, because we're not having the tough conversations on systemic oppression, on disenfranchisement of people of color and systemic racism," said Carama. "And until we start having those uncomfortable conversations and focusing on the root and not the reaction, we're always going to find ourselves back here."

Carama uses these tough conversations to connect with youth audiences through his music.

"Anytime that I can engage them and let them know that you're not alone, that I came up in Lexington, Kentucky, even though you're a minority, you can still succeed," said Carama. "I always try to take advantage of that."

His message? Healing.

"I think things will get a lot better and we can just come together as one," said Carama. "But first we got to focus on healing. You got to focus on healing."