The School for Democracy and Leadership Hosts Historic Hip-Hop Reader Summit

The School for Democracy and Leadership Hosts Historic Hip-Hop Reader Summit

Hundreds of Students Join Russell Simmons, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Urban League and Verizon in a Day of Literacy and Leadership

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the School for Democracy and Leadership in Brooklyn opened its doors to more than 1200 students, along with various hip-hop artists, authors and educators in an all day kick-off rally for the new and dynamic Hip-Hop Reader Program. Hip-Hop Reader is a youth-based literacy and leadership project being launched with funding from Verizon Foundation through a partnership between the National Urban League (NUL) and Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. The New York City pilot is being coordinated in collaboration with the New York Urban League and New York City Board of Education. The Initiative is designed to engage New York City public high school students in reading and discussing books, poetry, lyrics and issues important to their lives.

"The School for Democracy and Leadership is excited to be the venue for the Hip-Hop Reader rally. We're honored to be a part of a major effort that encourages urban high school students to be active readers and leaders in their communities. Education and empowerment are the pillars of a democratic society and schools are a pivotal place where individuals acquire the essential tools to participate as informed and engaged citizens," said Nancy Gannon, SDL principal. "And we are especially proud of hosting Hip-Hop Reader in Brooklyn, a New York City Mecca for hip-hop culture. We hope to work more closely with the Program as it continues to move forward with education reform."

The rally promises to be educational and fun-filled. Special guests include Russell Simmons, chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network; Marc H. Morial, president and CEO, National Urban League; Patrick Gaston, president, Verizon Foundation; Mayor Michael Bloomberg; and NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. Students will have the opportunity to interact with these and other community leaders, as well as various hip-hop artists including Foxy Brown, Fabolous, Doug E. Fresh, and Reverend Run of Run DMC, who have been invited to speak about literacy and present prizes for reading.

The summit will feature three key reading ciphers sponsored by YB Literary Foundation and Directions For Our Youth (DFOY), which will integrate multi-sensory activities for student attendees -- sight, sound and touch, music and art -- to demonstrate the power of literature. The Sound Cipher will utilize music as an introduction for students to experience and connect with text. Students will participate in a workshop to create a contemporary soundtrack for Broken China by author Lori Aurelia Williams using songs that they currently listen to on a regular basis. The Mural Reading Cipher will incorporate visual arts and literature. This Cipher will require students to read a speech, discuss the themes verbally, and then express these themes through artwork. The artwork produced individually will create a mural for display. For the Author Cipher, students have been asked to read a portion of Broken China in advance. On site, they will share their ideas about how the book should end in a pre-written essay. Ms. Williams will discuss the book's ending, associated themes and her motivations for writing.

About The School for Democracy and Leadership

The School for Democracy and Leadership is a 6-12th grade college preparatory school that will cultivate strong leaders and learners in our world. Our students will have exciting opportunities for internships, mentorships, college exploration, a summer bridge program and student governance, supported by partnerships with the New York Urban League, New School University's Institute for Urban Education and the Sadie Nash Leadership Project. We emphasize high academic achievement, a rigorous college preparatory curriculum for every child, and a close connection to the larger community. Our school emphasizes student choice, parent and community participation, and the development of personal potential through a number of elements including student advisories, Town Hall meetings, student government, and Change Projects where students work towards transforming an issue or challenge they select. Our students will take what they learn at School for Democracy and Leadership far beyond its halls -- to college, to their communities, to the city, and to their future careers. They will be a positive force in their world, capable of influencing change, participating meaningfully in their communities, and contributing constructively to democracy in our society.

About The Urban League

Established in 1910, The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of it local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct service to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.

About The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), the largest non-profit, non-partisan national coalition of hip-hop artists and recording industry executives, was founded in 2001 by Russell Simmons. The organization is dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of hip-hop music while serving as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the well being of at-risk youth throughout the United States.

About The Verizon Foundation

The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. The foundation uses its resources in the United States and abroad to develop partnerships in technology and connect them with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and the economically and socially disadvantaged.


Source: The School for Democracy and Leadership

CONTACT: Dionne Manchester, +1-917-805-7479, or Dionne@GWCco.com, for
The School for Democracy and Leadership


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