Hip Hop Congress

Public Debate and Youth Rally at Umojafest and B.O.S.S. U.P. event at Waid’s Haitian Cuisine and Lounge on August 3rd.

July 31, 2007

Seattle Debate Foundation, Remix Marketing and Communications, Hip Hop Congress and Seattle Hip Hop Summit Youth Council Present Public Debate and Youth Rally at Umojafest and B.O.S.S. U.P. event at Waid’s Haitian Cuisine and Lounge on August 3rd.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This Friday, August 3rd the Seattle Debate Foundation (SDF) in conjunction with Remix Marketing and Communications, Hip Hop Congress and Seattle Hip Hop Summit Youth Council, presents a Public Hip Hop Debate showcase and Youth Rally at Seattle’s Umojafest along with a powerful, All Star show at Waid’s Haitian Cuisine and Lounge. The debate will feature some of the SDF’s finest debaters delivering a well-crafted policy proposal that will identify the specific ways in which the City of Seattle and King County should both allocate and leverage funding to create a world class cultural center for Seattle’s youth, similar to Youth Uprising an exceptional youth facility in Oakland that was recently implemented through the proactivity of the Oakland community. This debate will take place from 4pm-8pm at Judkins Park during Umojafest, Seattle longest running African heritage festival.

Following the debate, a show will be hosted at @ Waid’s at 12th & Jefferson. The purpose of this event is to unite the community and build on and further develop Seattle’s collective strength to invest in the potential of the Hip Hop community as a formidable political force. In addition, the goal is to develop a strong united front that would in turn give the community the voice and the tools to address critical issues in the city like gentrification, homelessness, educational inequities and police brutality. The show will feature such acts as Hip Hop Debate Crew (Featuring M-Famous, J-Infinite, Geneiva Arunga, Isis, E. Rich, HB & D Scrilla), DLabrie, Gabriel Teodros, Toni Hill, Cleveland Steamers, 206 Zulu, Silent Lambs Project, Waves of the Mind, Block Teamsters Union, dREDi, Rebel Warriorz, Silver Shadow D and Willie J.R. Fleming of Hip Hop Congress.

Jen Johnson, Executive Director of the Seattle Debate Foundation exclaimed, “What’s really important to remember is that the debaters are really the driving force behind the event and the policy presentation. We do have the support of many of our communities artists, academics and activists, as well as the support of communities across the country. But it’s students like Geneiva Arunga and J-Infinite of Infinite Starr Entertainment that make this a reality. That’s what makes this event truly powerful and a real opportunity for the community to come together.”

Bay Area artist, President of RonDavoux Records and Northern California Regional Director for Hip Hop Congress DLabrie commented, “I’m honored to be a part of this event. In Oakland, places like Youth Uprising, which in many ways were powered by the organization and vision of youth have made such a huge difference that being a part of something like this in Seattle is critical. As a an artists and as a member of Hip Hop Congress I couldn’t be happier to be a part of it.”

The SDF is a youth development foundation committed to introducing debate as a vehicle for academic achievement and student empowerment. Debate is a proven tool to teach critical thinking, communication, and research skills. Hip Hop Congress is a non-profit organization that was started as an arts and culture collective, that has evolved of the course of the years into a cultural organizing model that includes campus organizing through students and faculty, cultural organizing and networking through artists, activists and journalists, and the development of a national and international service infrastructure.

For more information please contact Jen Johnson at (206) 910-7920 or e-mail her at jen.johnson@seattledebate.org. Or go to www.hiphopcongress.com for further information.