Hip Hop Teen Brainstorming Session

After much planning and excitement, we met with Hip-Hop Teen at their studio space on North Broad. The session consisted of brainstorming ideas for the Hip Hop Teen + Prospect.1 Special Edition, as well as the Billboard Project. The youth were engaged, insightful, and excited about the public art project that promises to be a huge success.

Our first meeting with Hip Hop Teen consisted of a rich, honest and powerful group conversation that surmounted in complete consensus for a series of 4 billboards addressing 4 essential community needs. Content generated in the discussion explored the urgency for social awareness and change on important topics such as vision and self love, brotherhood vs. turf wars, stereotypes and racial profiling, and youth movement makers (a direct counter action to the Crime Stopper billboards). A map of billboard locations as well as process documentation will be included in the Special Edition. Below are some photos of the brainstorming session. Images of the billboard project will be coming soon!

A preview of the Hip Hop Teen legacy - a thriving youth generated publication

The introduction

Hip-Hop Teens and their mom sharing in the dialogue of important issues..

thinking deeply about the best way to approach the urgency..

contributing with honest reflections of what is not working and how we can send a positive message...

ET holding the four hour discussion down with visuals..

The Hip-Hop Teen Recording Studio.. they got it going on..

The Porch Day 4 - The Front Porch Sessions

Porch Photos and Youth Visions

This project was inspired by the importance of the "front porch" as holding a culturally significant space for community dialogue in New Orleans. Youth involved in this workshop were asked to make a statement and create a dialogue with viewers of the Hip Hop Teen + Prospect.1 Special Edition Magazine about important needs in the process of rebuilding their community. These are a selection of photos taken in front of their homes.

The Porch

Toy "Kids Rising Above The Influence of Drugs"

Jamaika "More Room For Me"

Raquel "More Schools"

Taylor - "Drug Free"

Shaun "More Money"

Samantha "More Famous People From New Orleans"

Raymond "More Parks"

Michelle "More Respect"

Raychelle "More Peace, Love and Princesses"

Jamaika "More Love"

"To Regroup Ourselves"

The group tellin' it! 

The International School - "Where I'm From" Writing Workshop

round opening discussion

On Tuesday, September 23rd, we returned to ISL to lead a writing workshop with one of their 7th grade English classes. After listening to the Digable Planets hip-hop song, "Where I'm From", students were led on a sensory exorcise to explore the unique attributes of their ideal New Orleans future neighborhood though descriptive languages. The students then wrote their hip-hop/poetry piece about their neighborhood to be featured, in part, in the Hip-Hop Teen, Prospect.1 Special Edition. Here's some photos of the workshop......versions of the hip-hop songs may be coming soon!

reading the words.. following the song..

sharing opinions..

and working on their own..

thinking deeply..




collecting thoughts..





Sharing ideas...

get it down..

help to build friendships..

and community.

The Porch Day 3 - tell us your vision?

After a passionate brainstorming of dreams, improvements, desires and requests that students would like to see in their neighborhoods, they participated in a mock documentary in which the reporter (wearing the hat) asked imaginary characters what they would like to see more of in their neighborhoods.

What do you want more of in your community.....?

More parks, money, safe places for kids, children rising above the influence of drugs, more money for our community....

More princesses, queens and mothers, more respect, more peace, more drug free zones

More famous people from New Orleans, more respect and appreciation, more health centers for people with diabetes, more schools....

Ready, Set, Action!...

Jamaica learning the camera..

Jamaica and Samantha, our star reporters

Toy, Teachin' his skillz

strong with the camera..

Samantha the reporter and Toy the business manager make a deal for the future..

The Porch Day 2 - Drawing and Desires for New Orleans

Drawings and Desires for New Orleans

Using their list of food, objects, words and slang that make New Orleans unique, the youth at the Porch were introduced to their "art zone" a safe art making space, put-down free and relaxing. The children were asked to illustrate images of the vocabulary we had compiled during the previous session and were taught line hatching techniques to enhance their pictures. We had a beautiful and respectful sharing of pictures as students were proud of their work! Some of these illustrations will be included in the Hip Hop Teen Special Edition.

Following this lesson, cameras were distributed to youth to photograph their community. They where asked to document special people and places.

teaching the line hatching technique..

taking it in...


learning by example..


"art zone"


cool Raheem with his harmonica..


share your thoughts about Samantha's snow cone..


and Toye's marsh showcasing the unique nature of the south.

The International School - Future Headlines

The International School

After Meeting Devin Meyers at CC's coffee, chatting about our vision and bustin' a move at a nearby second line (New Orleans parade) we set up a schedule of workshops at the International School. The organization is an incredibly successful charter school which teaches children in English, Spanish and French, representing a wide demographic of children throughout the entire New Orleans area.

Inside the ISL

http://www.isl-edu.org/

"The mission of the International School of Louisiana is to provide a challenging education emphasizing French or Spanish language immersion, international awareness, the celebration of diversity and community responsibility.

The International School of Louisiana (ISL) was founded in 2000 as a tuition-free, public charter school open to any child in the State of Louisiana. The only school of its kind in the state, ISL embraces the culture of New Orleans through a language immersion program that values the ethnic diversity of this historically significant region. Like the city itself, ISL blends traditions of both the French and Spanish to create an incomparable educational experience.

Dedicated to cultural diversity and global awareness, ISL is the first multi-language immersion school chartered by the State of Louisiana. From their first day of school, students are taught core academic subjects in either French or Spanish by native speaking teachers. At ISL children learn a second language naturally, through everyday conversation and classroom instruction.

Committed to breaking down barriers in public education by teaching children to embrace diversity in their community - ISL is dedicated to providing all of its students with a unique and high-quality education and to helping young people develop, not only as students but also as community leaders and global citizens."

............

Times Picayune Future Headline Workshop

Students were asked to envision New Orleans in eight years, creating a series of headlines they would like to see featured on the cover of the Times Picayune. After developing headlines, half of the students re-enacted the ideas while the other half discussed the benefits of these ideas and what these changes would look like in their city.

Brainstorming Session

Students worked in pairs to create their headlines and then worked in groups in the bringing the headline to life! Check out the photos below to see what they have visioned for us!

Headlines:

1- World peace has arrived! All wars have stopped and money for roads and education has soared. Louisiana kids are getting higher education and teachers are being paid better than ever.

2- New Orleans, Louisiana has been ranked #1 in clean energy production. The city is paying 70% of the cost in switching to solar housing and our forests have been revitalized. Were movin' up!

3- City wide fundraiser is successful. 1,000,000 raised for new shelters. Our streets are safer and the homeles have safe spaces to stay.

little trees and tree planters

clean energy cars and safer roads

human trees and reporters

Our favorite news reporter