|
February 23, 2004
WHAT'S UP EVERYBODY!!?! I'm back for another Cincinnati Hip Hop Youth Arts Center Update! It's been another fast-paced few weeks since the last installment. Welcome to the over 150 new people on our mailing list - mostly young people from surveying we've done over the past month. As always, I'll try to keep this short and to the point. There are three major developments that I want to fill you in on. First, the Hip Hop Youth Arts Center Introductory Video is finished! We should have both DVD and VHS copies available by the end of the week, so if you haven't already put in your request please do so. The video is about 15 minutes long and includes interviews with over 40 people. DVDs will be $15, and VHS will be $10 - which will also include CONTROL's Cincinnati Copwatch Introductory Video (The Streets is Watchin - 15 minutes), a film about the block party on East Clifton Ave. we threw last year that was broken up wrongly by the police (When Police Riot - 15 minutes), and a training video that explains what your rights are when interacting with police and how to hold them accountable directly legally (Training Video - 45 minutes). It really is an amazing deal from some great films that you won't find anywhere else. Second, we have launched our website - www.natiyouthcenter.org. Please come check it out! Big thanks to Tony Blankemeyer, who has been an amazing resource. The site will be updated frequently with the Newsbar, has pictures, more information, and how you can get involved. There is also a spot on the website where you can donate electronically now - so if you haven't kicked in your 20 or more bucks yet, now is the time. You will also be able to order the DVDs and VHS online, as well as the t-shirts that will be coming soon. Please email me with feedback on the site, it is only a week old and definitely can get better, but we need your input to make it the best it can be Third, we are extremely close to signing a lease. The owners of the building we are looking at on the corner of Central Ave., Central Pkwy., and Linn have given us a lease and now we are looking into the legal aspects of the document. I will be looking at two more spaces this week, but am leaning strongly towards signing a lease within two weeks which should give us enough time to get opened by June 1st! As I said in the last email, the main issue right now is making sure we have enough money to feel confident signing the lease, so while we have $10,000 in the bank that is not enough to cover the first years rent. We are exploring the possibility of collaborating with Three Square Music Foundation (www.threesquare.org), who may use an office space and the main floor a couple times a week. That would help cover costs and allow us be using the space more than the one or two days a week that we will be open at the start. We have also secured the 20th Century Theater for April 10th, although our headliner dropped off and we are now looking for a new act. If you have any ideas, please let me know. T-shirts are in the process of being designed, I spoke at Clark Montessori High School to over 250 students on Friday (a huge success, thanks y'all), and have started actively looking to grant foundations for support. Things are moving along very nicely. It is truly amazing the progress we have made and the excitement that is building within young people here in Cincinnati. Once again, please email me if you'd like to be taken off this list, and of course feel free to pass this on to anyone that may be interested in the project. Thanks so much for your continued support and feedback. Peace, Gavin Leonard Director @ Elementz: The Hip Hop Youth Arts Center 513.721.5800 work 513.266.1508 cell gavin.youthcenter@fuse.net
February 12, 2004WHAT'S UP EVERYBODY?!?! I'm back for round two - it's time for your.....Hip Hop Youth Arts Center UPDATE! Once again full of energy and once again asking for your support. If you're not excited about this project yet, please take a look at the attached picture (blurry as it may be) to see the turnout at our first meeting - an events planning meeting that brought in almost 30 truly diverse people. It was truly inspiring to see so many faces come to WORK and make this center come to life. I wish all of you could have been there. Now on to the updates. First, we are close to securing a building and are working towards a lease.I'm attaching a picture of the building as we hope it will look - thanks so much to Brashear Bolton for their help so far and for the drawing as well. Your support at this point is so important because a large part of the decision for the owner is whether or not it is worth the risk of signing a lease with an organization that is currently financially strapped. So if you thought about sending a check or said you were going to (you know who you are)- PLEASE DO!! The better our financial picture, the better chance we'll get our building! Second, we have begun planning for two major events - one at the 20th Century Theater that DJ Hi-Tek (probably the most famous Hip Hop musician to come out of the Queen City) has committed to, and one at SS Nova (yet to be finally secured) which will be a Hip Hop showcase for those of you who want to see what Hip Hop is all about or anybody who wants to just get down. With these two benefits, and an Event Series in the planning stages, we plan to raise a significant portion of our budget as well. So keep on the look out for events coming soon. Third, we just completed shooting footage for our documentary about the center! Over the last 6 days we interviewed over 50 people and put together what will finish up to be an approximately 15 minute video. Final copies will be available by March 1st for sale at some reasonable but profitable price. So let me know if you want a copy, I'll be starting a list. I can tell you right now that it is gonna be dope if the first draft is any indication. Also, we will be doing at least one screening of the video here in Cincinnati, so keep your head up or you'll miss the action. In general, we have really been pushing ahead in some major ways. We have over 200 surveys filed and another 500 out in the streets and making their way back to headquarters. Look for statistics in upcoming updates. We have a huge contact list that keeps on growing, student volunteers coming from Earlham College and Miami University this weekend, proposed floor plans from architects, a website in the works, and we just connected with an amazing company called Ra Ra Enterprise. We will be partnering with Ra Ra on our event series and are working towards a relationship that will include partnership and growth after the center opens. They had already planned an implemented a program to do positive Hip Hop showcases at local schools, and have a large network of artists and activists who we will be working with closely. Big THANK YOU to Ra Ra! Finally, thanks so much for your support already! We have raised over $3,000 in cash from individuals so far (almost all in $20 chunks), and have another $5,000 from a foundation that was committed last year. But of course, WE NEED MORE SUPPORT! Please go get your checkbook and drop something in the mail today! The address is below and keep in mind that about 70% of your donation is going straight to rent (let me know if you want to see a budget). We are getting every possible thing donated, and are ALL VOLUNTEER!! OK, that's gonna be all for now. But look for another update in another 2, 3, or 4 weeks. And as before, if you want to be taken off this list let me know, or if you know anyone who would be interested in the project please forward this email and send me their contact info. Peace, Gavin Leonard Director @ Elementz: The Hip Hop Youth Arts Center 513.721.5800 work 513.266.1508 cell gavin.youthcenter@fuse.net
|
