HIP HOP CONGRESS 2009 NATIONAL CONFERENCE: IT'S OUR TIME

Wednesday July 28th marks the opening event for Hip Hop Congress's 8th annual 2009 National Conference to be held in SEATTLE, WA. With a bubbling hip-hop scene easing its way onto the national radar, Seattle provides a prime location. The conference will focus on solution-based skill and network building to create sustainable social and economic progress for the Hip Hop generation and the communities from which it emerges.

In the spirit of coalition building and community support, Hip Hop Congress has partnered with such groups as the Umojafest P.E.A.C.E. Center, Dope Emporium, Seattle Hip-Hop Youth Council, 206 Zulu, Global Fam, B-Girl Media, the Bassmeant, Mothers Outreach Movement, Reclaim the Media, Urban Teachers Network, Silicon Valley DeBug, Hip Hop Without Borders, 2nd Nature, Women's Economic Agenda Project, Women In Transition, the Poor Peoples' Economic Human Rights Campaign, Obese Productions, SportnLife, and more. The conference will be hosted at Umojafest P.E.A.C.E Center, Garfield Teen Life Center, Hidmo, and other neighborhood institutions in the Central District of Seattle.

Through trainings, film screenings, and workshops ranging from "Marketing in the Digital Age" to "Hip Hop and Healthcare," the conference will provide tools for artists and entrepreneurs to strengthen independent Hip Hop economy, as well as provide strategies for using Hip Hop as an platform for Human Rights advocacy, education, community organizing, and youth leadership development.

"Hip Hop is social glue for today's youth," said Seattle Hip Hop Youth Council member J-Infinite, "It's something that the majority of us have in common and can relate to, so we use it to teach a positive message. It's a tool for empowerment." Seattle mayoral candidate Wyking Garrett and Umojafest P.E.A.C.E Center co-founder added, " It's time for Hip Hop to focus its energy on the healing and building of communities from which it came. Hip Hop can lead the way."

::Thursday Workshops Include:: Filmmaking :: Hip Hop without Borders- International Coalition Building :: Hip Hop in the Green Economy :: Youth Center Building:: Shaping the Hip Hop Electorate :: Movement and Culture :: Hip Hop and Healthcare :: How to Write Grants :: Working with Incarcerated Youth :: Youth Organizing :: Self-Management for Artists :: How to Organize Your Own Tour :: Starting and Building your Hip Hop Business, Plus more!

::Friday Workshops Include:: Hip Hop without Borders :: Hip Hop and the Green Economy :: Taking the Money: Ethics in the Movement :: Urban Teacher's Network :: Vibrational Realities :: Marketing Hip Hop in the Digital Age :: From Campus to Community :: Bloggers Roundtable :: Facilitating Quality Youth Programs :: Q&A with Jacka & Umojafest Hip Hop Rally :: Plus more!

::Film Screenings::
"The New Muslim Cool" SPECIAL FEATURE
"The Beat" feat. Rahman Jamaal, 2003 Sundance
"Masizakeh" a documentary film by Scott Macklin about hip hop & education in South Africa.

"Coolout Network" presented by local Hip Hop historian Georgio Brown

::Special Guest Artists in attendance::
Akil of Jurassic 5, The Jacka of Mob Figaz, Raashan Ahmad of Crown City Rockers, DLabrie, Knox Fam, Quanstar, Toki Wright, Black Stax, Dee.aLe of DMS, Penny Pinchin Records, Skurge, Stress, YDMC, Darkside, Mic Crenshaw, Wyzdom, Sellasie, Shamako Noble, Suntonio Bandanaz, Block Teamsters Union and more...