THIS
YEAR’S PROJECTS
Local Event:
“Next Sun Rising” at the University of Chicago’s
Festival of the Arts (FOTA)
The
UHipHop registered student organization at the University
of Chicago, has organized performances for the FOTA event
for the past three years. Last year’s event was the
most diverse and dynamic in its combination of various arts
and political initiatives, for public education and transcommunal
meetings. Last year’s theme was the Magic Seven, and
presented seven different potential of hip-hop education.
Youth from community centers’ SWYC and Alternatives
UHipHop performed along with the Brickheadz breakdance group.
The African drumming troupe Bombako performed and did a collaborative
performance with the breakdancers. Ten community arts organizations
participated in the Nfo Xpo, setting up tables for various
activities. Kenwood Academy students presented “Youth
in Social Justice “ projects, and “Dream School”
projects, which were on display at the event. Youth hosted
the event, and ~400 people from different communities and
backgrounds joined in the festivities.
This year the event will focus on youth empowerment as cultural
educators and conflict mediators. The theme, “Next Sun
Rising”, will focus on youth as progenitors of community
development and social justice initiatives. UHipHop students
spent the fall of 2005 doing workshops with Michela Rosan,
a conflict mediator in training from Italy, who was funded
by the European Union based Alexander Langer project. Students
will apply the skills they learned in conducting educational
workshops and debates on globalization, slave reparations,
and youth involvement in politics. For the collaborative performances
the same artists and community organizations from last year
will be invited, in addition to contracting other international
musicians to perform alongside young hip-hoppers. Lastly four
students will video-tape the event and interview the public
and participants about hip-hop community events and incorporate
this into their documentary.
