B-FLY SPRING 2018
#RITESOFPASSAGE THIS WOMAN'S WORK MAR 23RD
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
POETRY BY YOUTH
LISTEN TO HOT NEW MUSIC TRACK "WHAT MATTERS TO YOU?"
ADVICE COLUMN
FINDING THE PATH TO HIP HOP
LET'S TALK & BE HEARD #SERIOUSLY APRIL 7TH
INTO THE WILD WITH SIERRA CLUB
@URGENTINC
#OURVOICE MATTERS
SPRING 2018
RITES OF PASSAGE MEDIA PROJECT
RITES OF PASSAGE TEAM PHOTO CREDITS Quanisha Bell, Lindbergh Orelus, Marcus Williams
SALIHA NELSON Vice President
SHEDIA NELSON Programs Manager/Artistic Director
LOREN DANIEL Youth Enrichment Facilitator
MARQUAVIA SMITH Media Specialist
Program funded by
MONICA SCOTT Peer Educator
CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT & EDUCATION 1000 NW 1ST AVE., STE 100, MIAMI, FL 33136 I (786) 581-7821 I F: 866-811-7778 FACEBOOK I WWW.URGENTINC.ORG I TWITTER: @URGENTINC
SPRING 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 SPECIAL EVENTS 3 OUR VOICE MATTERS
6 POETRY 9-12 HOT TOPICS 13 ADVICE COLUMN
Special Events MAR Work Readiness Fair 3 Mandatory Attendance for Summer Paid Internship Eligibility
MAR This Woman's Work 23 Women's History Month MAR College for a Day 10 at Miami Dade College MAR Spring Break 26-30 Film Boot Camp APR 14
College Prep provided by DCBA Horizons Committee
APR 21
Bike riding in Shark Valley, EvergladesNational Park with Sierra Club ICO Miami
APR 28
Mock interviews & career panel provided by DCBA Horizons Committee
MAY Program Graduation & Community Art Expo 19 EVENTS /2
OUR VOICE MATTERS POETRY COLLECTION PHOTO BOOK & EP ALBUM
Photobook on Sale! Ten talented young poets and photographers contributed to this photo book collection of portraits taken by youth. Their poetry reflects how they see themselves and community social issues.
Purchase your copy today! www.urgentinc.org Https://FS3.FORMSITE.COM/URGENTINC/FORM26/ INDEX.HTML
EP Album on SoundCloud Songs written and performed by youth in Rites of Passage produced by PATH to Hip Hop with compassionate lyrical life coach Sekajipo ForThePeople. Listen to "Our Voice Matters" EP album with new recorded tracks on SoundCloud.com/ urgentinc!
"WE WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE HONESTLY NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU. YOU GIVE US THE PLATFORM FOR EVERYTHING WE NEED TO PROVE OURSELVES SO WE'RE GLAD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE YOU PROUD!" - MONICA BISSAINTHE, AMBASSADOR ALUMNI "WE WORKED HARD FOR THIS AND WE GOT MORE PLACES TO GO." - DEONDRE MARSHALL, ALUMNI
“OUR VOICE MATTERS” SHORT STUDENT FILM ACCEPTANCE IN DO IT YOUR DAMN SELF FILM FESTIVAL IN BOSTON, MA!!! By Shedia Nelson
Our Voice Matters Collection elevates youth voice on social issues through a powerful poetry film, EP album and a photobook with a collection of poetry. Congratulations to five young talented film makers who wrote, directed, performed and edited a short poetry film entitled "Our Voice Matters" whose film has been accepted into Do It Your Damn Self film festival in Boston, MA! The talented film makers' will have their film screened at the MIT Lab, Community Art Center and Institute of Contemporary Art with a talk back. "Our Voice Matters" is an original poetry film written, performed, produced, directed and edited by teens in URGENT, Inc's Rites of Passage Media Project with assistance by Florida Film House. This poetry film parallels how social issues like youth violence, racism and police brutality adversely impact youth with a call to action. The teens weaved their poetry with the fabric of their community to elevate youth voice on the impact of gun violence. #OURVOICEMATTERS/ 3
AMBASSADORS & ALUMNI
s n o i t a l u t a r g Con
Congratulations Marcus Williams, Rites of Passage Media Project Ambassador Alumni on being selected to intern with Eyes on Your Mission! Eyes on your Mission provides professional development for teens in film making.
Congralutions Marie Jean-Claude, Rites of Passage Media Project alumni on making the Dean's List at Florida International University!
Congratulations Monica Bissainthe on your outstanding role as an ambassador alumni giving back to Rites of Passage Media Project. Everyone On generously donated a new Dell laptop to help further your educational pursuits.
Nanotte St. Jean, Rites of Passage alumni mentored new ambassador and peer educator on Sierra Club ICO camping trip in Everglades National Park.
Mu sic Vid eo D ebu "FO RMA t TI ON
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URGENT, Inc.'s Rites of Passage Media Project's debut music video choreographed by Octavia Yearwood with Team Ohhh and produced by Florida Film House is available on our Vimeo Channel: https://vimeo.com/248516858. The video includes behind the scenes footage. This video was filmed at Edison Park K-8 Center with the support of Carla Patrick, principal and counselors Alex Fatal and Michael Cure. This program is funded by The Children's Trust and Miami Dade County. As a thank you to Edison Park K-8 Center, we dedicated "Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African-Americans" written and illustrated by internationally renown artist Kadir Nelson to their media center.
PHOTOGRAPHYÂ / 5
Youth Poetry WHAT IS LOVE? He looks at me furiously and becomes angrier by the minute because I refuse to tell him where I've been. He comes closer, pulls my hair and says he's not going to ask me again.
On May 15, I remember it like it was a dream And I ain't talking about Martin Luther King Even though I ain't a junior I wish I knew about death sooner 2010, my daddy passed away Even when having fun I couldn't even say... yeah Before he left this earth
But truth be told I was only with my mother, the looks on his face reads differently as he thinks I was with another. He eventually spits in my face and pulls my hair harder to where I begin to cry.
ever since my birth he told me to be strong be the rose that lived so long he said don't let someone break your heart. He told me from the start love yourself Love life, be happy you ain't deaf
At this point in my life, I don't know why God made the decision to make me love when
listen to music, understand feeling that you felt Remember it's not on the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts.
all I wanted was to die. He lets go and I fall to the floor.
- Victonia Jean-Mesca
These meetings I cannot ignore. I cannot tell my family what's going on, for it will shame me even more.
I am Aaliyah Scott Daughter of Sharon Who needs food, sleep, money Who loves her family, neighbors
I look into his eyes and scream the words "I'm sorry." I always come back and he beats me even more harshly. He says he do this out of love. Love? What is love? What is this word that he speaks of? I lost that feeling long ago. These beatings I cannot undergo. My pride is gone by participating and his little puppet show. I wanted to leave and that's what I did. That's something he had forbid. I got to the end and I didn't win. Now I'm in a coma and I'm going to wake up God knows when.
Who sees an ocean, drawings Who hates aggravating people Who fears spiders, failure, snakes Who dreams of being a choreographer Who has found people's lies Resident of Florida
- Aaliyah Scott
I am Ashley who needs life who loves water who sees the future who hates discrimination who hears the ocean who fears hate who dreams of life in an easy way
- Ashley Morency
-Sarena Noel
PAGE 6
L... O... V... E...
What is this?
That never ending feeling of happiness The cringe I feel in the pit of my stomach when you look at me? The tears that fall from my eyes when you leave me? Or is it the way your soft lips gently touch mine?
-Xavier Lewis
Love is unconditional Love is support and being there for them even at their lowest point Love is staying on the phone at all hours at night after your mom told you to go to bed because you have school in the morning. Love isn't lying, cheating, breaking hearts Love is crying on your shoulder after having a bad day. Love is not buying material things Love is not broken promises Love is not cheating on me and treating me like a Thot when my dad raised me to be a queen Love is having a relationship that will last until we both in grey dying together holding hands walking to Heaven.
- Samaria Hayes
I am quiet and lazy I wonder how I will be in the future I hear people cheering me on I see my future I want to travel to Paris and Tokyo
I pretend to be on my phone I feel okay I touch my legs I worry that I am not doing well in school I cry when I have so much to do I understand prefix and suffix words I dream going to medical school I try to do my math I-Ready I hope to be successful
- Elizabeth Champagne
Eyes on Your Mission Film Shoot
Congratulations Marcus Williams, Rites of Passage Media Project Ambassador who was accepted for an apprenticeship with Eyes on Your Mission to produce social engagement videos with user-friendly digital content for nonprofits. He is producing a video with Sandy Skelaney for an initiative for gender violence protection in collaboration with URGENT, Inc.'s Rites of Passage Media Project film makers. Youth will share their advice on how to engage adults in critical discussion while fostering a positive relationship between adults and youth.
TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Charles Drew K-8 Center - The Rites of Passage Media Project Ambassador team presented two fun interactive sessions on teen dating violence awareness at the 18th annual No More Broken Hearts event that promotes awareness on domestic violence. The event is hosted by Dr. Dorothy BendrossMindingall, school board member, district 2.
"IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEARN THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABUSE." - 16 yr old
Patrice Boudeau thought the keynote speaker, Marissa Alexander's presentation on her domestic violent relationship was great and informative. "It was very detailed and descriptive. I just loved how she [Marissa Alexander] was honest about her husband who she married at 20 years old. He used to strangle and intimidate her when she used to be in vulnerable places. She could not really do anything since he barred her from grabbing her car keyes. And purposely prevented her from bringing the garage door up. She explained how she couldn't see her baby until she was the age of 3 while she was incarcerated in a wrongful way. But I'm very glad that so many rallied for her and she made it out."
The ambassadors presented on differentiating on healthy and unhealthy relationship, warning signs, healthy relationship standards and patterns of abuse by the aggressor through presenting a film "Keeping it On", interactive discussion and "IF KIDS HAD audience participants engaged in creating a SOMEONE TO TALK skit on different types of abuse. For teen dating violence workshops with peer TO LIKE A SCHOOL educators and student film screening COUNSELOR THEY requests, contact Shedia Nelson at WOULDN'T USE AN shedia@urgentinc.org AR-15." - 11 YR OLD
STORIES / 8
CAMPING IN THE EVERGLADES WITH SIERRA CLUB ICO MIAMI EVERGLADES - Eight young ladies accompanied by Rites of Passage Media Project alumni Nanotte St. Jean set out on a adventurous trip to Everglades National Park with Sierra Club ICO Miami. Most of whom never camped, cooked, seen alligator or canoed before. One participant was saddened that there was only one gator sighting over the weekend however she loved the trip. They walked through an alligator hole full of beautiful cypress trees and clear water in a little higher than knee deep. STORIES / 9
Finding the PATH to Hip Hop
This Woman's Work event at Cambridge Innovation Center at University of Miami Life Science & Technology Park as part of celebrating women during women's history month. Lyrical life coach, Sekajipo ForThePeople has taught song composition, music arrangement, and spoken word.
An amazing continued partnership with PATH (Preserving, Archiving and Teaching) to Hip Hop has inspired musical talents in Rites of Passage. Some of their songs were underscored to their short film documentary "Our Stories Matter" from their EP album "Our Voice Matters." Their latest tracks they're recording will be dropped at URGENT, Inc's 3rd annual
Some of the youth comments include:
HIP HOPÂ /Â 10
"I like the hands on learning with Sekajipo. I made beats for two songs. It was fun and easy." "I liked how we got to learn about each other. I learned how beats were produced and what it takes to make one."
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Events: Black Panther Film Reviews & Dade County Bar Mentoring Picnic Two of URGENT, Inc.'s programs, Rites of Passage Media Project and Intergenerational Project attended a trip to see the epic, transformative, informative, innovative, celebration of humanity at the root of Africa film "Black Panther". Thirty-eight high school students and four grandparents joined by their grandchildren attended the trip in anticipation of watching this film on the big screen. A high school student shared, "I adored how all the main characters were Black and well respected in their communities and others". In addition, twenty-three participants enjoyed a fun filled day at our community partner Dade County Young Lawyer's Association: Horizons committee's annual Mentoring Picnic. The picnic brings together mentoring professionals and professors from local universities in Florida with the community and students in the law and legal field. Thus opens the door to dialogue about educational and career pathways in these fields of study and practice.
"Black Panther showed a positive image of Black people." - Samaria Hayes
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
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3RD ANNUAL THIS WOMAN'S WORK A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
BRONZE BRA AWARDS RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUALS WHO DEMONSTRATE GUIDANCE, DIRECTION, SUPPORT & LIFT LIKE A GOOD BRA From ink to paper and setting fire to the mic with spoken word by talented Rites of Passage members, Angene Bien-Aime performed "This Woman's Work" and "Bullets" Eveul "Evo" Exil performed "Women are unique and phenomenal" and "America's True Colors" that set the tone for the event. Additional poets from URGENT, Inc's FACE (Film Arts & Culture Entrepreneurship) youth development program performed a group spoken word piece. Last year's honorees include the compassionate Trynegwa Diggs, former principal at Miami Edison senior high school who invited her students from Rites of Passage as she accepted her award. Additional bronze bra recipients include: Dr. Guerda Nicolas, Dean of School of Education at University of Miami, Miami Dade Young Lawyer's Association: Horizons committee, Circle of Brotherhood.
See this year's honorees on Friday, March 23rd at Cambridge Innovation Center located at 1951 NW 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33136 from 2-4pm.
PAGE 12
Dear Blue Rain, How do you show your appreciation for leaders in the past like Malcom X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Ida B. Wells, Shirley Chisholm, Thurgood Marshall, Frederick Douglass and for current leaders like former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Ava Duvernay, Viola Davis, Zendaya Coleman and Maya Penn? Sincerely, Thankful Dear Thankful, I am thankful for these leaders because they helped shape the United States. They stood up for our rights and women's rights so we can be seen as humans and not as slaves. These influential leaders created innovative change, help shape our political system, inspire young entrepreneurs in creative design, inspire healthy eating and fitness and promote pro-social norms while leaving an imprint in media and our history. I'm also thankful for the inventions we use every day like the traffic signal by Garrett Morgan, potato chips by George Crum, the women who helped Americans fly to the moon that include Katherine G. Johnson, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan, the touch tone telephone and caller ID by Dr. Shirley Jackson, developer of IBM by Otis Boykin, built first fastest computer in 1989 was invented by Philip Emeagwali, and the ice cream scoop by Alfred L. Cralle, just to name a few. We can choose to be apart of his/her-story or wonder what happened to our-story. Sincerely, Blue Rain AKA Elizabeth Champagne, 15 with assistance by Shedia Nelson ADVICE COLUMN / 13