This last weekend, from November 9th through 11th, Words Beats & Life, a Hip-Hop non-profit doing big things in DC for the uplifting of hip-hop culture and the pursuit of social justice, hosted a very productive event for Hip-Hop non-profit and activist organizations nationwide. The name of this event, dubbed a Teach-In as a nod to the social movements of the past, was “Remixing the Art of Social Change” [pdf]. Representatives from many great organizations from across the U.S. were invited and attended, including Hip Hop Congress, Hip Hop Association, H.E.L.P., Yo! The Movement, P.O.C.C. [Prisoners of Consciousness Committee], G.A.ME [Grassroots Artists MovEment], J.U.I.C.E. [Justice by Uniting In Creative Energy], Blackout Arts Collective, The Midnight Forum, Industry Ears, Freemix Radio, Block Report Radio, R.E.A.C.H., Brooklyn Generation School , and others. If you are not familiar with any of these organizations, you should really take the time to check out their sites, missions, and projects to familiarize yourself with them. They are doing great work and not only need recognition for recognition’s sake but for the sake of their continued success.
The Teach-In’s purpose was not only to provide information and workshops to improve the efficiency and operations of the individual organizations but also to foster partnerships and even promote a larger, overreaching movement comprised of all organizations present united under common causes. Dr. Jared Ball, Rosa Clemente, Martha Diaz, Dr. White, and Mazi Mutafa from WBL, among others all stepped up to the plate as leaders amongst leaders and provided motivational insight through sharing of past experiences and a vision for the future. Lots of great information and tactics were shared for both traditional and guerrilla organizing.
