The Conference is hosting an amazing line-up of activists, scholars, media makers, community organizers, musicians, filmmakers, artists, journalists and many more, of all ages!  Participants can choose from over 40 workshops and panels conducted by more than 50 local organizations on topics ranging from how to produce activist video to how to use that video to fight for policy changes.  We’ll discuss how the internet and social networking is changing the way we communicate.  You’ll learn how to find real election coverage and the best independent journalism.  And we’ll strategize how we can begin to create media systems that come from, and are responsive to the people.

Check out www.nycgrassrootsmedia.org/conference for all the info and updates!!!!

It’s happening in just two weeks – Don’t Miss It!
THE FIFTH ANNUAL GRASSROOTS MEDIA CONFERENCE
Speaking Truth to Power: MEDIA JUSTICE IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Co-sponsored by the Department of Film and Media Studies, Hunter College CUNY
Sunday March 2nd, 2008 9am–6pm
Hunter College North Building, 68th Street and Lexington Ave.
ENTRANCE THROUGH WEST BUILDING: Southwest Corner, enter from street or directly from 6 train
The Opening Plenary Begins at 9:45am in the Exhibition Hall

For a full list of Workshops and Schedule go to: www.nycgrassrootsmedia.org/conference
Admission: **
$20 advance; $30 day of
$15 students/seniors; $25 day of
$5 youth discount (18 & under) Youth admittance includes lunch.

Registration includes general admission to the Conference, access to all workshops and panels, film screenings, exhibition hall and networking after party.

EARLY REGISTRATION SAVES YOU $10

Join us as we seek to define what the term “Media Justice” means, as a community and explore how we can begin to make this ideal a reality for New York City.

Conference location:
Hunter College North Building, 68th Street and Lexington Ave.
ENTRANCE THROUGH WEST BUILDING: Southwest Corner, enter from street or directly from 6 train

DON’T DELAY - REGISTER TODAY!

For more information call (917) 523 -1045 or email info@nycgrassrootsmedia.org.

The Hip Hop Mental Health Project, an initiative of 1+1+1=ONE, is looking for an intern in NYC to work a minimum of 5 hours a week.

We need someone with strong administrative skills, computer/internet research/web surf savvy, amiable on the phone and to work with in the office. Pay is $10/hr plus metrocard stipend.

Below is the project’s mission.
Interested parties should respond to info@hiphopmentalhealth.org.

Mission:
The Hip Hop Mental Health Project seeks to shift the cultural paradigm of shame and alienation surrounding mental illness and satisfy our community’s need for a SAFE place to confront the issue and obtain vital information.

Through the integration of performance and research based dialogue, the Hip Hop Mental Health Project works to impact public discourse and values among urban communities in a way that educates about the signs, symptoms, and spiraling course of mental illness, and to explore possible solutions to the contributing life stressors of societal stigma and the difficulties of an overtaxed mental health system.

The Hip Hop Mental Health Project has a specific commitment to engaging young urban & low-income communities of color as they are the most detrimentally affected by the disparities in mental health diagnosis, treatment, and care.

The Harlem Arts Alliance is pleased to once again partner with The Field and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council on :Uptown/Downtown: A Workshop and Performance OpportunityApplication Deadline: Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 5PM How do you define uptown or downtown work?Through aesthetics? Culture? Geography?For seven weeks this spring, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, The Field, and Harlem Arts Alliance will bring together 10 performing artists, five from “uptown,” five from “downtown,” to explore these questions while developing short works for performance.What is Uptown/Downtown? Uptown/Downtown consists of six weekly sessions in which artists will show works in progress and share non-directorial feedback with a moderator present. Half of the workshops will be held in Harlem and in Lower Manhattan. A seventh session will feature guest presentations by Manhattan arts professionals. The workshops will culminate in two consecutive nights of performance in two of Manhattan’s newest performance venues, Dance New Amsterdam and Harlem Stage.Interested in Applying? • See attached GUIDELINES AND APPLICATON for complete details• Attend the information session on Feb 11, 2008, 6:30 PM  Call 212-410-0030 xt 212 to RSVPDownload Program GuidelinesDownload Program Application  

50 CENT FORMS INDIE FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY

50 Cent’s entertainment empire continues to grow. During the Sundance
Film Festival this weekend, the rapper and sometimes actor announced
that he plans on producing independent films.

FULL STORY: http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/13497

From the producers of Platanos & Collard Greens
Save 20% on their new play “Auction Block to Hip Hop.”

The Producers of Platanos & Collard Greens have done it again. Just as they did with Platanos & Collard Greens, they’ve created a new powerful must-see play, Auction Block To Hip Hop.

Auction Block is a love story between Black men and women. Auction Block is set on the night a Hip Hop mogul, whose name is Set Fo’ Life!, wins numerous awards for his multi-platinum album Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy. On this night, Set is visited by three ghosts. The Spirit of the Ancestors takes him back to his own ancestors, his great great great Grandmother and Grandfather who are leading a slave revolt, his own mother and father and how they fell in love as Black Panthers in the 1960s. Then we see him as a college student fall in love with a beautiful sister at an anti-apartheid protest. So we see his roots and the women and men from which he comes.

But then we see him move in the other direction, deciding that rather than be the one to fight the system he will sell out and join the system by becoming a Hip Hop producer who sells stereotypes of Black women, and of course he blows up! Then Set must choose between redemption and damnation. The end will blow you away!

The Courier Times says that Auction Block is “funny and unforgettable.”

“Enlightening, On Point, Perfect for the times” - Auction Block, Audience Member

“Wow! Wonder of Wonders. I cried, I laughed, I have been moved to my very core.
Thank-you!” Audience Member

“See Auction Block to Hip Hop NOW!”  - Queens Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated

Positive Community Magazine says “Black women embraced the play questioning the disrespect they receive today….Also popular with couples who relate to the theme of the redemption of black love”.

To read the full Positive Community Magazine article click here- http://www.platanosandcollardgreens.com/pdf/ab_positive.pdf (or copy this link into your browser)

NYC 2008 PERFORMANCE DATES AND INFORMATION

THEATRE: Florence Gould Hall
55 E. 59th Street, New York City
(between Park and Madison Avenues)
Sunday, January 20th @ 3pm
Sunday, January 27th @ 3pm
Sunday, February 17th @ 3pm
Sunday, February 24th @ 3pm

HOW TO GET YOUR TICKETS

• ONLINE: visit www.ticketmaster.com and enter keywords Auction Block or click here - http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1176714 (if this link does not work please copy and paste it into your browser)
• BY PHONE: Call 212.307.4100
• IN PERSON: Visit any TicketMaster outlet or go directly to the box office of Florence Gould Hall, which is open Tuesday to Friday noon to 7pm, and Saturday noon to 4pm.
  

Groups of 15+ save $5 to $10 per tix (this may not be combined with this or other discount offers). Please call 212.355.6160 x8

For more information, please visit
www.platanosandcollardgreens.com

If you haven’t seen rnb live yet, you don’t want to miss him at Soloman’s Porch on Jan 16th.  It’s a Wednesday, I know, but its 2 full hours of great live music.  Be ready to hear a fresh acoustic twist on music from the new album- The Green Room. 

Mark those calendars and remember that the album- The Green Room- is still for sale at the following sites:  itunes, goodrnb.com, cdbaby.com/rnb.  Take care!

Be on the lookout for a fellow artist/friends album- Sacrifice by Substantial.  Support this emcee!  rnb is featured on the last track- Hood Hope. 

SACRIFICE IN STORES NOW!Click link to watch the Sacrifice Commercial!        ^^^ Link may not work until after 12 noon today ^^^The new album is also available at www.Amazon.com , www.UndergroundHipHop.com, iTunes, and many more online retailers.Stan “Substantial” Robinson Substantial-Music.comMyspace.com/Substantial (Both sites UPDATED: 01.08.08) 

Hip Hop Congress will be holding its 6th annual conference in Athens, OH from July 4th to July 8th. Hip Hop Congress is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization and international grassroots network whose mission is to unite, educate, and empower individuals.

We utilize Hip Hop to inspire civic action and cultural creativity within the community. Hip Hop Congress has over 35 chapters throughout the country and works with artists, organizers, promoters and a host of other institutions and organizations. Hip Hop Congress is involved in education, culture, politics, social justice and industry.

This year’s national conference, co sponsored with our partners Unite Here, SPAN, and Hip-Hop Association (H2A), will continue to develop a national service infrastructure for HHC with a variety of other national organizations, student groups, artists and partners. This means working with more students, more artists and more communities. Workshops will include not only intensive sessions on the initial four elements of hip hop but also interactive discussions on Health Care, International Hip Hop, Hip Hop and Education, Women in Hip Hop, Event Planning, the Recording Industry, Youth Violence and much more. In addition, each night there will be showcase featuring independent acts. Performers that have participated in Hip Hop Congress events in previous years are Ghostface, Brother Ali, Zion I, Percee P, Living Legends, Jurassic 5, Tha Jacka, DJ Crucial, Common Market, and All Natural Inc.

We are extending an open invitation to our peers in Hip Hop activism, such as The Zulu Nation, The Temple of Hip Hop, Hip Hop Caucus, Mississippi Artists and Producers Coalition, Hip Hop Action Summit Network, to join us in Athens.  We also want to encourage and invite not only artists, organizers and friends of the organization from all over the country but also anyone with a desire to push hip hop, education, and society forward. With such an explosive year on the national and international front, this year’s conference plans to be a charged event with ripples that will be felt throughout the country.

Registration and officially schedule for this conference will be announced in the coming weeks. If you are interested in participating in workshops, performances, as a sponsor or supporter, please contact PR Chair Aaron Berkowitz at 314-809-2502 or email Berkowitz@hiphopcongress.com.

-Aaron Berkowitz - Hip Hop Congress - www.hiphopcongress.com - 314-809-2502