E.L.E.M.E.N.T
Educating Leaders Everywhere in Mississippi
to Encourage New Thought
Social civic, professional and religious groups have united to raise awareness of major problems affecting the growth and prosperity of our nation’s youth, especially those in the urban and rural areas of the state of Mississippi. Many youth face conflicts that result in crime, violence then incarceration or death. A multitude of force are grabbing our children’s attention and influencing their thoughts, actions, and attitudes toward life. Perhap no other medium at this time is more influential the HIP-HOP music – referred to as rap, gangsta, thug music, and much more. Hip-Hop is all encompassing of the spirit of our youth. Like our children, the music is adaptable, innovative, edgy, thought-provoking and persuasive.
Our first step is to know our children which means knowing what motivates and interests them. Next, helping our youth by equipping them to forge their own unique place in the world. Hip-Hop is a perfect example of what happens when ordinary youth are allowed and supported to do extraordinary things.
Rhymes, Rhythm, and Reason: Youth Hip-Hop Festival and Summit, is a one-day event that will allow our youth to come together for purposeful enjoyment. Using the musc/entertainment as a “lure:, the youth will be exposed to pertinent information enabling them to become leaders, activists and supporters of positive change in their own environment. The event name pulls together the components relevant to our approach to make a difference in the kids and their roles and responsibilities in their communities.
Rhymes – represent the power of words, used by rappers, singer, orators, and all others; the words are the beautiful end result of cognitive, rational and strategic thought.
Rhythm 00 represents the vehicle for communicating. Music is the universal language to transcend age, cultural, economic, social and religious barriers. Music is a call to action for love, peace, harmony, or violence and hatred.
Reason – represents the practice of knowing better and therefore doing better for yourself and community. Our workshops and sessions will focus on presenting information about the major problems facing the youth in an easily-digestible and enjoyable format.
A youth hip-hop festival and summit is needed because the children suffer most from the mistakes of society and need the attention. For example, cutting public school funding leaves a generation of boys and girls who are not equipped to lead our country or compete internationally; building and privatizing jails and prisons instead of promoting diverse trade and employment option yields career criminals; and, accepting racial stereotypes without examining the character of the individual are all patterns of our society that can have a detrimental effect on our youth. ELEMENTS, the Mississippi coalition for Youth Development, wants nothing more than to raise awareness of the matter affecting our youth and to enhance their ability to make a positive change in the community and their own lives.
We strive for RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, AND RECOURSE.