KL presented the 1st annual Chicago elementary poetry slam, HALF PINT POETICS (HPP),
proving that social, environmental and political awareness starts at an early age. Representing
communities from Englewood to Uptown, eighty-seven youth from around the city participated.
HPP significantly impacted Chicago’s teachers, students, and their families perception of social
justice education via art. HPP participant’s writings and performances addressed critical urban
problems and offered a promise of finding solutions for alleviating poverty, sexism, racism, and
eco ignorance. In association with The Social Justice Expo and in partnership with CPS, Kuumba
Lynx will present the 2nd annual innovative education-based project, HALF PINT POETICS on
May 20th at the UIC Forum. HPP will also grow its activism component by adding a community
service day project in mid April to the HPP schedule of event leading up to the actual poetry slam.
Half Pint All Star Poets perform at BNV Speak Green 2009. They will perform for the Houston Life Is Living fest in November.
October 2009
LYNX A bi annual update from Kuumba Lynx
ITS ELEMENTARY ! Chi towns 1st ever poetry slam for 8–14 year olds
KL Co Executive Directors, Jacinda & Jaquanda, and KLPE member, Marvin discuss the
Stop the Violence campaign with Hip Hop’s “Teacha” Blastmaster KRS1.
On a recent visit to Chicago, KRS 1
and the Temple of Hip Hop met with
KL Co Directors, KL teaching Artists,
and several youth program participants
to discuss the recent rise in
CPS violence, hoping to forge a lasting
partnership between Chicago’s
Hip Hop community and the relaunched
Stop The Violence campaign.
Following their meeting, KRS
1 gave a short lecture, then passed
out autographed copies of his latest
book “The Gospel of Hip Hop” to a
crowd of about 200 youth. KL youth
organized their own Stop The Violence
march. For more info see pg 2
The 2009 HPP 250+ audience and participants included CPS & CPD staff, community leaders, educators, local & national artists, families, and activists. The
standing room only event attendees left with a re-energized commitment to promoting social & eco justice living, teaching, and service. Everyone was astounded
by the elementary voices! An Englewood poetry group, Purpose of Life, performs a piece entitled “Melt the Guns”.
LIFE IS LIVING-SO FRESH & SO GREEN
Page 2
LYNX A bi annual update from Kuumba Lynx
LIFE IS LIVING (LIL) IS PROJECT #1 OF THE KL SO
FRESH & SO GREEN INITIATIVE, WHICH SEEKS TO
INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE & THEIR FAMILIES TO
ESTABLISH A NEEDED VOICE DEFINING WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE INCLUDED IN CHICAGO'S "GREEN
MOVEMENT." THIS INITIATIVE SUPPORTS THE HIP HOP
COMMUNITY IN LEADING A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN
EMPHASIZING SOCIAL EQUITY, URBAN GREEN
LITERACY AND CAPTURING THE SPIRIT &
APPRECIATION FOR LIFE AND EARTH. STRATEGIES
INCLUDE INTEGRATED ARTS & EDUCATION
PROGRAMS THAT RAISE CONSCIOUSNESS WITHIN
OUR WORLD WHILE WORKING TO IMPROVE AND
DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE SPACES.
On Saturday July 18th 2009, Chicago’s Hip Hop community in partnership with
The HBO Brave New Voices poetry festival, presented LIFE IS LIVING, an interdisciplinary,
intergenerational, environmental, and social empowerment event
utilizing performance & cultural activities to engage our communities in the “Going
Green” movement.
The all day Hip Hop event engaged festival participants in eco literacy and “how
to” activities including recycled garden art & household cleaning supply demonstrations.
Throughout the day over 2,000 participants contributed to live drumming
circles & alter creations, shared poetry & music on guerilla stages, experienced
recycled interactive children’s games, played in soccer and basketball tournaments,
and witnessed dance, emceeing, skateboarding & Graff battles.
The day began with a Freedom Breakfast hosted by Uptown Multicultural Youth
Project.
A STOP THE VIOLENCE parade led by the Uplift Social Justice HS
Marching Band commemorated the passing of CPS youth this year. LIL culminated
with a stage hosted by KL Founders, Jacinda, Jaquanda & Leida and Marc
Bamuthi Joseph of YouthSpeak INC., featuring Pharoahe Monch, Saul Williams,
Rebel Diaz, FM Supreme and Chicago FootworKINGz.
B-Girls & B-boys, Foot workers, and Muralists of all ages Battle it out! Several of the 12X12 canvases will be permanently installed around the city.
KL Professional Dance Ensemble, FootworKINGz release "Take Flight”
Page 3
DROP IN ARTS
KL OFFERS FREE WORKSHOPS 2-3X A WEEK
AT CLARENDON PARK. CLASSES RANGE
FROM DANCE TO VISUAL ART. PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS EXHIBIT THEIR WORKS AT KL
CULTURAL EVENTS & LOCAL VENUES . VISIT
WWW.KUUMBALYNX.ORG FOR A CLASS LIST!
KL Arts Residencies & Workshops
In collaboration with Gear Up, Kuumba Lynx Apprentice Teaching Artists, Quenton Cole
headed a creative writing & Spoken Word workshop that explored sources of the oppression
and possible solutions with Uplift HS freshmen. To book a KL workshop call 773-
550-3849/4229.
KL Professional Teaching Artist, Laurisha “Boogie” McClarin exposed Dugan HS
students from the Back of the Yard community to the essence of Hip Hop through
identity & empowerment workshops and various dance techniques.. The 20 week
Urban Dance Residency culminated in a spring exhibition.
On October 3rd in collaboration with Brazillionaire Entertainment and Sol Arts Inc., KL presented the premiere of TAKE FLIGHT, a history making DVD on the art of footwork dance and its impact on Chicago youth and their communities. The DVD features KL Teaching Artists, King Charles, MaDdog, and Prince Jron. The event was hosted by Blair Cartlidge, of Full Effect Dance & Theatre
Ensemble., and included performances by Chicago’s Footwork Queens, and the 187 legendary battle click. A tribute to lower body dance style was presented by Detroit’s Jittin Jesus, & Chitown’s
Mad Rhythyms. The event culminated in a live battle between 187 Gods and Chicago FootworKINGz that was hosted by Oreo.
www.kuumbalynx.org
KL is an arts and education, not-for-profit organization working to advance social change
initiatives by promoting arts & culture as powerful tools for justice. KL is dedicated to
providing access to programs that preserve, promote and present urban (Hip-Hop) culture,
both as an artistic aesthetic and social justice movement. KL believes in developing
healthy hearts, minds, and bodies that will in turn create strong, community foundations of
love.
KL seeks to foster creative expression, analytical dialogue, and literacy in a nonjudgmental
space while working to empower youth and their communities through crosscultural
dialogue and interdisciplinary arts and community building
KL defines Hip-Hop as an ever growing urban arts and cultural movement rooted in the
ideology of community upliftment and self-determination. It is a vehicle for expressing our
identity, culture and community experiences as well as a resistive force against oppression.
Creativity Linked Together with a Mighty Roar
Kuumba Lynx
4501 North Clarendon
Chicago Illinois 60640
ARTS EXPLOSION
13th Annual
Kuumba Lynx Gala
Friday December 11th 2009
@ Clarendon Park, 4501 N. Clarendon,
Chicago IL. 60640
7pm– 10pm
Ticket Info
$50 includes: Dinner & show
$10 includes: entertainment
Candidacy application for the 2010
Advisory Board term are being accepted.
Call Sol Flores for more
information 773-562-9873.
This spring, in partnership with After School Matters, the Kuumba
Lynx Hip Hop Theatre ensemble, KLPE will release a CD, book &
interdisciplinary performance entitled S.P.R.O.U.T., (Spitting Powerful
Rhymes Organically Unleashing Truth) at a local theatre TBA
A special THANK U! to photographers Eve Rivera, Martin Acensio, and Abby Sewell
KL is funded by The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, The Department of Cultural Affairs, City Arts I, After School Matters, Richard Driehaus Foundation, Alphawood Foundation, The
Artswork Fund, Fire This Time, Girl World, and individual contributions.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
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