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411 launches new Hip-Hop anti-violence program for inner-city youth

Elementary school students create record label releasing peace-building rap songs

January. 16, 2006. Toronto – As gun violence continues to escalate in metropolitan Toronto communities, students return to school this semester to an innovative community arts advocacy music project; The 411 Initiative For Change (411), and Tough Dumplin Records have launched a new program providing anti-violence and diversity appreciation education in Toronto elementary schools hardest hit by violence, racism, and integration issues. As experts in using musicians as media to engage students in social issues, 411’s program “Creating Music Together” teams elementary classes with producer/rapper MC Collizhun to express themselves by analyzing, constructing, writing, recording and packaging their own tolerance and peace-building songs.

This innovative educational program uses visual art and hip-hop music to bridge students’ interest in discussing peace building, tolerance, anti-violence, anti-racism and respect. Running from Jan. 9 – Jan. 20, the program will reach 10 schools across Toronto communities including Rexdale, Flemingdon Park, Scarborough, and Jane and Finch, among others.

“Young people own unique, introspective voices and yet their opinions are often overlooked in the mass media. Through this program, they are being given an opportunity to learn new arts skills, express themselves, and share their stories on issues affecting them in their communities,” explains 411 Program Director Anita Wong. “411 is proud to be able to provide this outlet for young people and vehicles for critical peace-building initiatives starting in classrooms. Diversity appreciation and anti-violence sensitization starting at a young age – as a part of school curriculum, is an important part to curbing crime and violence in our cities.”

MC Collizhun best know for his membership in Toronto hip-hop group Nefarious and his credits for numerous US and Canadian artists, including film and television productions, heads up this program as the artistic mentor to the students. Collizhun teaches students how to craft lyrics, express concepts through writing, associate words with ideas, and then works with students to create their own song as a collective recording each student’s lyrics. Following the in-class work session, final mixed versions of the songs are distributed back to each student on professionally packaged CD’s so that each student is able to own their own sound recording, hearing the result of their own creative outputs.

“This program puts young people in a position of power while also teaching them valuable lessons about how to express and promote their ideas and feelings,” explains Collizhun. “I am honored to be able to contribute my expertise to work with and empower students on such timely and important issues for Toronto.”

411 most recently presented its work of empowering young people through education to teachers, community organizations, social workers, and youth educators at the Bronx Museum of the Arts for the Hip Hop Association's (H2A) 3rd Annual Hip-Hop Education (H2Ed) Summit in the Bronx, New York. 411 programs provide teachers with curriculum and activity kits for ongoing use in the classroom; copies of these kits are available online at www.whatsthe411.ca

The 411 Initiative For Change is a not-for-profit organization which runs programs nation-wide focusing on issues such as violence against women, racism, human rights education and HIV/AIDS awareness using the mediums of arts, culture and heritage as portals to engage young Canadians. The unique nature of The 411 Initiative For Change’s model of using artists and music as key agents in social change – from within the education system, demonstrates innovative, timely and effective response to the growing need to practice sustainable models for social development. 411 will also be running an anti-violence program for Toronto high schools as part of their annual Black History Month in February 2006.

The Honourable Raymond Chan, Minister of Multiculturalism, who attended 411’s fall ‘Human Rights Education’ program in Toronto, emphasized the importance of supporting critical programs, such as 411’s, in order to embrace Canada’s multicultural and diverse social fabric; in his address, he affirmed that young Canadians, “are going to set the example to model for the rest of the world!”

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Media interested in attending a visiting a school hosting the “Creating Music Together Program” should contact the 411 directly for dates, times and address of schools.

Contact: The 411 Initiative For Change
Tamara Dawit / / 416-473-3595
tamara@whatsthe411.ca / / www.whatsthe411.ca

Supported in part by:
Canada Council for the Arts

Starts	01/09/2006
Ends	01/20/2006
Issues	Media, Politics/Government, Racial Justice, Youth, Violence against women, Digital Media, Media Literacy, Peace/War, Educational reform, Gangs
Homepage	www.whatsthe411.ca
Contact	anita@whatsthe411.ca